Animal proteins are the primary global protein source, but their production is environmentally challenging and has low conversion efficiency. This highlights the need to diversify dietary protein sources. Algal proteins provide a sustainable alternative, outperforming traditional plant and animal proteins in protein content, quality, and digestibility. Furthermore, bioactive peptides (BAPs) derived from algal proteins exhibit significant health benefits, including antihypertensive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities. This review comprehensively explores the nutritional benefits of algal proteins and provides an innovative summary of the production techniques for algal bioactive peptides. It also highlights the synergistic application methods of these technologies. By integrating pretreatment methods such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, pulsed electric field, and high hydrostatic pressure with enzymatic-assisted extraction, these techniques demonstrate a synergistic effect in improving protein hydrolysis efficiency while also increasing the yield of BAPs. Meanwhile, database resources related to algal proteins are integrated and the application of computer technology in the development of algal proteins is analyzed. It aims to provide new insights to optimize the development and utilization of algal proteins to help them become a sustainable source of nutrition to meet the needs of a growing global population.

BACKGROUND:Metabolic syndrome (MetS) encompasses a cluster of conditions, including atherosclerotic dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, impaired glucose homeostasis, and central obesity. The current drug interventions are still not therapeutic, highlighting the critical need for pleiotropic natural compounds capable of simultaneously targeting insulin signaling, lipid redistribution, and inflammatory cascades. PURPOSE:This review meticulously evaluates recent advancements in the monacolin family, focusing on the structure, gene cluster analysis, biosynthetic pathways, and biological activities of monacolin K. It aims to provide the potential theory for further exploration of monacolin K's lipid-lowering functions. METHODS:This review systematically analyzes contemporary research on monacolin K, focusing on its molecular mechanisms influencing lipid metabolism. Emphasis is placed on its modes of action, including the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis, modulation of hepatic cholesterol utilization, and restriction of lipid accumulation, all of which have been substantiated through in vivo studies. RESULTS:The accumulated evidence confirms that monacolin K significantly lowers lipid levels, as reflected in decreased plasma cholesterol concentrations and reduced liver cholesterol buildup. Furthermore, monacolin K demonstrates a variety of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects, highlighting its potential in managing MetS. CONCLUSION:Monacolin K represents a promising bioactive compound with diverse health benefits, particularly in regulating cholesterol levels and preventing cardiovascular disease. Future studies should focus on determining the optimal dosage, long-term efficacy, and safety of monacolin K, facilitating its integration into standard treatment regimens for metabolic abnormality and related conditions.

The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of the combing of Agrocybe aegerita polysaccharides (AAPS) with Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 (Bb-12) on antioxidant activity, anti-aging properties, and modulation of gut microbiota. The results demonstrated that the AAPS and Bb-12 complex significantly increased the average lifespan of male and female Drosophila melanogaster under natural aging conditions (p < 0.05), with an improvement of 8.42% and 9.79%, respectively. Additionally, the complex enhanced their climbing ability and increased antioxidant enzyme activity, protecting them from oxidative damage induced by H2O2. In D-galactose induced aging mice, the addition of AAPS and Bb-12 resulted in significantly increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, regulation of aging-related biomarker levels, changed gut microbiota diversity, restoration of microbial structure, and increased abundance of beneficial bacteria, particularly lactobacilli, in the intestines. These findings suggested that the complex of AAPS and Bb-12 had the potential to serve as a dietary supplement against organism aging and oxidative stress.

This study aimed to assess the hypoglycemic efficacy of low molecular weight polysaccharides fractions obtained from Laminaria japonica (LJOO) in a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) constructed using mice. Biochemical parameters were measured after 4 weeks of continuous gavage, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentrations were analyzed. Pathological changes in tissues were assessed. The intestinal contents were obtained for 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing analysis and detection of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). LJOO lowered FBG and insulin concentrations. It altered the gut microbiota composition, as evidenced by enriched probiotic bacteria, along with an increase in the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and a decrease in the population of harmful bacteria. LJOO stimulated the growth of SCFA—producing bacteria, thereby increasing cecal SCFAs levels. LJOO can potentially aid in alleviating T2DM and related gut microbiota dysbiosis. LJOO may be used as a food supplement for patients with T2DM.

The hypoglycemic effects of low-molecular-weight Laminaria japonica polysaccharide (LJO) were investigated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice, focusing on its effect on the microbiome, metabolome, and transcriptome. The findings demonstrated that LJO significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels, insulin levels, and inflammatory factors. Additionally, LJO induced changes in gut microbiota composition and increased the concentrations of cecal short-chain fatty acids. Analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics data revealed that LJO primarily altered the endocrine and digestive systems, signal transduction, and lipid metabolism. It led to a decrease in palmitic acid levels and an increase in glutathione levels. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay suggested that LJO upregulated Irs1 expression, consequently reducing insulin resistance. These findings strongly suggest that LJO holds promise in ameliorating T2DM and may serve as a potential dietary supplement for patients with T2DM.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease of uncertain pathogenesis that develops in the elderly population and is characterized by loss of cognitive function, memory loss, and deterioration of everyday behavior. The development of biological models of AD is constrained by the complexity of the pathogenesis and multiple causes. Creating disease models can aid in understanding the pathophysiology of AD and developing effective therapeutic drugs. In this review, the animal and cellular models that are currently being utilized to research AD are outlined and described in detail according to modeling approaches. The main animal models are natural aging models, transgenic models, and drug-induced models. The main cellular models are traditional 2D cells, human induced pluripotent stem 2D cells (neurons and glial cells), and 3D cells, as well as organoid models, and the benefits and drawbacks of their various biological models are assessed. They do have their limitations due to an incomplete reflection of AD pathology. Therefore, new models for AD research are needed in the future. The summary of existing models is intended to provide a basis for the subsequent development of new disease models and to provide a reference for the study of disease mechanisms, clinical research, and new drug development in AD.

Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids (GP) have been reported to help prevent and improve hyperlipidemia. Modulation of the gut microbiota was proposed as underlying factor as well as a novel measure to prevent and treat hyperlipidemia. The effects of GP on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia and gut microbiota modulation were determined in rats. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF MS-MS) indicated that GP were enriched with ganoderic acids G, B, H, A, and F. After feeding with GP supplementation, serum lipid levels including total triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly decreased in hyperlipidemic rats. Furthermore, administration of GP also has reversed the HFD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, including a significant increase in Alloprevotella and reduced proportion of Blautia. The result above suggests that GP would be developed as a functional food to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders and hyperlipidemia.

Carbon and nitrogen play a fundamental role in the production of Monascus pigments. However, their effects on pigment biosynthesis remain undetermined. In this study, we found that Monascus kaoliang produces pigments via liquid fermentation using glycerol and peptone as suitable carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Comparative transcriptomic profiling was performed using RNA sequencing. It indicated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of carbon were enriched using amino acids and carbohydrates via the transport and metabolism pathways, respectively. DEGs of nitrogen were enriched only using general functional prediction pathways. These data provide a comprehensive interpretation of the linkage between primary and secondary metabolisms in M. kaoliang. Moreover, they provide insights into the effects of various substances involved in secondary metabolism.

Enteromorpha prolifera is a nutrient-rich green alga and abound in the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea of China. In this study, E. prolifera was anaerobically digested for biogas production. The variations of chemical compositions and microbial community structure as well as the physical structure of E. prolifera in anaerobic digestion process were investigated. This is the first report of multiple ways to deeply analysis the process of E. prolifera anaerobic digestion. Results from the present work showed that the biogas obtained from E. prolifera anaerobic digestion could achieve 409.7 mL•g − 1 TS with an average methane concentration of 53.2%, and the VFAs content in substrate played a vital role for driving the biogas production of flora. Moreover, S1 of Thermotogaceae and Cenarchaeum , the dominant bacteria and archaea in digestion flora, respectively, played important roles in degrading E. prolifera , acidizing slurry, and providing methanogenic substrate for methanogens. Graphical Abstract

Polysaccharides extracted from Agrocybe aegerita (AAPS) have various physiological effects. In this study, we used the naturally aging Drosophila melanogaster and D-galactose-induced aging mice as animal models to study the anti-aging effects of AAPS via the alleviation of oxidative stress and regulation of gut microbiota. Results showed that AAPS could significantly prolong lifespan and alleviate oxidative stress induced by H2O2 of Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, AAPS significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster and mice, and reduced the content of MDA. Furthermore, AAPS reshaped the disordered intestinal flora, increased the abundance ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus. Our results demonstrated that AAPS had good antioxidant and potential anti-aging effects in vivo.

深化高校创新创业教育改革是国家大力推动的重要教育决策和部署,是高校实现创新人才培养,提高当代大学就业工作能力和就业工作质量的重要手段.本文研究和探讨了大学生创新创业教育的模式,梳理了当前大学生创新创业教育存在的问题,提出了加强双创师资配置、推动校企合作体系创新等诸多方面改革措施,为促进大学生创新创业教育实现更大突破提供参考与借鉴.

Fucosylated oligosaccharides have important biological functions as well as an excellent antiviral activity. A novel alpha 1-2-fucosyltransferase (alpha 2FT) from Treponema primitia (Tp2FT) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and purified as an N-His(6)-tagged fusion protein (His(6)-Tp2FT). Mass spectrometry was carried out to identify the products of enzymatic reaction. The Tp2FT exhibited strict acceptor substrate specificity for type 1 structure (Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc)-containing glycans. It might be a promising emzyme for the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of lacto-N-fucopentaose I (LNFP I), which is one of the important fucosylated oligosaccharides. In this study, different in vitro experiments were used to study the biological activities of LNFP I. It could reduce the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and effectively inhibit the synthesis of enterovirus 71 proliferation. LNFP I was an inhibitor of enterovirus 71 in the early stages of infection, it can used in infant nutrition and might provide a new drug for hand foot mouth disease.

Although fish oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, it is greatly affected by environmental pollutants. Schizochytrium oil and Sacha inchi oil are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, but there are few studies on their lipid-lowering effects. The Schizochytrium oil, fish oil, and Sacha inchi oil are formulated into a 1:1:1 mixture emulsion (SFSO). Experimental results show that SFSO could significantly decrease blood lipid and liver total cholesterol (TC,30-40%), triglyceride (TG,35%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C,78.38%), and enhance antioxidant capacity. In addition, SFSO significantly reduces the mRNA expression levels of A-cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT,86.5%), fatty acid synthetase (FAS,96.16%), 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR,68.3%), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c,75.1%), and peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPAR-gamma,17.23%), has a strong inhibitory effect on the expression of fat synthesis-related genes. On the contrary, it significantly promotes the mRNA expression of acyl-CoA oxidase-1 (ACOX1,85.54%), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL,61.84%), and peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptors alpha (PPAR-alpha,12.43%), accelerates the metabolism of fat and the oxidation of fatty acids. The analysis of gut microbiota shows that some pathogenic bacteria associated with obesity and inflammation in LSFSO group decreased significantly, and the increased Alloprevotella and Parabacteroides are positively correlated with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Practical Applications: The regulatory mechanism of SFSO on LMDS and gut microbiota was discussed, and the source of unsaturated fatty acids was optimized.

Effects of Spirulina platensis 55% ethanol extract (SPL55) on lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rats were investigated. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry indicated that SPL55 was enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Meanwhile, serum and liver lipid levels, including total triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, were significantly decreased in hyperlipidaemic rats of SPL55. Analysis of tissue sections showed that SPL55 treatment could markedly inhibit hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis. Moreover, SPL55 regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of SREBP-1c, HMG-CoA, PEPCK, ACC, and AMPK genes involved in lipid metabolism. Furthermore, SPL55 led to decrease the abundances of Turicibacter, Clostridium_XlVa, and Romboutsia, which were positive correlation with lipid metabolism indicators, and has also enriched Alloprevotella, Prevotella, Porphyromonadaceae, and Barnesiella. These results provided evidence that SPL55 might be developed as a functional food to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders and hyperlipidaemia.

High-fat diet (HFD) and sucrose intake can lead to hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as well as disturbed gastrointestinal microbiota and dysfunctional intestinal barrier. In the present study, we showed that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide and chitosan (PC) significantly mitigated the hyperlipidemia in HFD-fed hamsters via lowering the contents of serum total triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Furthermore, PC changed the composition of gastrointestinal microbiota and elevated the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria, such as Prevotella, Oscillibacter, and SCFA-producers. Interestingly, we also found that the abundances of Prevotella, Alloprevotella, Bifidobacterium, and Alistipes were negatively associated with serum lipid profiles. Collectively, the above-mentioned findings indicated that PC could improve lipid metabolic disorders, at least in part, by modulating gastrointestinal microbiota, suggesting that PC could be used as a potential lipid-lowering ingredient in functional foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: PC could ameliorate lipid metabolism disorder, at least in part, by regulating specific gut microbiota, suggesting its potential as a novel lipid-lowering ingredient in functional foods. We believed that our findings could be of interest to the readers because they help others further understand the gut microbiota alterations that occurred after PC supplementation in the context of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

The physicochemical characteristics and in vitro antioxidant and in vivo anti-ageing activities of partial purified Chlorella pyrenoidosa polysaccharides (PCPPs) were investigated. The building blocks of PCPPs were mainly composed of D-glucose, D-galactose and D-mannose. The average molecular weight of PCPPs was 9,950 Da. In vitro antioxidant activity assays showed that PCPPs could effectively scavenge hydroxyl, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, and superoxide radicals, with stronger effect on hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, the mean lifespan of the male and female Drosophila melanogaster was extended by 11.5% and 10.6%, respectively. This was accompanied by an increase in the total activity of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in young or old D. melanogaster administered with PCPPs. Moreover, a gender-dependent difference was observed both in lifespan and antioxidant enzyme activities in D. melanogaster. The results indicated that C. pyrenoidosa polysaccharides are potential natural antioxidants in extending lifespan.

以果糖添加量、氯化铵和初始含水量为自变量,以红曲霉总色价为响应值,采用响应面优化法对红曲产色素的固态发酵条件进行了优化,结果表明:最优培养基条件为果糖添加量0.54％、氯化铵添加量0.06％和初始含水量46.00％,该设计中模型预测的色素最大值为6693.99U·g-1.进行重复验证试验,经测定实际所得红曲色素为6684.16U·g-1,与模型中预测的色素最大值相差不大,说明模型设计合理,吻合度较高.

文章讨论了多媒体技术教学及特点,并针对食品微生物检验学实验教学中存在的抽象、难理解、操作要求高等问题,论述了其在食品微生物检验学实验教学中应用的必要性及可行性.文章认为,随着信息技术的发展,充分利用多媒体技术可以提升食品微生物检验学实验的教学效果.

Monascus spp. have been used for thousands of years as a traditional food additive in China. This mold can produce many different types of commercially valuable secondary metabolites of biological activity. Soluble starch and glycerol are the two principal carbon sources universally utilized by Monascus for the production of beneficial metabolites. In this study, the effects and regulation mechanisms of soluble starch and glycerol for M. purpureus FAFU618 on Monascus azaphilone pigments (MonAzPs) were investigated through ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS), comparative proteomics and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The production of intracellular and extracellular pigments was significantly different between the soluble starch group (SSG) and glycerol group (GCG). Additionally, the components of intracellular pigments revealed by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS showed that Monascin and Ankaflavin increased significantly in the GCG, while Rubropunctatin and Monascorubrin increased in the SSG. Differentially expressed proteins of mycelia between SSG and GCG were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. We identified 27 proteins with statistically altered expression, of which 18 proteins associated with the EMP (glycolytic pathway), translation, energy generation, proteolysis, etc. were up-regulated, and 9 proteins, including ribosomal proteins, heat shock proteins (HSPs) and others, were down-regulated in GCG. Meanwhile, the expression levels of MonAzP biosynthetic genes were also analyzed by RT-qPCR, and the results showed that mppA, mppC, mppR1 and mppR2 were down-regulated, whereas genes MpPKS5, MpFasA2, MpFasB2, mppB, mppD and mppE were up-regulated. Collectively, these findings illustrate that the regulation of MonAzPs is not only closely related to the expression levels of certain proteins in the polyketide synthesis pathway but also closely related to the concentration of primary metabolism-generated molecules that are used as substrates for polyketide synthesis. The present study provides insights into the regulation of different carbon sources on the metabolism of MonAzPs in M. purpureus FAFU618. These results may promote further development of functional foods or medicines from Monascus spp. fermented products.