Sprouting and Solid-State Bioprocessing by Rhizopus oligosporus Increase the In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Aqueous Soybean Extracts Against Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori infection has been implicated as a major cause of gastric inflammation, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. While antibiotics have been the mainstay of current therapies for gastrointestinal disease linked to H. pylori infection, negative side-effects and antibiotic resistance issues have strengthened the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. In the search for new antimicrobial agents, much recent research has focused on the potential of dietary phenolic compounds. In this study, soybean extracts enriched for phenolic content via sprouting or solid-state bioprocessing by the dietary fungus Rhizopus oligosporus were investigated for in vitro antibacterial activity against H. pylori. Helicobacter pylori growth inhibition by soybean extracts was increased most effectively by 2 d sprouting or 2 d R. oligosporus bioprocessing. Anti-H. pylori activity was not associated with antioxidant activity, but was linked to extracts when activity of the phenolic-polymerizing enzymes guaiacol peroxidase (in sprouted soybean extracts) and laccase (in R. oligosporus-bioprocessed soybean extracts) were the highest. This suggests the potential involvement of polymeric phenolics in the anti-H. pylori activity of soybean extracts and possible mechanisms for such action are discussed.     

A Novel Design of Crop Dryer for Use in Developing Countries

The dryer is required for drying of grain as well as drying of the processed products in small catchment agro processing centers in the developing world. However, due to varied material characteristics of grain and secondary processed product, two entirely different types of dryers are required. The grain is dried in a recirculatory dryer, whereas processed product is dried in a tray dryer, where it is frequently mixed and trays are also intermittently changed. To avoid the need for two dryers, a novel design of a low-cost hot air dryer was developed where just by changing the trays the dryer can be converted from an LSU grain dryer to a tray-type product dryer. The dryer was tested for drying soybean grain as well as processed soy products like blanched soybean dal and soyflakes. The capacity of the dryer was 100 kg/batch in a tray dryer with each tray accommodating 10 kg of wet material. In case of LSU mode, the capacity of the dryer was 250 kg of grain per batch. The drying time required was 5 h for 250 kg of wet soybean from 24 to 10% moisture content, whereas in a tray dryer 100 kg blanched soybean dal was dried from 60 to 10% in 5 h and 100 kg of soyflakes from 25% moisture content to 10% moisture in 1.75 h. The cost of the dryer is estimated at US$580.00 and it can be fabricated in a moderately equipped workshop in developing countries.     

大豆染色体端粒DNA的Southern及荧光原位杂交（FISH）分析

以拟南芥的端粒序列（Ｔ３ＡＧ３）ｎ为探针，经Ｂａｌ３１酶切检测和荧光原位杂交，证明端粒ＤＮＡ保守重复序列存在于大豆的全部２０对染色体端部，与拟南芥，番茄和人类不同，大豆全部２０对染色体端部上的这一序列的长度相似。     

快生型大豆根瘤菌（Rhizobium fredii）3．7Kb增效片段的亚克

利用柯氏质粒ｐＬＡＦＲ１为载体构建了快生型大豆根瘤菌Ｂ５２菌株的基因文库，并通过植物结瘤试验筛选到一个３．７Ｋｂ增效片段，将其导入慢生型大豆根瘤菌２２１０，能提高其共生固氮效率。所得高效菌株ＨＮ３２在黑龙江、四川和广西大面积应用，平均增产１１．４％（５）。本文测定了３．７Ｋｂ片段的核苷酸序列，计算机分析发现含有两个开放阅读框架（ＯＲＦｓ）。ＯＲＦ１编码含１９０个氨基酸的多肽，与已报道基因和多肽的同源性很低，但其Ｎ端１９个氨基酸与发根农杆菌的乳糖转移酶高度同源。ＯＲＦ２编码含２３５个氨基酸的多肽，与碗豆根瘤菌的ｈｕｐＥ及苜蓿根瘤菌的糖基转移酶基因显示５４％的同源性。     

A Study on Subunit Groups of Soybean Protein Extracts under SDS-PAGE

Protein extracts of 640 soybean cultivars and landraces, mainly from China and a few from the US, were analyzed for their components and subunits based on distribution patterns of bands with varying molecular weights (MW) under SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). The number and molecular weight of the bands in SDS-PAGE varied among materials and showed a tendency of continuous distribution. Accordingly, the SDS-PAGE patterns of the soybean protein extracts were divided into two regions: the region of bands with MW < 44 KDa and that with MW ≥ 44 KDa. The first region containing mainly 11S proteins was divided into four parts, called subunit groups, i.e. 11S-1 (14.4–22 KDa), 11S-2 (22–26 KDa), 11S-3 (26–34 KDa) and 11S-4 (34–44 KDa). The second region containing mainly 7S protein was divided into six subunit groups, i.e. 7S-1 (44–49 KDa), 7S-2 (49–55 KDa), 7S-3 (55–67 KDa), 7S-4 (67–73 KDa), 7S-5 (73–82 KDa) and 7S-6 (82–91 KDa). The sum of relative contents of 11S-1–11S-4 was obtained as the relative content of 11S protein, those of 7S-1–7S-6 as that of 7S protein, and therefore, the 11S/7S ratio obtained. The proposed criteria were demonstrated to be simple, stable and feasible. Among the 640 tested materials, 39 lacked 11S-1 but none lacked the other 11S subunit groups, while deficiencies existed in all the six subunit groups of 7S, indicating a great potential for the genetic variation of protein components and subunits for breeding for the improvement of protein qualities.     

Ability of flaxseed and soybean protein concentrates to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions

The ability of flaxseed protein concentrate (FPC) to stabilize soybean oil-in-water emulsion was compared with that of soybean protein concentrate (SPC). The stability of emulsions increased with increase in protein concentration. The FPC-stabilized emulsions had smaller droplet size and higher surface charge, but worse stability at the same protein concentration compared to SPC-stabilized emulsions. Oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by both proteins were diluted and compared at different pH values (3–7), ionic strength (0–200 mM NaCl) and thermal treatment regimes (25–95 °C for 20 min). Considerable emulsion droplet flocculation occurred around iso-electric point of both proteins: FPC (pH 4.2) and SPC (pH 4.5). FPC and SPC-stabilized emulsions remained relatively stable against droplet aggregation and creaming at NaCl concentration below 100 and 50 mM, respectively. The emulsions stabilized by both proteins were fairly stable within these thermal processing regimes. FPC appears to be less effective as an emulsifier compared to SPC due to its lower emulsion viscosity. Hence, FPC could be more effective in emulsions that are fairly viscous.     

低钾胁迫对大豆叶片膜脂过氧化及保护酶活性的影响

以在大田筛选的钾高效型大豆品种沈农6号和钾低效型品系铁95068-5为试材,研究了不同供钾水平对大豆膜脂过氧化作用及保护酶活性的影响。试验结果表明,随着钾浓度的降低,2个品种在各生育时期的相对电导率和MDA含量均有所增加,但沈农6号增加幅度不大,而铁95068-5则增幅较大。在每个生育时期,2个品种各保护酶活性均随着钾浓度的降低而增强,说明适度低钾胁迫会激发大豆的保护酶活性;不同钾浓度下,沈农6号和铁95068-5叶片SOD活性均随着大豆的生长发育逐渐下降;CAT和POD活性先逐渐增强,随后下降：2个品种CAT活性到开花盛期（R2）达到峰值,POD活性分别在鼓粒期（R6）和盛荚期（R4）达到峰值。沈农6号各生育时期SOD、CAT和POD活性均高于同期的铁95068-5,表明大豆钾效率的高低与其体内保护酶系统对活性氧的清除能力直接相关。     

Development of monoclonal antibodies and a competitive ELISA detection method for glycinin,an allergen in soybean

Soybean glycinin is a major food allergen causing anaphylaxis. A sensitive detection method for glycinin is needed to evaluate soybean allergies in food and feed products. In the present study, monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against glycinin were prepared using purified glycinin as the immunogen. The generated Mabs, named 3B2 and 4B2, were identified as being IgG_2b and IgG_2a iso-types respectively, and exhibited high specificity to glycinin. Then we developed a competitive ELISA based on Mab 4B2 to measure glycinin which showed an IC₅₀ value of 1.7 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/mL, and the linear portion of the curve was 0.3–11.2 ng/mL. Recovery tests indicated that the competitive ELISA based on Mab 4B2 gave reliable reproducibility. The produced Mab 4B2 and the developed ELISA could provide a valuable tool for sensitive determination of glycinin and for future studies conducted to reveal the mechanism of how glycinin functions in anaphylaxis.     

Fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with factorial discriminant analysis technique to identify sheep milk from different feeding systems

Rapid measurements of milk properties and discrimination of milk origin are necessary techniques for quality control of milk products. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of using front face fluorescence spectroscopy (FFFS) and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) for monitoring the quality of forty-five ewe’s milk samples originating from different feeding systems. Physico-chemical analyses and fluorescence spectra were conducted on samples during lactation periods (the first 11 weeks). The principal component analysis (PCA) separately applied to the physico-chemical and fluorescence spectral data showed only small discrimination between milk samples based on lactation periods and diet compositions. Similar results were obtained by separately applying factorial discriminant analysis (FDA) on each technique. In a second step, concatenation technique were applied to FFF spectra acquired after excitation set at 250, 290, 380 nm and emission set at 410 nm. Results obtained showed a good discrimination among milk samples with regard to feeding systems given to the ewes throughout the lactation periods. In addition, a better discrimination was observed with FFFS than with SFS.     

Chemical composition of a soybean cultivar lacking lipoxygenases (LOX2 and LOX3)

The nutrient, phytic acid, oxalate, trypsin inhibitors and isoflavones composition of a whole soy flour produced from a new cultivar (UFV-116), lacking lipoxygenases 2 and 3, compared to a conventional cultivar (OCEPAR-19) were determined. Protein and dietary fibres (total, soluble and insoluble) were similar for both cultivars. OCEPAR-19 was higher in lipids and UFV-116 in ash content (p < 0.05). Indispensable, dispensable and total aminoacid as well as Ca, K and Mg were higher for UFV-116. This cultivar also showed higher levels of phytic acid, oxalate and trypsin inhibitors (p < 0.05). Total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were similar between them. However, palmitic and linoleic acids were higher for UFV-116 and stearic, α-linolenic and oleic acids for OCEPAR-19 (p < 0.05). The higher concentration of isoflavones in UFV-116 (p < 0.05) could provide better benefit for human health. Experimental studies are necessary to evaluate health effects of this new soybean cultivar.