Effect of processing technologies on the digestibility of egg proteins

Egg and egg products are a rich source of highly bioavailable animal proteins. Several processing technologies can affect the structural and functional properties of these proteins differently and can influence their fate inside the gastrointestinal tract. The present review examines some of the processing technologies for improving egg protein digestibility and discusses how different processing conditions affect the digestibility of egg proteins under gastrointestinal digestion environments. To provide up-to-date information, most of the studies included in this review have been published in the last 5 years on different aspects of egg protein digestibility. Digestibility of egg proteins can be improved by employing some processing technologies that are able to improve the susceptibility of egg proteins to gastrointestinal proteases. Processing technologies, such as pulsed electric field, high-pressure, and ultrasound, can induce conformational and microstructural changes that lead to unfolding of the polypeptides and expose active sites for further interactions. These changes can enhance the accessibility of digestive proteases to cleavage sites. Some of these technologies may inactivate some egg proteins that are enzyme inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors. The underlying mechanisms of how different technologies mediate the egg protein digestibility have been discussed in detail. The proteolysis patterns and digestibility of the processed egg proteins are not always predictable and depends on the processing conditions. Empirical input is required to tailor the optimization of processing conditions for favorable effects on protein digestibility.

Application of a Novel Lytic Podoviridae Phage Pu20 for Biological Control of Drug-Resistant Salmonella in Liquid Eggs

Salmonella is a globally distributed zoonotic pathogen. Among them, S. pullorum is a host-specific pathogen that seriously affects the development of the poultry breeding industry in China. It mainly infects chickens and can cause white scabs, and the mortality rate after infection is almost 100%. As antibiotics are widely used in animal feed and other production processes, Salmonella resistance has gradually increased. Therefore, there is an increasing need to develop new technologies to control multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens and confirm their actual effectiveness in the target food matrix. Bacteriophage can efficiently and specifically lyse bacteria, and will be a potential bactericide to replace antibiotics. In this study, 34 strains of Salmonella bacteriophages were isolated from environmental resources. Therein, phage Pu20 with the widest host spectrum had the strongest ability to lyse tested Salmonella strains. Further studies showed that Pu20 had high pH tolerance and heat resistance, short incubation period. Pu20 can effectively inhibit the growth of two strains of MDR Salmonella in liquid egg white and yolk at 4 °C and 25 °C, respectively. According to morphological and phylogenetic analysis, Pu20 belongs to the Podoviridae family. Genomic analysis of Pu20 indicates a linear 59435 bp dsDNA sequence with no homology to virulence or antibiotic resistance-related genes. Together, these results sheds light on the potential biocontrol application value of Pu20 in food products.

Critical review on conventional spectroscopic α-amylase activity detection methods: merits, demerits, and future prospects

α-Amylase is an endoenzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of internal α-l,4 glycosidic linkages in polysaccharides to produce maltose, maltotriose, and α-limit dextrins. It is widely used in the laboratorial and industrial workflow for several applications. There are several methods utilizing different techniques and substrates to assess α-amylase activity, among which the spectroscopic methods have found widespread applicability due to their ease of use and cost-effectiveness. Depending upon the reaction principle, these assays are classified into four groups: reducing sugar, enzymatic, chromogenic, and amyloclastic methods. Despite the presence of numerous methods, there is no general reliable method to assess α-amylase activity. Each method is shown to have its own merits and demerits. Many improvements have been made to make the available methods more accurate, reliable, and easy. This communication briefly discusses the basic reaction mechanisms and critically reviews the advantages and shortcomings associated with each method. Further recommendations are made for future development. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

A broad-spectrum phage controls multidrug-resistant Salmonella in liquid eggs

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen constantly threating public health. The widespread use of antibiotics and globalization of the food industry result in rapid growth of drug-resistance. Eggs contaminated by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella are one of the riskiest factors of salmonellosis, which are frequently associated with outbreaks worldwide. Thus, there are increasing needs for the development of new technologies in controlling MDR pathogens and for the confirmation of their practical efficiency in target food matrices. In this study, 43 Salmonella phages were isolated from environmental resources and among them, phage D1-2 was selected since it exhibited the most potent lytic ability and the broadest host spectrum against tested Salmonella strains. Further study demonstrated that D1-2 shows high pH and thermal tolerances and a short latent period, together with a low frequency of emergence of phage resistance. D1-2 effectively inhibited the growth of two MDR Salmonella strains in liquid egg white and egg yolk at both 4 °C and 25 °C. Morphology and phylogeny indicated that D1-2 belongs to the Myoviridae family. Genome analysis of D1-2 revealed a linear dsDNA sequence with no homology to virulence or antibiotic-resistance associated genes, presenting D1-2 is a promising candidate for the biocontrol of MDR Salmonella in highly risky foods.