International Journal of Food Science最新文献

{"title":"Process Optimization and Uncertainty Analysis of IoT-Integrated Cyclic Microwave-Assisted Extraction (CMAE) for Vanillin Recovery.","authors":"Narongrit Tipcompor, Thanapon Saengsuwan, Narathip Sujinda, Sujitra Funsueb, Watcharaporn Thaharn","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/4384246","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijfo/4384246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vanillin, the principal flavor compound in vanilla, is a high-value natural product whose conventional extraction is often limited by low efficiency and high energy consumption. Although microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has improved extraction efficiency, most systems rely on continuous operation with limited real-time process monitoring. To address this limitation, an IoT-integrated cyclic microwave-assisted extraction (CMAE) system was developed for vanillin recovery from <i>Vanilla planifolia</i>. The system incorporated an infrared temperature sensor, a solid-state relay, an ESP32 microcontroller, and a Node-RED interface to enable real-time temperature monitoring and programmable cyclic microwave operation. Response surface methodology identified optimal conditions of 436 W microwave power, 16.93 min extraction time, 3.45 g sample mass on a dry-weight basis, and 75% ethanol, with a predicted vanillin content of 3.13% DW, equivalent to a yield of 31.29 mg/g DW. Monte Carlo simulation yielded a 95% uncertainty interval of 29.41-33.16 mg/g DW (2.94%-3.32% DW), whereas sensitivity analysis identified microwave power and ethanol concentration as the most influential variables. Experimental validation under approximately energy-equivalent conditions of 380 W for 19.44 min and 500 W for 14.78 min yielded 30.43 and 30.98 mg/g DW, respectively, with deviations from the predicted value below 3%. Assuming equivalent vanillin recovery, cyclic operation reduced the calculated nominal microwave energy input and specific energy consumption (SEC) by 16.7% relative to a calculated continuous-operation baseline. The developed CMAE system provides a data-driven extraction platform integrating IoT-based monitoring, programmable cyclic operation, process optimization, and uncertainty analysis, with potential application in energy-conscious phytochemical extraction.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"4384246"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13620407/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149080540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical Gaps in Hygiene Practices Among Meat Handlers in Algerian Butcheries: A Cross-Sectional Study Integrating SWOT Analysis.","authors":"Somia Hallaci, Rabah Zebsa, Zinette Bensakhri, Moussa Houhamdi, Francisco Ceacero, Arkadiusz Józef Zakrzewski","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/7974343","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijfo/7974343","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Meat is a highly nutritious but perishable food commodity and a recognized vehicle for foodborne pathogens when hygienic handling is inadequate. Retail butcheries represent a critical control point in the meat supply chain, particularly in low- and middle-income settings where hygiene regulation and monitoring may be limited. In Algeria, evidence on meat handling practices at the retail level remains scarce. This study is aimed at assessing hygiene practices among meat handlers in butcheries in Guelma Province, Algeria, identifying factors associated with good hygiene practices, and complementing quantitative findings using a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2024 among 73 meat handlers working in independent butcher shops. Data were collected using structured face-to-face interviews and direct observation based on a standardized questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics and six hygiene domains. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with good hygiene practices. A SWOT analysis was subsequently performed by integrating quantitative and qualitative findings. Overall hygiene compliance was poor across most domains. Low levels of good practice were observed for handwashing (1.4%), protective clothing (0%), and avoidance of prohibited practices (1.4%). High levels of poor performance were also recorded for meat preparation, meat display, and infrastructure maintenance. Cold chain management (47.9% good) and medical care (28.8% good) showed moderate but insufficient compliance. Multivariable analysis indicated that meat handlers with more than 5 years of experience were significantly less likely to demonstrate good hygiene practices (AOR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02-0.88). The SWOT analysis highlighted critical behavioral and structural weaknesses, alongside opportunities for targeted training, regulatory strengthening, and infrastructure improvement. Hygiene practices in butcheries at Guelma are largely inadequate, posing potential public health risks. Integrated interventions addressing both worker behavior and infrastructural conditions are urgently needed to improve meat safety at the retail level.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7974343"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13602811/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149038512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) Pretreatments on the Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties of Sage Extracts.","authors":"Stella Plazzotta, Gian Marco Artuso, Sofia Melchior, Federico Basso, Sabrina Vorderegger, Monica Anese, Anja Schuster, Maria Concetta Tenuta, Sara Bolchini, Giovanna Ferrentino, Lara Manzocco","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/3565398","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijfo/3565398","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the impact of pulsed electric fields (PEFs) on the phytochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of extracts obtained from fresh and dried sage (<i>Salvia officinalis</i> L.). Extracts were characterized in terms of dry matter, phenolic content, and further profiled using HPLC-HRMS. Fresh sage extracts were richer in chlorophylls and chlorophyllides, whereas dried sage extracts contained significantly higher levels of total phenolics and pheophytins. Principal component analysis highlighted clear compositional differences between extracts obtained from fresh and dried sage. Although PEF had a limited impact on phenolic extraction from fresh sage, a pronounced increase was observed when applied to dried sage, likely due to electroporation facilitating solvent penetration in tissues collapsed upon drying. Antioxidant efficiency, expressed as chain-breaking phenolic ratios (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP), increased with PEF intensity for both matrices, with extracts from fresh sage showing the most pronounced improvement. Antimicrobial testing demonstrated selective efficacy against gram-positive bacteria (<i>Bacillus cereus</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>), with extracts from dried sage generally exhibiting stronger inhibition due to its higher phenolic content, whereas only the fresh sage extract treated at 8 kV/cm showed partial activity against <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. No extract inhibited <i>Escherichia coli</i> or <i>Salmonella enterica</i> growth. Overall, PEF proved to be a valuable processing tool to enhance the extraction and functional properties of sage phytochemicals.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3565398"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13599367/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149038535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Valorisation of Freshwater Fish By-Products: A Review on Extraction Technologies, Stability, Functional Food Applications and Prospects.","authors":"Tan Yi-Li, Abu Bakar Asyrul-Izhar, Nurul Izzah Khalid, Rahmi Nurdiani, Nurul Huda, Yongyong Li, Mohammad Rashedi Ismail-Fitry","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/7432242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijfo/7432242","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The valorisation of freshwater fish by-products represents an emerging opportunity to reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency in the aquatic processing sector. These by-products, including skin, bones, scales, viscera and heads, are rich in nutritionally valuable components such as proteins, collagen, gelatine, peptides and fish oils with bioactive potential. This review provides an overview of the composition and functional properties of these compounds and discusses current extraction technologies to maximise their recovery. Conventional methods, such as acid or alkaline extraction, remain widely used, but many compromise product quality and generate chemical waste. In contrast, enzymatic and assisted extraction methods, including ultrasound-, microwave- and hydrothermal-assisted processes, have demonstrated improved yield, hydrolysis efficiency and bioactivity, with lower environmental impact. Nonetheless, challenges in cost, scalability and process optimisation remain. The current review also highlights factors influencing the stability and storage of extracted compounds, including temperature, pH, oxidation and enzymatic degradation, which can affect bioactivity and shelf life. Stabilisation approaches such as freeze-drying, encapsulation and active packaging have shown promise in preserving the structural integrity and viability of freshwater fish by-products, enabling their transformation into high-value ingredients for food, nutraceutical and biomedical applications, and supporting a more sustainable fisheries sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7432242"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13599364/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149038469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heavy Metal Concentrations and Health Risk Assessment of Melon Seeds (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i>) From Selected Markets in Ghana.","authors":"Afia Sakyiwaa Amponsah, Gladys Kyere, Alex Amerh Agbeshie, Berlinda Agyei-Poku","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/8819979","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijfo/8819979","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Melon seeds (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai), locally known as 'agushi' in Ghana, are widely consumed as thickeners in soups and stews and are a valued oilseed crop, yet data on toxic element contamination from the Bono Region remain scarce. This study determined cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) concentrations in melon seeds from six market locations across the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions of Ghana, and evaluated health risks for adult males (body weight [BW] = 70 kg), adult females (BW = 60 kg) and children aged 6-12 years (BW = 26 kg); the sex-differentiated assessment reflects the well-established influence of body weight on mass-normalised dietary exposure. Samples were oven-dried, ground and acid-digested using a concentrated HNO3/HClO4 (4:1, v/v) mixture on a programmable hot plate, then analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mean concentrations ranged from 0.0017-0.0086 mg/kg (Cd), 0.0013-0.0027 mg/kg (As), 0.00103-0.00108 mg/kg (Pb) and 0.000130-0.000383 mg/kg (Hg), all substantially below EU 2023/915 maximum levels. Hazard indices (HI: 0.0091-0.0202, calculated using the USEPA IRIS 2025 updated RfD for As of 6.0 × 10^-5 mg/kg/day) were well below 1.0, confirming negligible noncarcinogenic risk. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values (1.04 × 10^-6-2.81 × 10^-6) fell within the acceptable range (10^-6-10^-4). Melon seeds from the sampled markets are safe for regular consumption under current exposure conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8819979"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591992/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149016774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental Study on the Effects of Curcumin in Alleviating Oxidative Stress and Inducing Differentiation in Neural Stem Cells.","authors":"Chunyang Wu, Jingfeng Ouyang, Jiaojiao Cheng, Bo Bian, Ziqi Zhang","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/7647912","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijfo/7647912","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that poses a serious threat to human health, is showing a worrying rise in incidence with the global trend of population aging. Among the many treatment options, stem cell therapy undoubtedly brings new hope for this persistent disease. Notably, curcumin (Cur) significantly protected C17.2 neural stem cells (NSCs), primarily by enhancing their resistance to oxidative stress. Based on these findings, the present study delved into the effects of Cur on NSCs, with a special focus on its mechanism of action in oxidative stress alleviation and cell differentiation promotion. The experimental results showed that under oxidative stress conditions, Cur-treated C17.2 cells not only exhibited enhanced survivability but also their reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were significantly suppressed, whereas antioxidant indexes showed significant improvement. Remarkably, Cur also demonstrated the ability to promote the transdifferentiation of C17.2 cells to neurons and astrocytes, a process that was accompanied by a significant activation of the Wnt3<i>α</i>/<i>β</i>-catenin/Cyclin D1 signaling pathway. This finding provides new ideas for understanding the mechanism of Cur's role in the regulation of neuroplasticity and stem cell repair and reveals that the Wnt3<i>α</i> signaling pathway may become a key target for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7647912"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591120/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149016787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Identification of Cultured Microbial Population and Metabolic Impacts on Traditional Fermented <i>Motoho</i> From Different Regions of South Africa.","authors":"Ngwekazi Nwabisa Mehlomakulu, Andries Masenge, Folarin Anthony Oguntoyinbo","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/6621201","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijfo/6621201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sorghum <i>motoho</i> is a fermented sorghum porridge produced through natural fermentation or backslopping. To understand the in situ microbial population and their metabolic roles during fermentation, water, <i>tomoso</i> (traditional starter culture), and <i>motoho</i> samples were collected from eight areas in the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The highest lactic acid bacteria (LAB) population was 6.81 Log CFU/g in <i>motoho</i> (pH 3.97) from Area 3 and 6.78 Log CFU/g in <i>tomoso</i> (pH 4.43) from Area 6, whereas the lowest yeast population was 3.09 Log CFU/g in <i>tomoso</i> (pH 3.16) from Area 5. The highest population was 6.78 Log CFU/g in <i>motoho</i> (pH 3.93) from Area 8. Overall, the LAB population (5.74 Log CFU/g) was frequently isolated in <i>tomoso</i>, whereas the yeast population (5.36 Log CFU/g) was isolated in <i>motoho</i>. Selected LAB and yeast isolates were differentiated using RAPD-PCR analysis using M13 primer; 15 and 23 distinct groups were observed among the 27 and 31 LAB and yeast isolates, respectively. Analysis of the 16S rDNA identified <i>Schleiferilactobacillus harbinensis</i>, <i>Levilactobacillus brevis</i>, <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i>, and <i>Limosilactobacillus fermentum</i> across seven areas, with <i>L. brevis</i> frequently isolated from <i>tomoso</i> samples of the six areas studied. Analysis of the D1D2 domain of the 26S rDNA identified the yeasts <i>Candida sake</i>, <i>Kazachstania unispora</i>, <i>Pichia kudriavzevii</i>, <i>Pichia fermentans</i>, and <i>Saccharomyces boulardii</i>, which the latter three were frequently isolated in <i>tomoso</i> and <i>motoho</i> from six areas. When compared with species from different regions and products, the <i>motoho</i> LAB isolates clustered together, whereas the yeast isolates clustered into eight groups on the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree. In the <i>tomoso</i> and <i>motoho</i> samples from all areas, the lactic acid concentration was detected between 0.04 and 1.97 mg/100 g, whereas the acetic concentration was below 0.36 mg/100 g. None of the LAB were amylolactic while the yeasts <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>sake</i>, and <i>S</i>. <i>boulardii</i> fermented maltose. The study revealed that the <i>tomoso</i> possessed a diverse microbial population, which consisted of different non-<i>Saccharomyces</i> yeast species that survived the fermentation conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6621201"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13583440/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148989620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Various Storage Packages on Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) Postharvest Quality.","authors":"Paa Kwesi Bordoh, Evans Ntim Amedor, Kombat Damlun, Evans Frimpong Boateng","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/3143021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijfo/3143021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maize is a critical staple crop, yet postharvest losses largely due to inadequate storage packages remain a significant issue in Tain District, Bono Region, Ghana. In the present study, different storage packages (treatments): hermetic bags, nylon sacks, and jute sacks (all stacked on wooden pallets) compared with unpackaged maize (maize stored on a lightweight corn tarp elevated on a wooden pallet) effect on postharvest quality of maize was investigated to address critical postharvest losses that threaten food security. Laboratory analysis examined insect damage, physical and nutritional quality and aflatoxin levels. Results showed significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) across all parameters, with hermetic bags proving most effective in reducing insect-damaged kernels, maintaining stable moisture content and preserving protein, fibre and carbohydrate levels while minimising aflatoxin accumulation. Nylon sacks performed moderately well but were less effective than hermetic bags in preserving nutritional content and preventing grain weight loss. Jute sacks and the control group showed poor performance with higher grain damage, moisture fluctuations, discolouration, weight loss and nutrient degradation. Critically, aflatoxin levels in jute sacks and control samples reached 28.36 and 42.38 ppb, respectively, exceeding Ghana's maximum safety permissible limit of 15 ppb, whereas hermetic bags and nylon sacks maintained significantly lower levels. The findings underscore the critical role of hermetic bag storage as the most reliable option in reducing postharvest losses. Yet, the nylon sacks could be used, especially by the underprivileged or financially constrained stakeholders in the maize value chain, for short to medium-term storage.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3143021"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13578931/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148989438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic Insights Into Multidrug-Resistant Foodborne <i>Serratia liquefaciens</i> Strains Carrying <i>mcr-9</i> and Comparative Genomic Analysis of Novel Biosynthetic Gene Clusters.","authors":"Christian Xedzro, Toshi Shimamoto, Ashraf M Ahmed, Liansheng Yu, Yo Sugawara, Motoyuki Sugai, Tadashi Shimamoto","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/5035164","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijfo/5035164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Serratia liquefaciens</i> is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen with a wide range of antibiotic resistance patterns. This study reports the characterization of the first <i>mcr-9</i>-positive <i>S. liquefaciens</i> strains, 35E-19E1 and CST-066, isolated from meat products in Japan. The strains were screened for the presence of <i>β</i>-lactamases, plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance (<i>mcr</i>) genes, and carbapenemase-encoding genes using PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the broth microdilution method. The strains exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes to third-generation cephalosporins, cephamycin, fosfomycin, and other clinically important antimicrobials. Genomic DNA sequencing showed that the genome sizes of CST-066 and 35E-19E1 are 5,529,704 and 5,261,506 bps, respectively. <i>mcr-9</i> was identified on a chromosome within a genetic environment that included the two-component system <i>qseBC</i>, which plays a key role in the signaling network that triggers colistin resistance in Enterobacterales. Downstream genome analysis revealed a 1695-bp eptB-like kdo2-lipid phosphoethanolamine transferase, which is involved in intrinsic polymyxin resistance mechanisms in <i>Serratia</i> spp. The strain 35E-19E1 carries five CRISPR-Cas enzymes that are essential for adaptive immunity in bacteria, allowing defense against invading elements. Functional analysis using subsystem technology revealed that both strains possess subsystem features responsible for invasion and adhesion within the host biomes. Genome mining using antiSMASH and BAGL4 revealed various biosynthetic gene clusters, responsible for secondary metabolite synthesis. Notably, we identified novel gene clusters, mainly nonribosomal peptide synthetases, in both the strains, indicating their potential to produce bioactive compounds. Although the presence of <i>mcr-9</i> in <i>Serratia</i> may not be of clinical significance because of natural resistance of the strain to polymyxins, we shed light on the genomic characteristics of this MDR pathogen and the potential spread of <i>mcr-9</i> among other bacterial species. The emergence of <i>mcr-9</i> in drug-resistant <i>S. liquefaciens</i> provides significant insights, underscoring the need for increased surveillance of this pathogen.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5035164"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575642/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148976684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preparation and In Vitro Simulated Digestion Study of Coembedded Microcapsules Containing Pomegranate Active Extract and Probiotics.","authors":"Yanzi Ge, Jiayi Hu, Shu Liu, Guang Yang, Qingyun Hua, Qiran Gu, Tianyi Mao, Xiaoxu Xue, Bo Yu, Yaowei Fang","doi":"10.1155/ijfo/1979133","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijfo/1979133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The efficient delivery of viable probiotics to the intestine remains a major challenge due to their sensitivity to gastrointestinal conditions, whereas pomegranate-processing by-products represent an underutilized source of bioactive polyphenols. In this study, a dual-functional codelivery system of pomegranate extract and probiotics was constructed to enhance the survival rate of <i>Limosilactobacillus fermentum</i> FUA033 in the gastrointestinal environment. Pomegranate peel and seed active substances were extracted using an ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent. Microcapsules were prepared by the ion-gel method, and the encapsulation efficiency reached 90.23% under the optimal process. The microcapsules exhibited a monodispersed spherical morphology of 3.25 ± 1.06 mm diameter and characteristic FTIR peaks (1633-1641 cm^-1), confirming structural integrity. The results of the XRD analysis revealed a crystalline phase (2<i>θ</i> = 31.52°). PE-FUA033 microcapsules significantly improved probiotic viability during storage (with increases of 13.51% and 23.41% at 4°C and 25°C, respectively) and simulated gastrointestinal digestion (32.41% greater survival than the PE-free controls), providing a new strategy for the development of probiotic functional foods.</p>","PeriodicalId":14125,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Food Science","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1979133"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13571776/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148962905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}