Utilizing Hydrothermal Processing to Align Structure and In Vitro Digestion Kinetics between Three Different Pulse Types

Processing results in the transformation of pulses’ structural architecture. Consequently, digestion is anticipated to emerge from the combined effect of intrinsic (matrix-dependent) and extrinsic (processed-induced) factors. In this work, we aimed to investigate the interrelated effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on pulses’ structural architecture and resulting digestive consequences. Three commercially relevant pulses (chickpea, pea, black bean) were selected based on reported differences in macronutrient and cell wall composition. Starch and protein digestion kinetics of hydrothermally processed whole pulses were assessed along with microstructural and physicochemical characteristics and compared to the digestion behavior of individual cotyledon cells isolated thereof. Despite different rates of hardness decay upon hydrothermal processing, the pulses reached similar residual hardness values (40 N). Aligning the pulses at the level of this macrostructural property translated into similar microstructural characteristics after mechanical disintegration (isolated cotyledon cells) with comparable yields of cotyledon cells for all pulses (41–62%). We observed that processing to equivalent microstructural properties resulted in similar starch and protein digestion kinetics, regardless of the pulse type and (prolonged) processing times. This demonstrated the capacity of (residual) hardness as a food structuring parameter in pulses. Furthermore, we illustrated that the digestive behavior of isolated cotyledon cells was representative of the digestion behavior of corresponding whole pulses, opening up perspectives for the incorporation of complete hydrothermally processed pulses as food ingredients.

Effects of Compound Probiotics on Cecal Microbiome and Metabolome of Shaoxing Duck

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of compound probiotics on intestinal microflora and metabolome of Shaoxing ducks. A total of 640 1-day-old Shaoxing ducks were randomly divided into two treatments with eight replicates and forty ducks for each replicate. The ducks were fed basal diet (Ctrl) and basal diet supplemented with 0.15% compound probiotics (MixP). The experiment lasted for 85 days. The results showed that the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Bacteroides in MixP was higher than that in Ctrl (P < 0.05). However, the abundance of Firmicutes and Oscillospira and Desulfovibrio in MixP was lower than that in Ctrl (P < 0.05). Concentrations of 71 metabolites differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the MixP and the Ctrl groups; for example, Pyridoxal (Vitamin B6), L-Arginine, and Betaine aldehyde were up-regulated (P < 0.05), and 7-oxocholesterol, 3-hydroxy-L-kynureni-ne, and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine were down-regulated (P < 0.05). KEGG was enriched in 15 metabolic pathways. The pathways of Vitamin B6 metabolism, Vascular smooth muscle contraction, Vitamin digestion and absorption, and Protein digestion and absorption were influenced by compound probiotics supplementation. Thus, supplementation of compound probiotics improved cecal heath through shifts in the cecal microbiome and metabolome.

The anti-nutritional effect of phytates - the extraphosphorus effect of phytase (review)

An analytical review was conducted on the availability of phosphorus from phytates, which increase the inclusion of phytase in the feed, while not only phytic acid is broken down, but also as a result of a decrease in concentration reduces its anti-nutritional effect.Phosphorus from plant feeds is not fully available to animals, as it is part of phytates, the cleavage of which in the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract) of animals is limited. Phytates, getting into the acidic environment of the stomach, ionize and react with positively charged minerals, proteins, amino acids, creating compounds inaccessible for further digestion. The inclusion of phytase in compound feed is accompanied by an extra phosphoric effect, which is expressed in an increase in the availability of amino acids and energy. The decision on the feasibility of including phytase in feed is made on the basis of production tests of the proposed drugs.The studies carried out by the authors of invitro confirm the assumption that phytates enter into chemical interactions with peptides, as well as amino acids formed in the processes of protein digestion, turning them into compounds inaccessible to absorption. The proposed explanation does not affect the results of the balance experiment, but allows us to develop the study of the mechanism in terms of the interaction of digested amino acids with phytates. Based on this, another conclusion can be seen: the destruction of phytates should occur in the body before the digestion and dissolution of protein. In birds, this place is the goiter and stomachs, in pigs - the stomach. The hydrolysis of newly formed phytates (FC-amino acid) requires phytases that are active in the environment of the small intestine at pH 6 -7. As a result, the bound amino acids will be re-released and available for absorption. The development of new phytase preparations, taking into account the proposed explanation, will make it possible to create more effective feed preparations.

UHT treatment and storage of liquid infant formula affects protein digestion and release of bioactive peptides

Ready-to-feed liquid infant formulas (IF) were subjected to direct (D) or indirect (ID) ultra-high-temperature (UHT) treatment and then stored at 40 °C under aseptic condition for 60-120 days simulating global...

Transcriptional responses of Daphnis nerii larval midgut to oral infection by Daphnis nerii cypovirus-23

Background Daphnis nerii cypovirus-23 (DnCPV-23) is a new type of cypovirus and has a lethal effect on the oleander hawk moth, Daphnis nerii which feeds on leave of Oleander and Catharanthus et al. After DnCPV-23 infection, the change of Daphnis nerii responses has not been reported. Methods To better understand the pathogenic mechanism of DnCPV-23 infection, 3rd-instar Daphnis nerii larvae were orally infected with DnCPV-23 occlusion bodies and the transcriptional responses of the Daphnis nerii midgut were analyzed 72 h post-infection using RNA-seq. Results The results showed that 1979 differentially expressed Daphnis nerii transcripts in the infected midgut had been identified. KEGG analysis showed that protein digestion and absorption, Toll and Imd signaling pathway were down-regulated. Based on the result, we speculated that food digestion and absorption in insect midgut might be impaired after virus infection. In addition, the down-regulation of the immune response may make D. nerii more susceptible to bacterial infections. Glycerophospholipid metabolism and xenobiotics metabolism were up-regulated. These two types of pathways may affect the viral replication and xenobiotic detoxification of insect, respectively. Conclusion These results may facilitate a better understanding of the changes in Daphnis nerii metabolism during cypovirus infection and serve as a basis for future research on the molecular mechanism of DnCPV-23 invasion.

Effect of fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with slow transit constipation and the relative mechanisms based on the protein digestion and absorption pathway

Background Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is considered an effective treatment for slow transit constipation (STC); nevertheless, the mechanism remains unclear. Methods In this study, eight patients with STC were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria; they then received three treatments of FMT. The feces and serum of STC patients were collected after each treatment and analyzed by integrating 16 s rRNA microbiome and metabolomic analyses. Results The results showed that the percentage of clinical improvement reached 62.5% and the rates of patients’ clinical remission achieved 75% after the third treatment. At the same time, FMT improved the Wexner constipation scale (WCS), the Gastrointestinal Quality-of-Life Index (GIQLI) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Fecal microbiome alpha diversity and beta diversity altered significantly after FMT. Analysis of the 16 s rRNA microbiome showed that the numbers of Bacteroidetes (Prevotell/Bacteroides) and Firmicute (Roseburia/Blautia) decreased, whereas Actinobacteria (Bifidobacterium), Proteobacteria (Escherichia), and Firmicute (Lactobacillus) increased after FMT. The metabolomics analyses showed that the stool of FMT-treated patients were characterized by relatively high levels of N-Acetyl-L-glutamate, gamma-L-glutamyl-L-glutamic acid, Glycerophosphocholine, et al., after FMT. Compared with baseline, the serum of treated patients was characterized by relatively high levels of L-Arginine, L-Threonine, Ser-Arg, Indoleacrylic acid, Phe-Tyr, 5-L-Glutamyl-L-alanine, and lower levels of Erucamide after the treatment. The correlation analysis between the metabolites and gut microbiota showed a significant correlation. For example, L-Arginine was positively correlated with lactobacillus, et al. L-Threonine was positively correlated with Anaerovibrio, Sediminibacterium but negatively correlated with Phascolarctobacterium. Erucamide had significant negative correlations with Sediminibacterium and Sharpea, while being positively correlated with Phascolarctobacterium. Enriched KEGG pathways analysis demonstrated that the protein digestion and absorption pathways gradually upregulated with the increase of FMT frequency. The L-Arginine and L-Threonine were also involved in the pathway. A large amount of Na + was absorbed in the pathway, so that it might increase mucus secretion and electrical excitability of GI smooth muscle. Conclusions Therefore, we speculated that FMT changed the patients’ gut microbiota and metabolites involved in the protein digestion and absorption pathways, thereby improving the symptoms of STC. Study on the effectiveness and safety of FMT in the treatment of STC. The study was reviewed and approved by Ethics Committee of Tianjin People's Hospital (ChiCTR2000033227) in 2020.

Food Matrices Affect the Peptides Produced during the Digestion of Arthrospira platensis-Based Functional Aliments

Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) has been credited with multiple beneficial effects, many of which are attributed to bioactive peptides produced during the gastrointestinal digestion of this micro-alga. Many Spirulina-based nutraceuticals have been produced, and numerous functional foods enriched with Spirulina are available on the market. These are subjected to checks aimed at verifying the amount of algae actually present, but few studies relating to the bioavailability of the bioactive compounds in these products have been carried out. However, such investigations could be very important to elucidate the possible critical effects exerted by food matrices on protein digestion and bioactive peptide production. Here, in order to assess the suitability of Spirulina-enriched foods as a source of potentially bioactive peptides, a simulated digestion protocol was used in combination with mass spectrometry quantitative analysis to analyze functionalized pasta and sorbets. In the case of the pasta enriched with Spirulina, the production of peptides was quite similar to that of the Spirulina powder. On the other hand, the type of fruit present in the food matrix influenced the digestion of Spirulina inside the sorbets. In particular, the high concentration of protease inhibitors in kiwifruit drastically reduced the production of peptides from Spirulina in kiwi sorbet.