NPJ Science of Food最新文献

{"title":"Trends in non-animal scaffolds for cultured meat structuration.","authors":"Gabrielle Antunes Seibert, Vivian Feddern, Ana Paula Almeida Bastos, Anuj Kumar, Silvani Verruck","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00429-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00429-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cultured meat offers a sustainable protein alternative to meet growing food demands, relying on scaffolds to structure muscle tissue. This review evaluates plant-derived and polymeric scaffolds-synthetic polymers, peptides, fungal/plant materials-and techniques like 3D bioprinting, electrospinning, and microcarriers. Scaffold types (fibrous, porous, hydrogels) are assessed for adhesion, degradation, cost, and scalability. Highlighting cell compatibility, material pros/cons, and scalability challenges, the study identifies research gaps to advance cultured meat production.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"208"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12535591/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional gut variability drives metabolic and transcriptional features in neonatal piglets.","authors":"Xuan He, Shannon Shoff, Hanna Lee, Merete Lindberg Hartvigsen, Anne Staudt Kvistgaard, Carolyn M Slupsky","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00571-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00571-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The inherent inter-individual variability and associated complexity of dietary response constitute a major research challenge, but also present an opportunity to trace personalized patterns that may serve as targets for improving health. Here, we investigated the function of α-lactalbumin, a rich source of tryptophan, in a formula feeding study. We leveraged neonatal piglets as a preclinical model for human infants and took a systems-level approach that integrates evidence from serum, urine, liver, brain, and the gastrointestinal tract. Transcriptional and metabolomics analysis revealed an individualized, divergent response to α-lactalbumin linked to either efficient utilization of tryptophan by the host or production of indole-3-lactate by intestinal microbiota. This variability was further highlighted by differences in metabolic and immunological effects in a tissue-specific manner. Our work highlights the importance of considering the nutrition-microbiota-host metabolism axis to optimize the phenotypic response of a diet.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"207"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12533098/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145308698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Placental and cord blood DNA methylation in preterm birth: exploring the epigenetic role of maternal dietary protein.","authors":"Fatima Ahmad, Arun Prasath Lakshmanan, Shaikha Alabduljabbar, Salma Hayder Ahmed, Ayaaz Ahmed, Basirudeen Syed Ahamed Kabeer, Alexandra Katharina Marr, Tomoshige Kino, Tobias Brummaier, Rose McGready, François Nosten, Damien Chaussabel, Souhaila Al Khodor, Annalisa Terranegra","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00566-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00566-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emerging evidence suggests that maternal nutrition plays a critical role in fetal development and pregnancy outcomes. This study explores the epigenetic link between maternal nutrition and preterm birth (PTB) by analyzing DNA methylation (DNAm) in placental and cord blood samples from PTB and full-term pregnancies among Karen and Burmese populations in Myanmar and Thailand. Mothers who experienced PTB exhibited significantly lower intake of several nutrients, especially protein. DNAm profiling revealed hypomethylation of the LIPF promoter in placenta and hypermethylation of the SSB promoter in cord blood, with corresponding downregulation of SSB gene expression. Gene ontology analysis highlighted PTB-specific enrichment in inflammatory, developmental, and metabolic pathways, with cord blood notably enriched in genes involved in \"embryo development ending in birth.\" Low protein intake correlated with SSB hypermethylation and differential methylation of IGKV1D-39. These findings provide novel insight into how protein deficiency may epigenetically predispose to PTB and suggest potential biomarkers for early detection and intervention. The clinical trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov registry, under NCT02797327, on 13-06-2016.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"206"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12521666/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145293102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic genetic investigation on relative macronutrient intake, circulating metabolic biomarkers and the risk of autoimmune diseases.","authors":"Shengzhang Zheng, Guanqiong Na, Kailin Liang, Danqun Meng, Yujuan Shan, Dazhi Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00565-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00565-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The effects of specific macronutrients on autoimmune diseases (ADs) independent of total calorie intake have rarely been studied. The study aims to decipher the associations of relative macronutrient intake with risk of ADs and identify potential circulating metabolic mediators. We performed a mendelian randomization (MR) study in Europe, using genetic variants associated with relative macronutrient intake among 268,992 participants, and genetic variants with 17 ADs outcomes from two large-scale biobanks including up to 951,301 participants. Eight potential causal associations were identified and further classified into three levels, according to the robustness of MR results. Tier 1 evidence included associations of relative protein and carbohydrate intake with risk of psoriasis, which was demonstrated by the fact that the association remained significant in the meta-analysis of two biobanks. For each 4.8% increment in relative protein intake and each 16.1% increment in relative carbohydrate intake, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association with psoriasis risk were 0.84 (0.71-0.99) and 1.20 (1.02-1.41), respectively, as determined by the MR meta-analysis. To explain above associations, a two-step MR framework was further to identify five potential mediated metabolic biomarkers, using the genetic variants for 233 metabolic traits in up to 136,016 participants. This study provides insights into the clinical significance of dietary macronutrient intake and circulating metabolic biomarkers in the context of ADs.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"205"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12514309/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145275300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual-backbone pectic polysaccharide activates NOD1/RIPK2/NF-κB and mitochondrial metabolism to enhance the immune activity of macrophages.","authors":"Ziwei Liu, Hangyu Li, Shuyao Yang, Xinnan Zhang, Qianqian Liu, Yuan Xu, Yanwen Yang, Yi Liao, Yao Wang, Haibo Feng","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00570-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00570-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A novel pectic polysaccharide with dual backbones (SHP-A, 15,866 Da) was isolated from Sinopodophyllum hexandrum fruits. This polysaccharide is a heteropolymer composed of six monosaccharides. Structural characterization based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and other methods demonstrated that SHP-A features a unique architecture consisting of a rhamnogalacturonan-I backbone (alternating α-GalpA and α-Rha molecules with β-Galp/α-Araf side chains) and a β-glucomannan backbone (alternating β-Manp and β-Glcp molecules), interconnected via β-Galp bridges. Bioactivity assays showed that SHP-A exerts potent immunomodulatory effects by enhancing macrophage phagocytosis and nitric oxide release. Transcriptomics analyses and NOD1 inhibitor interventions confirmed that SHP-A can activate the NOD1/RIPK2/NF-κB axis and induce M1 polarization in RAW264.7 macrophages, thereby upregulating various cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, SHP-A also appeared to enhance immune function through mitochondrial metabolism, which indicated its potential as an immunomodulatory agent that can be used in the development of immune-enhancing health foods in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"204"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12508091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145251983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutritional and qualitative characteristics of beef patties incorporated with hydrated coffee cherry pulp powder.","authors":"Rehab F M Ali, Ayman M El-Anany","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00572-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00572-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of more sustainable and healthful meat products is urgently needed. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the impact of utilizing different levels of CCPP as a fat substitute on the nutritional, quality, and sensory attributes of burger samples. The chemical composition, functional characteristics, total phenolics, total flavonoids, anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity of CCPP were assessed. The proximate composition, cholesterol content, cooking qualities, and sensory aspects of produced burgers were investigated. CCPP is a nutrient-rich by-product that contains a crude fiber content of 36.66%, alongside significant levels of ash (6.97%), protein (10.16%), and carbohydrates (44.4%). CCPP exhibits several functional properties that enhance its application in food applications. Its water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC), emulsifying activity, and foaming capacity are significant, with values of 3.25 ml H₂O/g, 2.80 mL oil/g, 43.5%, and 21.50%, respectively. TPC of CCPP was reported to be 24.70 mg GAE/g, with significant phenolic components which contribute to antioxidant activity of the CCPP. Incorporating CCPP into burger enhanced nutritional profiles by increasing fiber, protein, and ash content while significantly reducing fat levels. The 50% and 75% CCPP substitutions received over all acceptability scores of 8.25 and 8.22, respectively, suggesting strong consumer preference for these formulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"203"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12501321/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145239186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spaceward senses: examining retronasal aroma and mouthfeel perception in simulated space-microgravity environments.","authors":"Claudia Gonzalez Viejo, Arturo A Mayorga-Martínez, Natalie Harris, Raul Villarreal-Lara, Sigfredo Fuentes","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00564-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00564-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It has been reported that conditions in space missions alter the taste and perception of orthonasal aroma by astronauts. However, there is limited knowledge of the effects of space environments associated with the sensory perception of mouthfeel and retronasal aromas. This research aimed to study alterations in retronasal aromas and mouthfeel under an immersive space-simulated environment with a simulated microgravity seating position. A total of 12 well-trained panelists evaluated the intensity of different samples for retronasal aromas and mouthfeel using a neutral environment and a space-simulated environment. Non-invasive facial biometrics were also analyzed from participants' videos using the BioSensory© application. According to the results, in the space-simulated environment the retronasal aroma intensity was perceived to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the neutral environment. The latter was also shown in the multivariate data analysis developed using self-reported and subconscious biometric variables. Regarding mouthfeel perception, the multivariate analysis showed that the intensity of mouthfeel samples was higher in the space-simulated environment. This study contributes to understanding the sensory requirements in space-simulated conditions to optimize and develop specialized food and beverages for long-term space exploration missions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"202"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12494815/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flexible value coding in the mesolimbic dopamine system depending on internal water and sodium balance.","authors":"Takaaki Ozawa, Issei Nakagawa, Yuuki Uchida, Mayuka Abe, Tom Macpherson, Yuichi Yamashita, Takatoshi Hikida","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00558-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00558-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Homeostatic imbalances elicit strong cravings, such as thirst and salt appetite, to restore equilibrium. Although midbrain dopaminergic neurons are known to encode the value of foods, their nutritional state-dependency remains unknown. Here, we show that the activity of the dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway flexibly expresses the positive and negative values of water and salt depending on the internal state in mice. Mice showed behavioral preference and aversion to water and salt depending on their internal water and sodium balance. Fiber photometry recordings revealed that dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core flexibly showed bidirectional excitatory and inhibitory responses to water and salt intake in a state-dependent manner. Furthermore, these dopaminergic and behavioral responses were recapitulated by a homeostatic reinforcement learning model that formalizes reward as reductions in homeostatic drive and punishment as its escalation. Our results demonstrate the nutritional state-dependency of value coding in mesolimbic dopamine systems, providing new insights into neural circuits underlying homeostatic regulation of appetitive and avoidance behaviors.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"197"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12484953/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145200542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fructophilic Apilactobacillus kunkeei alleviates high-fructose diet-induced lipid accumulation by modulating gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function in mice.","authors":"Haiyan Xu, Wenjia Ba, Rongzhuzhu Yu, Zijia He, Peizhi Wang, Xun Gou, Xiaoyu Zhang, Fang Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00567-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00567-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Excessive fructose consumption is strongly linked to metabolic syndrome, with gut microbiota playing a pivotal role in mediating fructose metabolism and associated metabolic disturbances. In this study, we aimed to characterize Apilactobacillus (A.) kunkeei, a fructophilic lactic acid bacterium from honey, and evaluate its probiotic function in male C57BL/6 J mice fed a high-fructose diet (HFD). Transcriptome analysis was carried out to analyze the activation of pathways under various culture conditions. Pathway inhibitors were used in cell culture and a hepatectomy mouse model to study the function of different pathways in hepatocyte growth and liver regeneration. Our results showed that A. kunkeei FM01 exhibited strong tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal stress in vitro, indicating good probiotic potential. Administration of A. kunkeei FM01 significantly reduced body weight gain, improved glucose tolerance, and attenuated hepatic and visceral (perirenal and epididymal) lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice. Serum lipid profiling and targeted lipidomic analysis revealed that A. kunkeei FM01 lowered triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, and lysophosphatidylcholine levels while increasing beneficial phospholipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine. Metagenomic analysis demonstrated that A. kunkeei FM01 modulated gut microbiota composition by reducing pro-inflammatory and fructose-metabolizing taxa, including Alistipes, Oscillibacter, Desulfovibrio, Lawsonibacter, and Enterococcus, while enriching beneficial species, including Kineothrix alysoides and Faecalibaculum rodentium. These microbial shifts were associated with increased abundances in genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes and amino acid biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, A. kunkeei FM01 restored intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins (Zonula Occludens-1 and occludin) and reduced serum lipopolysaccharide and diamine oxidase levels. Collectively, these findings suggest that A. kunkeei FM01 exerts protective effects against HFD-induced metabolic dysfunction through multi-targeted mechanisms involving lipid metabolism, gut microbiota modulation, and intestinal barrier restoration. This study identifies A. kunkeei FM01 as a promising probiotic candidate for preventing and managing fructose-associated metabolic disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"201"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12485143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145200513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reassessing fatty acid divergence: climatic and geographic constraints on origin traceability in global oil crops.","authors":"Junyu Xu, Yiqing Luo, Lei Hu, Kai Chen, Shuang Cheng, Mengting Xiao, Haijing Xiao, Shumin Hou, Jiaxin Yang, Jiao Yang, Ying Wang, Shaohua Zeng, Chunsong Cheng","doi":"10.1038/s41538-025-00555-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-025-00555-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Global agricultural trade requires reliable tools to trace product origins and combat fraud. We propose two novel metrics-the Geographical Differentiation Index (GDI) and Environmental Heritability Index (EHI)-to quantify spatial variation in fatty acids and their environmental drivers. We systematically investigated the fatty acid profiles of four main oil-rich crops (olive, camellia, walnut, and peony seed) and revealed that fatty acid distributions follow elevation- and latitude-dependent patterns, with peony seed oils showing the strongest latitudinal sensitivity. Key fatty acids like stearic acid (C18:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2) correlated significantly with geographic factors globally, while the biomass of certain specific fatty acids varies significantly in high-altitude/low-latitude regions. These findings establish specific fatty acid signatures as a robust tool for geographic authentication. Our approach provides a chemically grounded framework for precision origin discrimination in global oil food systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"9 1","pages":"200"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12484759/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145200523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}