Comprehensive characterization and detection of nut allergens in bakery foods using Q-TOF mass spectrometry and bioinformatics

Food allergy is a growing health issue worldwide and the demand for sensitive,robust and high-throughput analytical methods is rising.In recent years,mass spectrometry-based methods have been established for multiple food allergen detection.In the present study,a novel method was developed for the simultaneous detection of almond,cashew,peanut,and walnut allergens in bakery foods using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry.Proteins unique to these four ingredients were extracted,followed by trypsin digestion,quadrupole time-of-flight(Q-TOF)mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analysis.The raw data were processed by de-novo sequencing module plus PEAKS DB(database search)module of the PEAKS software to screen peptides specific to each nut species.The thermal stability and uniqueness of these candidate peptides were further verified using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(QQQ-MS)in multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)mode.Each nut species was represented by four peptides,all of which were validated for label-free quantification(LFQ).Calibration curves were constructed with good linearity and correlation coefficient(r 2)greater than 0.99.The limits of detection(LODs)were determined to range from 0.11 to 0.31 mg/kg,and were compared with the reference doses proposed by Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling(VITAL).The recoveries of the developed method in incurred bakery food matrices ranged from 72.5%to 92.1%with relative standard deviations(RSD)of<5.2%.The detection of undeclared allergens in commercial bakery food samples confirmed the presence of these allergens.In conclusion,this method provides insight into the qualitative and quantitative detection of trace levels of nut allergens in bakery foods.

Isolation and identification of Starmerella davenportii strain Do18 and its application in black tea beverage fermentation

The objective of this study was to isolate and identify a yeast strain from the kombucha beverage and evaluate its potential as a novel starter in beverage fermentation in vitro.Starmerella davenportii Do18 was characterized for its cholesterol reduction;growth at different conditions such as temperatures(25,30,37 and 42◦C),low pH(1.2,1.5,2.03.0,and 7.0),bile salts(0%,0.25%,0.5%,1%and 2%)high-sucrose stress(2%,10%,20%,40%and 60%);and in-vitro survival in gastric and intestinal environments.Results showed that the yeast strain has a cholesterol-lowering capacity of 45%±2%,grew at temperature of 37◦C and is resistant to pH 1.5,2%bile and 40%sucrose solution,could survive in simulated gastric and intestinal environments.The physicochemical characteristics of the fermented beverages were also evaluated,which indicated that the yeast has pH reduction capacity and can produce organic acids and volatile compound such as 2-phenylethanol.Furthermore,the fermented beverage also has high total phenolics and flavonoids content and showed great antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.Therefore,the findings of this research provide strong evidence that S.davenportii Do18 has good fermentation properties,can be a potential starter in food and beverage fermentation.

Establishment of Quick Testing Efficiency Evaluation Model and Analysis of Related Factors

Objective: “Rapid screening, targeted sampling, objective test” is an efficient test model. The factors affecting the efficiency include false screening rate, missing rate and rapid screening time. However, only missing rate and accuracy have been used as technical requirements to evaluate rapid screening method. In this study, efficiency was regarded as evaluation index of quick testing method. Method: The evaluation model of quick testing efficiency was established by comparing time of routine testing and quick testing. By simulation calculation, the effect factors such as rapid screening time, false screening rate, missing rate and defective rate were analyzed. Results: The calculation formula of efficiency was derived. Simulation results showed that the lower defective rate, the higher efficiency;the smaller missing rate, false screening rate, or screening time, the higher efficiency and the degree of improving efficiency is related to defective rate;sometimes, the screening time is the most important factor affecting the efficiency. In certain cases, if the false screening rate or missing rate is 50%, the efficiency can be increased by more than 10 times. Conclusions: Taken together, this study highlighted a role of efficiency which functioned as an index to evaluate rapid screening. Quick testing efficiency evaluation model can be used for the calculation efficiency, and can be used to analysis the relationship between efficiency and the influence factors, and can provide the theoretical foundation for rapid screening method development and evaluation.

Oroxyloside protects against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by inhibiting ER stress via PPARγ activation

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a prevalent form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may result from immune system dysfunction, leading to the sustained overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent cellular oxidative stress damage. Recent studies have identified both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as critical targets for the treatment of IBD. Oroxyloside (C22H20O11), derived from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has traditionally been used in treating inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which oroxyloside mitigates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. We examined the effects of oroxyloside on ROS-mediated ER stress in colitis, including the protein expressions of GRP78, p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF4, and CHOP, which are associated with ER stress. The beneficial impact of oroxyloside was reversed by the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 (1 mg·kg^(−1), i.v.) in vivo. Furthermore, oroxyloside decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS production in both bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. However, PPARγ siRNA transfection blocked the anti-inflammatory effect of oroxyloside and even abolished ROS generation and ER stress activation inhibited by oroxyloside in vitro. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that oroxyloside ameliorates DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting ER stress via PPARγ activation, suggesting that oroxyloside might be a promising effective agent for IBD.