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In order to develop and utilize Lentinus edodes protein, the effect of glutamine transaminase (TGase) cross-linking on the physicochemical and processing characteristics of L. edodes protein was studied. The results showed that the addition of 0%–20% TGase gradually reduced the contents of total thiol, free thiol and β-sheet of L. edodes protein, while the fluorescence intensity, particle size, β-turn content and surface hydrophobicity showed a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing. As the shear rate increased, the shear stress of the protein increased and the apparent viscosity decreased, indicating that TGase cross-linking promoted the generation of macromolecular polymers. In addition, the cross-linked protein exhibited a dense texture similar to that of the original protein, indicating the formation of a stable three-dimensional network structure. As the addition level of TGase increased from 4% to 12%, the protein network structure became increasingly dense. Moreover, an appropriate amount of TGase significantly improved the solubility, emulsifying properties, thermal stability, and oil-holding capacity of L. edodes protein. These results indicate that TGase cross-linking improves the physicochemical and processing properties of L. edodes protein to varying degrees.

A high protein food that is easy to swallow for people with dysphagia was prepared by blending milk with Hericium erinaceus (HE) powder, soy protein isolate (SPI) or whey protein (WP) (which was added to obtain a final protein content more than 10% of the total mass), and one of three thickeners including xanthan gum (XG), kappa carrageenan (KC) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and its rheology, viscoelastic properties and in vitro digestion characteristics were determined. The results showed that all samples exhibited a weak gel behavior. According to the steady-state rheological test, the values of high resistance to deformation (high G* value) and good elasticity (low tan δ value) were ranked as follows: HE-SPI-CMC > HE-SPI-XG > HE-WP-XG > HE-WP-KC, and higher G* values were more favorable for people with dysphagia and the elderly. In the in vitro simulated digestion test, the viscosity (η) and consistency coefficient (K) values were in the following order: HE-WP-KC > HE-WP-XG > HE-SPI-XG. The soluble protein contents were ranked as follows: HE-WP-CMC > HE-WP-KC > HE-SPI-KC. The contents of free amino acids after digestion were in the following order: HE-WP-CMC > HE-WP-KC > HE-SPI-KC > HE-WP-XG. Therefore, HE-WP-KC was more suitable for consumption by the elderly. This study has explained how protein-hydrocolloid interactions and food matrix determine the rheological properties and digestibility properties of the samples, which may provide theoretical support for meeting the dietary needs of people with dysphagia.

Morels (Morchella spp.) are valuable and rare edible mushrooms with unique flavors and high nutritional value. White mold disease occurring during cultivation has seriously affected the quality and yield of morels in China. In this study, the fungus causing white mold disease in morels was isolated, purified, and identified as Pseudodiploöspora longispora by morphology and molecular biology. In addition, research has shown that P. longispora infection causes wrinkled and rupturing asci, loosened cell walls, and obvious membrane breakage accompanied by severe cytoplasmic leakage in M. sextelata. Interestingly, research has shown that infection with P. longispora can induce the production of an unknown substance in the cells of M. sextelata, which accumulates on the cell membrane, leading to membrane breakage. Furthermore, integrated transcriptomics–proteomics analysis revealed the response mechanism of M. sextelata to P. longispora infection. The results indicate that DEGs and DEPs can be significantly enriched in pathways involved in oxidoreductase activity; peroxisomes, lipid transport, and metabolism; cell wall assembly; and integral components of membranes. Further electron microscopy analysis clarified the important role of changes in the cell membrane and cell wall in the response of mycelia to biological stress. This study clarified the response mechanism of M. sextelata to P. longispora, laying a foundation for further clarifying the infection mechanism of P. longispora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Microbiome Protocols eBook (MPB) is a valuable resource that provides standardized wet-lab protocols for microbiome research. The first edition, launched in 2020, received widespread acclaim and featured 152 meticulously curated protocols. The MPB aims to bridge the gaps in microbiome protocols and facilitate progress in the field by addressing challenges in wet experiments and data analysis. The upcoming second edition will incorporate updates from the first edition and expand into new areas, covering innovative methodologies and emerging technologies. The MPB is an open-access resource that is easily accessible to all researchers. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The demand for animal products is increasing in developing countries due to population growth. However, livestock production contributes significantly to global warming, accounting for 25%. Probiotics can help improve livestock efficiency by enhancing gut microbes and fat metabolism. They can modify rumen populations, enhance fermentation, reduce methane emissions and improve feed digestion. In this study, the goal was to determine the most effective method of reducing methane emissions in the rumen of sheep in vitro by adding different concentrations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis.Adding 8 × 106 CFU g−1 S. cerevisiae during fermentation reduced pH levels after 48 h. This also increased the concentrations of NH3‐N, microbial protein and total gas production. At the same time, it decreased methane emissions. Furthermore, adding 20 × 106 CFU g−1 B. subtilis to the mixture increased total gas production (TGP) and methane production, with the highest production observed after 48 h. However, it did not affect pH levels after 48 h.It can be concluded that S. cerevisiae had significantly increased microbial protein and NH3‐N concentrations after fermentation without altering pH. Additionally, the addition of S. cerevisiae enhanced TGP and reduced methane emissions. It is worth noting that TGP increased because B. subtilis was added at a concentration of 20 × 106 CFU g−1, with no significant differences between concentrations. Therefore, we recommend adding S. cerevisiae and B. subtilis to the diet at doses of 8 and 20 × 106 CFU g−1, as it resulted in higher TGP and reduced methane emissions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides could be used to form the network structure of casein (CA) gel, and affect its gelling properties. Auricularia auricula polysaccharide (AAP) has good gel properties and activity, however, how the AAP affects gelling properties of CA gels remains unclear. In this study, AAP and CA were acid-induced by glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) to prepare composite gels for curcumin loading. The effects of different AAP additions on the gel structure were emphasized. Water holding capacity, rheology, texture profile analysis, sulfhydryl content, surface hydrophobicity and gel microstructure showed that the composite gels were most structurally stable upon addition of 0.4 % AAP. The composite gels exhibited a higher strength and a more regular network structure compared to the CA gels. The results of turbidity studies showed that CA and AAP formed gels through electrostatic interactions due to pH < pI. The results of FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy indicated that curcumin interacted with the CA and was successfully encapsulated within the gel. In addition, in vitro simulated digestion experiments demonstrated that the composite gels exhibited better protection against curcumin than the single CA gel. The results suggested that composite gels can be used as a curcumin carrier, which may enhance its wider application in the food and health industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Previous research reported that dietary addition with phytosterols improved the energy utilisation of the rumen microbiome, suggesting its potential to alleviate the negative energy balance of perinatal cows. This experiment aimed to explore the effects of feeding phytosterols on the metabolic status of perinatal cows through plasma metabolomics and faecal bacteria metabolism., Methods: Ten perinatal Holstein cows (multiparous, 2 parities) with a similar calving date were selected four weeks before calving. After 7 days for adaptation, cows were allocated to two groups (n = 5), which respectively received the basal rations supplementing commercial phytosterols at 0 and 200 mg/d during a 42-day experiment. The milk yield of each cow was recorded daily after calving. On days 1 and 42, blood and faeces samples were all collected from perinatal cows before morning feeding for analysing plasma biochemicals and metabolome, and faecal bacteria metabolism., Results: Dietary addition with phytosterols at 200 mg/d had no effects on plasma cholesterol and numerically increased milk yield by 1.82 kg/d (p>0.10) but attenuated their negative energy balance in perinatal cows as observed from the significantly decreased plasma level of β-hydroxybutyric acid (p = 0.002). Dietary addition with phytosterols significantly altered 12 and 15 metabolites (p<0.05) within the plasma and faeces of perinatal cows, respectively. Of these metabolites, 5 upregulated plasma fatty acids indicated an improved energy status (i.e., C18:1T, C14:0, C17:0, C18:0, and C16:0). Milk yield negatively correlated with plasma concentrations of ketone bodies (p = 0.035) and 5-methoxytryptamine (p = 0.039). Furthermore, dietary addition with phytosterols at 200 mg/d had no effects on fermentation characteristics and bacterial diversity of cow faeces (p>0.10) but improved potentially beneficial bacteria such as Christensenellaceae family (p<0.05) that positively correlated with feed efficiency., Conclusion: Dietary addition with phytosterols at 200 mg/d could effectively improve the energy status in perinatal cows by attenuating their negative energy balance.

Sparassis latifolia polysaccharides (SLPs) have immunomodulatory activity and lead excretion ability, but its regulatory mechanism through the gut microbiota-spleen axis has not been elucidated. In this study, spleen metabolomics and intestinal flora sequencing were combined to explore the regulatory mechanism of SLPs on spleen immune function in lead-exposed mice. The results showed that SLPs effectively reduced spleen lead content, alleviated spleen enlargement and oxidative stress. SLPs changed glycerophospholipid metabolism, increased lysophosphatidylcholine content and inhibited the expression of G2A, ERK2 and NF-kB genes and the phosphorylation of ERK2 and NF-kB in lead-exposed mice. Furthermore, SLPs inhibited potential intestinal pathogens such as Clostridium&#95;sensu&#95;stricto&#95;1, Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospiraceae and Alistipes&#95;indistinctus, which were positively correlated with phosphatidylethanolamine metabolites. In addition, SLPs reduced the spleen tissue damage of lead-exposed mice by co-housing, and reduced the relative abundance of Clostridium&#95;sensu&#95;stricto&#95;1, Prevotellaceae, and RF39, which were positively correlated with spleen enlargement, and inhibited the expression of ERK2/NF-κB signaling pathway-related genes such as G2A, ERK2 and Fas. In summary, SLPs can reduce the relative abundance of pathogenic microorganisms by regulating the structure of intestinal flora, regulate the glycerophospholipid metabolism of spleen in lead-exposed mice, alleviate oxidative damage and inflammatory response, and restore spleen immune function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Morchella importuna polysaccharide (MIP) has been proven to have obvious hypoglycemic effects on mice with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study looked at the functional and rheological characteristics of MIP, and investigated the effects of MIP on the human fecal microbiota through in vitro fermentation experiments. The outcomes demonstrate the excellent oil-holding capacity, emulsifying, foaming, and rheological characteristics of MIP. After salivary gastrointestinal digestion, the Mw of MIP decreased from 398.2 kDa and 21.5 kDa to 21.9 kDa and 11.7 kDa. By 16S rRNA sequencing of bacteria fermented in vitro, it was found that MIP did not improve the richness and diversity of intestinal microorganisms, but it may exert an anti-T2DM function by significantly increasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes and promoting Ruminococcaceae&#95;UCG&#95;014 , Bacteroides , and Blautia proliferation. Escherichia-Shigella could also be inhibited to improve the intestinal microenvironment. In addition, the fermentation of MIP increased the total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration from 3.23 mmol/L to 39.12 mmol/L, and the propionic acid content increased significantly. In summary, MIP has excellent processing performance and is expected to exert potential anti-T2DM activity through the human intestinal microbiota, which has broad market prospects.