Enrofloxacin (ENR), a third-generation fluoroquinolone veterinary antibiotic, is widely used in aquaculture and animal husbandry for bacterial infection control due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, potent bactericidal efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. However, its excessive and non-standard use has caused widespread residues in animal-derived foods, which pose severe risks to human gastrointestinal, nervous and hepatorenal systems, induce bacterial resistance, and threaten global food safety and ecological sustainability. Herein, we developed a label-free, rapid, and highly sensitive fluorescence aptasensor for ENR detection based on G-triplex signal amplification. The ENR-specific aptamer was pre-hybridized with a guanine-rich sequence to suppress G-triplex formation and maintain a low thioflavin T (ThT) background. Upon ENR addition, target binding releases the guanine-rich strand, which folds into a stable G-triplex and strongly enhances ThT fluorescence for quantitative detection. Under optimal conditions, this aptasensor showed a linear range of 1.0 nM to 1.0 μM (R2 = 0.9925) with a detection limit of 1.2 nM. The assay takes only 25 min without complex instruments or chemical labeling. It exhibited excellent selectivity and satisfactory recoveries (92.36–105.78

The anti-atherosclerotic effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are well-documented, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly via cross-organ crosstalk, remain unclear. Here, a high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis (AS) model in ApoE-/- mice was constructed. Compared with controls, AS mice exhibited elevated serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, along with reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, impaired hepatic and cardiac function, enlarged aortic plaque area, and pronounced hepatic steatosis and cardiac lipid deposition. DHA/EPA intervention reversed these biochemical and histopathological abnormalities, and conferred superior hepatoprotection than Atorvastatin. Transcriptomics identified 1453 and 1663 differentially expressed genes in liver and aorta of AS mice, respectively. DHA/EPA up-regulated genes related to hepatic cholesterol metabolism and bile acid synthesis, and aortic genes encoding ABC transporters and PPAR signaling components. Conversely, they suppressed hepatic IL-17 signaling and endothelial adhesion molecules. MicroRNA quantification showed significant modulation of aortic miR-33a, miR-146a-3p, miR-155 and miR-223-3p levels, implicating regulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation. Collectively, these data indicate that DHA and EPA exert synergistic anti-atherosclerotic effects via the aorta-liver axis, regulating lipid metabolism, inflammation and vascular remodeling via a miR-30a/146a-3p/223-3p mediated network. These findings provide experimental and mechanistic supports for nutritional intervention of AS.

Foodborne pathogens are one of the major factors contributing to food safety issues, necessitating the urgent development of rapid, efficient, and safe detection strategies for foodborne microorganisms. Herein, an on-needle detection platform of foodborne pathogens based on an integrated hydrogel microneedle array (MN) was developed for bacterial capture and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). This technology utilized MNs for rapid isolation of target bacteria and achieved on-needle detection through a preloaded RPA reaction system within the MN. Using Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as a model, the proposed method enabled on-needle quantification in 30 min, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.6 CFU/g. The proposed assay exhibited good specificity for S. aureus and was successfully applied to evaluate the S. aureus contamination in commercial pork samples. Moreover, the method could be extended to detect Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), reflecting its broad applicability. This study opens a new avenue for simplifying microbial detection processes, significantly streamlining the pretreatment workflow, and reducing detection time, thereby demonstrating broad application prospects in the field of on-site rapid detection.

In the contemporary era, the digital revolution is fundamentally transforming our modes of living, working and thinking by optimizing processes, enabling deeper insights discovery and enhancing decision-making. The realization of this immense potential lies in the ability to extract valuable information from large datasets through machine learning (ML), thereby generating data-driven insights, informed decisions and accurate predictions. By leveraging the powerful modeling capabilities of ML, particularly in handling complex high-dimensional data, the food industry can more accurately predict or identify potential quality issues, safety risks and shifts in consumer trends. In this review, the basic principles of ML in data processing, model training and performance evaluation were introduced, followed by a comprehensive overview of ML applications across various food industry scenarios, including production optimization, origin traceability, adulteration detection, quality control, pathogen or foreign objects identification, preservation techniques, supply chain management, foods innovation and consumption trends. The types of data processing, feature extraction and model algorithms employed in these retrieved studies are systematically categorized and discussed, to assist readers in selecting appropriate algorithms for solving practical problems that may be encountered in food industry. Despite substantial progress in both theoretical foundation and practical applications of ML technique, there are still challenges in terms of data accessibility, model robustness and results interpretability. Addressing these issues is essential for fully realizing the potential benefits that ML offers to food industry. It is expected that the insights presented will contribute to the advancement of ML-based artificial intelligence technologies for smart food industry applications.

Background: A healthy diet and proper nutrition are essential for life and play a crucial role in disease prevention. Nutrigenomics (NG) is a multidisciplinary science that combines knowledges from nutrition, molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics and epidemiology to reveal the overall effects of different nutrients or foods on health. Personalized nutrition is an effective solution for translating of NG into practice, as it is designed based on the unique genetic makeup and metabolic profile of an individual, aiming to prevent diseases related to improper nutrients intake. Scope and approach: This review provides a comprehensive discussion of the conventional tools utilized in NG research, while highlighting the intricate mechanisms through which nutrients influence metabolic networks via gene expression regulation, as well as how genetic variations modulate human body's response to dietary nutrients. Furthermore, this study systematically summarizes the integrated application of multi-omics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in food science, and proposes a conceptual framework of the genotype-based personalized nutrition intervention model. Challenges related to data integration, interpretation, and practical application barriers are also discussed, along with the perspectives on future trends in precision nutrition. Key findings and conclusions: NG is currently experiencing a transformation from traditional experimental approaches to a "big data-driven" research paradigm. The integration of NG with emerging technologies not only provides scientific support for the innovations of the food industry, but also accelerates the implementation of genotype-based personalized nutrition strategies by offering more precise, personalized, data-driven insights and proactive strategies that cater to individual health needs. As these technologies continue to advance, AI-powered personalized nutrition is poised to play a pivotal role in health management in the future.

In this study, rosmarinic acid (RA) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) were used to improve the stability of myofibrillar protein (MP) undergoing hemoglobin (Hb)-mediated oxidation. Hb-mediated oxidation caused changes in MP's secondary and tertiary structures. RA or CGA suppressed effectively Hb-induced MP oxidation, and maintained MP's spatial conformational stability through interacting with MP's amino acid side chains to form phenolic-protein complexes. Further investigations by multi-spectroscopic techniques, isothermal titration calorimetry, and molecular docking and dynamics simulation revealed the interaction of RA or CGA with Hb through binding to Hb's central hydrophobic cavity via one binding site. The RA/CGA-Hb binding was an enthalpy-driven spontaneous and exothermic process, involving hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces as the main interactive forces. The Hb-CGA binding might be more stable than Hb-RA binding. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of RA and CGA in improving meat products quality by regulating Hb-mediated protein oxidation.

Mytilus edulis-derived plasmalogens (Pls) are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are reportedly effective in ameliorating cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to clarify the underlying mechanisms of Pls against atherosclerosis (AS) in ApoE−/− mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD), through a comprehensive analysis of hepatic metabolomics and aortic transcriptomics data. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in pathological indicators associated with AS following Pls treatment. Furthermore, the abundance of hepatic lipid metabolites, which have either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory effects, was significantly altered among experimental groups. Combined with transcriptomics data, it is suggested that these metabolic changes may inhibit MAPK signaling pathway, subsequently suppressing downstream vascular inflammatory responses and activity of NLRP3 inflammasome in Pls-treated mice. Collectively, this study supports the benefits of Pls as effective dietary bioactive phospholipids in preventing HFD-induced AS and related metabolic disorders, possibly through modulation of the MAPK signaling pathway.

The detection of organic pollutants in water was deemed critical for safeguarding aquatic ecosystems, maintaining human health, and upholding water quality standards. In this study, a novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was proposed for the sensitive detection of hydroquinone (HQ) in lake water, utilizing a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with silver/luminol-functionalized carbon microspheres (GCE/CM@Ag/Lu). Due to the consumption of H2O2 by HQ, the ECL signal was attenuated, enabling the quantitative detection of HQ. Under optimized conditions, the linear range for HQ ranged from 1.0 × 10-4-1.0 × 10-10 mol L-1, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.3 × 10-11 mol L-1 (S/N = 3). The proposed ECL sensor shows promising potential to open new avenues for water quality assessment.

Despite the increasing global salmon production and the recognition of by-product value, nutrient-rich salmon heads are not fully utilized for direct consumption. This study explored the influence of homogenization combined with ultrasonic treatment (HUT) on micro-nano particle (MNPs) formation, nutrient composition, flavor profile, and overall quality of salmon head soup. Results showed that HUT effectively enhanced nutrient content. Meanwhile, the size of MNPs decreased from 1967.67 nm to 674.17 nm after HUT treatment, and the soup samples exhibited improved emulsification and enhanced whiteness with a more uniform texture. HUT also enhanced the soup's antioxidant activity. Moreover, HUT promoted the generation of volatile flavor compounds, increased the content of FAAs and 5'-nucleotides. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between MNPs particle size and soup quality and flavor. Overall, HUT can enhance the nutritional value, flavor, and overall quality of salmon head soup.

In this study, the beneficial effects of EPA in ethyl esters (EE) and triacylglycerides (TAG) forms on high fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were studied and compared. Results indicated that both EPA-TAG and EPA-EE can alleviate pathological features of NAFLD, such as hepatic lipid accumulation and lobular inflammation, with a more pronounced protective effects observed in EPA-TAG treated mice. The integrated hepatic transcriptomic, metabolic and gut microbiota profiles suggest that EPA-TAG and EPA-EE improved hepatic steatosis by suppression of food intake and lipogenesis, promotion of lipid and phospholipid PUFA remodeling, ketogenesis and fatty acids oxidation, possibly via activating the AMPK/adipocytokine signaling pathway. The protective effect of EPA was also associated with the regulation of intestinal flora structure. In general, EPA-TAG was found to be more effective than EPA-EE in preventing HFD-induced NAFLD by reducing appetite, improving hepatic lipid metabolism, increasing energy expenditure, and enhancing gut-liver cross-talk.

Plasmalogens (Pls), a special group of phospholipids, are effective in ameliorating neurodegenerative disease. In the present study, the metabolic effects of seafood-derived Pls on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia in zebrafish were evaluated, and the underlying mechanisms of dietary Pls against hyperlipidemia were explored through integrated analyses of hepatic transcriptomics and metabolomics. The results demonstrated that Pls supplementation could effectively alleviate HFD-induced obesity symptoms, such as body weight gain, and decrease total hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Integrated hepatic transcriptome and metabolome data suggested that Pls mainly altered lipid metabolism pathways (FA metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and glycerolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism) and the TCA cycle, induced the overexpression of anti-oxidation enzymes (Cat, Gpx4, Sod3a and Xdh), reduced disease biomarkers (such as glutarylcarnitine, gamma-glutamyltyrosine, and 11-prostaglandin f2) and gut microbiota-derived metabolites, and increased (±)12(13)-diHOME, EPA, lysoPC and PC levels. Moreover, 5 abnormally regulated metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers associated with hyperlipidemia according to the metabolomics results and suggested the involvement of gut microbiota in the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Pls. Collectively, these findings suggest that the protective role of Pls is mainly associated with the promotion of unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and cholesterol efflux, lipid and phospholipid PUFA remodeling, and anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory capabilities. This study provides valuable information for reasonably explaining the beneficial effects of seafood-derived Pls in alleviating hyperlipidemia and thus may contribute to the development and application of Pls as functional foods or dietary supplements to protect against obesity and hyperlipidemia.

Anxiety and depression are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in the world, and they are highly comorbid with each other. Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine widely used in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety in clinical practice. To explore the effects of ZSS in alleviating anxiety in a sleep deprivation (SD) zebrafish model, the locomotor activity performance and anxiety behavior of these experimental fish were evaluated, and the underlying mechanisms of its anti-anxiety effect were examined by analyzing the transcriptomics of brain tissues. Results indicated that ZSS could significantly reduce the freezing duration and alleviate anxiety-like behavior. Moreover, ZSS was effective in promoting melatonin biosynthesis and synaptic transmission, modulating circadian rhythm, and preventing inflammatory response and oxidative stress, as evidenced by the expression alterations of the key anti-oxidation genes (GCLC, GPX1A, GSR, NRF2A and PRDX1) and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL2RGA, IL6 and IL17A/F1). These findings will contribute to the understanding of how ZSS alleviates SD-induced anxiety, and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of ZSS.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) contamination in aquatic foods is a serious health threat to people. Here, a simple aptamer-based colorimetric lateral flow assay (LFA) was developed for on-site and visual detection of MC-LR for the first time. This detection system was designed on the basis of competition for Apt-A2C aptamer between MC-LR and its partial complementary sequence. Apt-A2C modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used as the signal reporter to realize the colorimetric readout by naked eyes, and the signal intensity of test line was inversely proportional to the concentration of MC-LR in the sample solution. Under optimized conditions, this aptamer-based LFA platform can visually detect MC-LR as low as 2.5 ng/mL with a linear range of 1-50 ng/mL, and an instrumental limit of detection of 0.84 ng/mL using a scanning strip reader. The whole assay can be finished within 5 min, starting from sample loading to color acquisition. The developed aptamer-based LFA was successfully applied in the detection of MC-LR in spiked fish tissue samples with the recovery rates ranged from 74.3% to 85.6%, and the results agreed well with those of tandem mass spectrometry. Besides, it had excellent selectivity toward MC-LR as the detection results were not affected by the potentially interfering molecules in real aquatic food matrix. Therefore, the LFA strip is an easy-to-use tool for instrument-free detection of MC-LR, and it can be applied to other toxins in aquatic foods with available aptamers.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), as a hepatotoxin, can cause liver swelling, hepatitis, and even liver cancer. In this study, MC-LR aptamer (Apt-3) modified graphene oxide (GO) was designed to enrich MC-LR in white jade snail (Achatina fulica) and pond water, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis. Results indicated that the Apt-3/PEG/GO nanocomposites were highly specific to MC-LR, and the detection limit of MALDI-MS was 0.50 ng/mL. Moreover, the MC-LR can be released from nanocomposites at 75°C, thus, the reuse of Apt-3/PEG/GO is realized. Real sample analysis indicated that the Apt-3/PEG/GO nanocomposites coupled with MALDI-MS were efficient in detecting trace amounts of MC-LR in real samples. With the merits of being low cost, reusable, and easy to besynthesized, this Apt-3/PEG/GO MALDI-MS is expected to be comprehensively applied by anchoring suitable aptamers for different targets.

Plasmalogens (Pls) are considered to play a potential role in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, an Alzheimer's disease (AD) model of zebrafish induced by AlCl3 was established to investigate whether the marine-derived Pls could alleviate cognitive impairments of AD zebrafish. Behavioral tests were carried out to assess the athletic ability. The transcriptional profiles of zebrafish in the control, AD model and AD_PLS group were compared and analyzed to determine the potential mechanisms of dietary Pls on AD. The study found that Pls could reverse athletic impairment in the AD zebrafish model, and the expression levels of genes related to ferroptosis, synaptic dysfunction and apoptosis were significantly altered between experimental groups. Further analysis showed that all of these genes were associated with oxidative stress (OS). These data suggest that healthy protective role of marine-derived Pls on AD zebrafish may result from inhibition of ferroptosis and neuronal apoptosis, restoring synaptic neurotransmission release, and reducing neuroinflammation. Among them, Oxidative stress is acted as the center to connect different regulation pathways. This study provides evidence to support the essential roles of OS in pathogenesis of AD, and the application of Pls in relieving AD.

The generation and accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ1–42) in amyloid plaques are key characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); thus, specific detection of Aβ1–42 is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of AD. Herein, an aptamer-conjugated graphene oxide (Apt-GO) sensor was synthesized by π-π and hydrophobic interactions using thiol poly (ethylene glycol) amine (SH-PEG-NH2) as a spacer unit. Then, it was applied to selective capture of Aβ1–42, and the resulting complex was directly analyzed by surface-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS). The results revealed that the Apt-GO could enhance the detection specificity and reduce non-specific adsorption. This method was validated to be sensitive in detecting Aβ1–42 at a low level in human serum (ca. 0.1 μM) within a linear range from 0.1 to 10 μM. The immobilizing amount of aptamer on the GO was calculated to be 36.1 nmol/mg (RSD = 11.5%). In conclusion, this Apt-GO-based SALDI-MS method was sensitive and efficient in selective extraction and detection of Aβ1–42, which proved to be a good option for early AD diagnosis.

In the present study, a sensitive and simple approach for colorimetric detecting microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in fish tissue was developed based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and a truncated aptamer Apt-910–2, which was obtained by mutation and rational truncation from the previously selected 60-mer one. The 23-mer Apt-910–2 presented improved binding affinity to MC-LR and higher specificity. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the Apt-910–2 colorimetric aptasensor worked well in 10 to 150 ng/mL MC-LR concentration ranges, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.38 ng/mL. This Apt-910–2 colorimetric aptasensor was also applied to spiked fish tissue samples and gave recovery rates ranged from 75.18 to 87.72%, with the visual LOD 10 μg/kg in fish tissue judged by the naked eye. Thus, this study provides a rapid, reliable, and convenient approach for visual detection of MC-LR, which is of great significance for food safety control by assessing potential health risks related to seafood consumption.

Largemouth bass ranavirus (LMBV) has caused mortality in largemouth bass and led to huge economic losses in the aquaculture industry. Here, we developed a novel, fast, and simple isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification assay (RPA) for LMBV detection with primers designed on the basis of a fragment of the major capsid protein gene. The reaction conditions were optimized and the RPA method was specific for LMBV, as the DNA of other four Iridoviridae viruses (Singapore grouper iridovirus, soft-shelled turtle iridovirus, tiger frog virus, and large yellow croaker iridovirus), white spot syndrome virus, grass carp reovirus, and healthy largemouth bass could not be amplified. The detection limit of LMBV-RPA was 89 copies/mu L, which was comparable to the sensitivity determined by real-time PCR. Finally, the RPA method was validated to be a simple, convenient, rapid, and field diagnostic tool for LMBV detection using 10 clinical samples. In this paper, the RPA method is firstly applied to the diagnosis and monitoring of LMBV infection in the aquaculture industry of largemouth bass, which shows great prospects for on-site diagnostics of LMBV using nearly free instruments.

Abstract Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a cyclic heptapeptide with hepatotoxic and neurotoxic activities in mammals, which is the most widespread variant of MCs produced by cyanobacterial in eutrophic water. Here, an effective adsorbent using aptamer modified graphene oxide (GO) was designed to detect MC-LR at low concentrations. GO was functionalized with an MC-LR aptamer (Apt-3) by surface modification using polyethylene glycol (PEG). Then, the novel aptamer-conjugated GO (Apt-3/PEG/GO) was used to enrich and separate MC-LR from pond water or freshwater snail samples following by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis. Results indicated that the Apt-3/PEG/GO nanocomposites were highly specific to MC-LR, and the detection limit of MALDI-MS was 0.50 ng/mL in spiked, environmental water samples. Moreover, the MC-LR can be released from nanocomposites by heating, thus the reuse of Apt-3/PEG/GO is realized. Real samples analysis indicated that the Apt-3/PEG/GO nanocomposites coupled with MALDI-MS was efficient in detection trace amount of MC-LR in snail samples. With the merits of low cost, reusable, easy to synthesis and to flexible assembly, the Apt-3/PEG/GO nanocomposites is a novel adsorbent with extensive applications, and its combination with MALDI-MS is expected to assess other analytes by anchoring suitable aptamers for different targets.

The generation and accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ 1-42 ) in amyloid plaques are key characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD), thus specific detection of Aβ 1-42 is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of AD. Herein, an aptamer-conjugated graphene oxide (Apt-GO) sensor was synthesized by π-π and hydrophobic interactions using thiol poly (ethylene glycol) amine (SH-PEG-NH 2 ) as a spacer unit. Then, it was applied to selective capture Aβ 1-42 , and the resulting complex was directly analyzed by surface-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS). The results revealed that the Apt-GO could enhance the detection specificity and reduce non-specific adsorption. This method was validated to be sensitive in detecting Aβ 1-42 at low level in human serum (ca. 0.1 nM) within a linear range from 0.1 to 10 nM. The immobilizing amount of aptamer on the GO was calculated to be 36.1 nmol/mg (RSD = 11.5%). In conclusion, this Apt-GO based SALDI-MS method was sensitive and efficient in selective extraction and detection of Aβ 1-42 , which proved to be a good option for early AD diagnosis.