Reaction of food-specific antibodies with different tissue antigens

Wheat, milk, peanuts, soy, egg and corn are among the most major sources of immunoreactive proteins. The first goal of this study was to examine the reactivity of food-specific antibodies with human tissue antigens. Affinity-purified rabbit anti-food antibodies were applied to sixty-five tissue antigens. Anti-peanut antibody had the most reactions with twenty-four out of the sixty-five antigens, followed by anti-alpha-gliadin with twenty, anti-egg with seventeen, anti-wheat with fifteen, anti-milk with fourteen, and both anti-corn and anti-soy with ten each tissue antigens. Serial dilutions and inhibition study confirmed that these reactions were specific. The second goal was to determine the percentage of blood donors with elevations in IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE antibodies against these food antigens. A significant percentage of the tested blood samples showed elevations in antibodies against different food antigens. This reaction of food-specific antibodies with different tissue antigens indicates that cross-reactivity between food and human tissue antigens exists, and these antibodies, if detected in blood, may contribute to different autoimmune diseases.     

Short communication: Validation of methods for practically evaluating failed passive transfer of immunity in calves arriving at a veal facility

Providing a sufficient quantity of high-quality colostrum to male and female calves soon after birth is critical to reduce the risk of disease and mortality. Practical tests have not been validated to determine failed passive transfer of immunity upon arrival at veal facilities. There are many challenges to validation, including the lack of information on the age of the calf and the high prevalence of dehydration. The objective of this study was to validate a semiquantitative IgG antibody test using whole blood and a digital refractometer using serum to determine passive transfer of immunity status. A total of 149 Holstein calves were evaluated upon arrival at a milk-fed veal facility for dehydration status and had blood drawn to evaluate passive transfer of immunity. Serum IgG determined by radial immunodiffusion was used as the gold standard for the validation of the tests, and a cut-off point of <1,000 mg/dL of IgG was used to indicate failed passive transfer of immunity. Serum total protein (STP) was evaluated using a digital refractometer (Misco Palm Abbe no. PA202x, Misco, Solon, OH), and a semiquantitative test (ZAPvet Bovine IgG test, NOWDiagnostics, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was used on whole blood. A nonparametric receiver operating characteristic curve was generated to compare STP and IgG levels. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values were calculated for STP and the semiquantitative IgG test. A total of 31 calves (21%) had serum IgG <1,000 mg/dL. Twelve percent of calves were showing signs of clinical dehydration when assessed upon arrival. The serum total protein (STP) was very well correlated with the concentration of IgG (R² = 0.75). The STP cut point to determine passive transfer was ≥5.1 g/dL, yielding a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 90%. The semiquantitative antibody test on whole blood performed poorly, with a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 44%. This study demonstrates that serum total protein is a reliable measure for evaluating passive transfer of immunity and can be used despite a high prevalence of dehydration.     

A microfiltration process to maximize removal of serum proteins from skim milk before cheese making

Microfiltration (MF) is a membrane process that can separate casein micelles from milk serum proteins (SP), mainly beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin. Our objective was to develop a multistage MF process to remove a high percentage of SP from skim milk while producing a low concentration factor retentate from microfiltration (RMF) with concentrations of soluble minerals, nonprotein nitrogen (NPN), and lactose similar to the original skim milk. The RMF could be blended with cream to standardize milk for traditional Cheddar cheese making. Permeate from ultrafiltration (PUF) obtained from the ultrafiltration (UF) of permeate from MF (PMF) of skim milk was successfully used as a diafiltrant to remove SP from skim milk before cheese making, while maintaining the concentration of lactose, NPN, and nonmicellar calcium. About 95% of the SP originally in skim milk was removed by combining one 3 x MF stage and two 3 x PUF diafiltration stages. The final 3 x RMF can be diluted with PUF to the desired concentration of casein for traditional cheese making. The PMF from the skim milk was concentrated in a UF system to yield an SP concentrate with protein content similar to a whey protein concentrate, but without residuals from cheese making (i.e., rennet, culture, color, and lactic acid) that can produce undesirable functional and sensory characteristics in whey products. Additional processing steps to this 3-stage MF process for SP removal are discussed to produce an MF skim retentate for a continuous cottage cheese manufacturing process.     

RELATION BETWEEN SENSORY TEXTURE PROPERTIES AND EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE DISTRIBUTION IN SET AND IN STIRRED YOGHURTS PRODUCED WITH DIFFERENT STARTER CULTURES

Set yoghurts produced with seven different exopolysaccharide‐producing starter cultures were subjected to sensory texture profiling including texture evaluation before and after a stirring procedure carried out by trained assessors. The microstructure of four selected yoghurts was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy with special focus on the distribution of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in the protein network. Two different types of microstructures were observed, one in which EPS were associated with the protein network and another where EPS appeared to be incompatible with the protein; as a consequence, the EPS were situated in the void spaces in the protein network. The latter yoghurts were less ropy and had higher serum separation than the yoghurts where EPS were associated with the protein, and they exhibited a significant increase in mouth thickness as a result of stirring. Yoghurts in which the EPS were associated with protein had high ropiness, low serum separation and appeared more resistant to stirring. The nature of EPS‐protein interactions is extremely important for the textural effects of EPS in fermented milk products, and such interactions depend on the specific starter culture used.     

响应面法优化可食性鸡蛋清蛋白膜的酶法改性工艺

采用响应面分析法（RSM）对可食性鸡蛋清蛋白膜的酶法改性工艺进行优化。以谷氨酰胺转移酶（TG-B）浓度、p H、注模前酶作用时间及干燥温度为单因素,对膜的机械性能（拉伸强度、断裂伸长率）和阻隔性能（水蒸气透过系数、透油系数）进行测定,得出各指标的二次回归模型。结果表明,TG-B酶浓度0.13%、p H8.34、注模前酶作用时间45 min、干燥温度20℃时膜的各项性能最佳。该工艺参数下膜各性能指标分别为:拉伸强度（5.225±0.108）MPa、断裂伸长率70.492%±3.172%、水蒸气透过系数（3.405±0.067）g·mm/（m2·d·k Pa）、透油系数（0.812±0.007）g·mm/（m2·d）。      

马氏珠母贝肉酶解产物对SD大鼠生化指标的影响研究

以马氏珠母贝肉为研究对象,采用正交实验对其酶解条件进行优化,并测定其酶解产物对SD大鼠血清生化指标的影响。结果表明:马氏珠母贝肉酶解的最优条件是酶用量0.6%、温度70℃、时间35min、pH8.0,在此条件下马氏珠母贝肉蛋白质水解度高达54.79%。马氏珠母贝肉酶解产物的调配试剂注射使SD大鼠血清中前白蛋白、载脂蛋白A1显著上升(p<0.05),谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、载脂蛋白B、肌酸激酶MB型同工酶、超敏C反应蛋白、葡萄糖、间接胆红素显著下降(p<0.05),结合相关研究结果,推测出马氏珠母贝肉酶解产物有保肝、保心血管的功效。      

Anaerobic digestion of skim latex serum (SLS) for hydrogen and methane production using a two-stage process in a series of up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor

A series of up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors operated under thermophilic conditions was used to investigate the two-stage anaerobic process for continuous hydrogen and methane production from skim latex serum (SLS). The first reactor for producing hydrogen was operated by feeding 38 g-VS/L-SLS at various hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 60, 48, 36, and 24 h. The optimum hydrogen production yield of 2.25 ± 0.09 L-H₂/L-SLS was achieved at a 36 h HRT. Meanwhile, the effluents containing mainly with acetate was fed to the second UASB reactor for methane production at 9-day HRT and could be converted to methane with the production yield of 6.41 ± 0.52 L-CH₄/L-SLS. The efficiency of organic matters removal obtained from this two-stage process was 62%. The present study shows high value fuel gases in a form of hydrogen and methane can be potentially generated by using a continuous two-stage anaerobic process, in which available organic matters is simultaneously degraded.     

湿热处理多孔玉米淀粉对大鼠脂质代谢的影响

目的：探讨湿热处理多孔玉米淀粉对大鼠脂质代谢的影响。方法：32 只雌性Sprague-Dawley（SD）大鼠随机分为4 组,其中1 组为对照组饲喂基础饲料,另外3 组为高脂组,分别为高脂空白组、多孔淀粉组（porousstarch,PS）和湿热处理多孔淀粉组（heat moisture treatment starch,HTMPS）,饲喂基础饲料,适应1 周后,对照组饲喂基础饲料,高脂组分别饲喂相应高脂饲料。饲喂4 周后解剖,检测大鼠血脂、肝脂及小肠和粪便中胆汁酸等指标。结果：饲喂多孔淀粉和湿热处理多孔淀粉组大鼠血清总胆固醇（total cholesterol,TC）、甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）、非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,non-HDL-C）、抗动脉硬化指数（atherosclerosis index,AI）、甘油三酯/高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（TG/HDL-C）、肝脏TC、肝脏总TC和腹部脂肪含量显著下降（P＜0.05）,粪便中粪醇、胆固醇等中性固醇排泄量增加,粪便中胆汁酸排泄量显著增加（P＜0.05）。PS组与HTMPS组相比,大鼠血浆中TC、AI、腹部脂肪含量、肝脏总脂肪含量较低,粪便中胆汁酸及小肠内容物中胆汁酸较高。结论：多孔淀粉降血脂降胆固醇效果优于湿热处理多孔玉米淀粉,可降低高脂饮食造成的高脂血症风险,对预防心血管疾病有一定的作用。     

Determination of steroid hormones in bovine milk by LC-MS/MS and their levels in Swiss Holstein cow milk

Synthetic and natural steroid hormones have attracted some attention in recent years as endocrine active substances (EAS) that interact or interfere with the endocrine system. Endogenous hormones occur naturally in food of animal origin, among which bovine milk represents an important source. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of steroid hormones (oestrogens, androgens, progestogens and glucocorticoids) in cow’s milk samples from three farms in Switzerland. An isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of 12 hormones in milk. Some hormonal levels from individual cows showed large variations. The average levels of the hormones analysed (17α-estradiol = 31 ng kg^–1, 17β-estradiol = 6 ng kg^–1, estrone = 159 ng kg^–1, 4-androstenedione = 684 ng kg^–1, progesterone = 15486 ng kg^–1, 17-hydroxyprogesterone = 214 ng kg^–1, cortisone = 112 ng kg^–1, and cortisol = 235 ng kg^–1) were comparable with literature data. Estriol, testosterone and androstenediols were not detected at their respective limit of quantification. No significant differences of hormonal content among milk from cows at different lactation/calving numbers were evidenced, except for progesterone and 4-androstenedione. Due to confounding parameters linked to the physiological stage of the animal, like pregnancy and gestational stage (pregnancy trimester), the causal correlation between the variation of the levels for these two hormones and the lactation/calving number could not be unambiguously demonstrated.