Effects of phytic acid and lysozyme on microbial composition and quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fillets stored at 4 °C

Effects of different slaughtering methods on the energy metabolism, apoptosis process and quality of grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) during cold storage at 4 °C

BACKGROUND

The aquatic processing industry is increasingly aware of the need to ensure that slaughtering is carried out under high welfare standards, so there is a need to explore the impact of slaughter methods on fish fillets. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different slaughtering methods (M1, lethality by hammering; M2, gas mixture causing death; M3, lethality by clove oil anesthesia + ice slurry; M4, lethality by ice slurry; M5, lethality by gradient cooling) on the energy metabolism, apoptosis and flesh mass in grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus).

RESULTS

Therefore, 120 fish (24 per treatment) were slaughtered by the five methods. The results showed that the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme activity of M5 sample was higher. The serum glucose level of M2 samples and DAPI staining fluorescence of M2 samples were the highest, indicating that the stress response of M2 was strong. In addition, the texture, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and K value results showed M5 samples had better flesh quality.

CONCLUSION

Gradient cooling lethality had the least effect on oxidative damage and apoptosis in grouper during cold storage as the gradient cooling lethality had the least effect on antioxidant enzyme activities. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exploration of changes in sensory, physicochemical properties and microbial metabolic activities of grass carp meat with five thermal processing treatments during refrigerated storage

This study aimed to employed the effects of five thermal processing methods, namely steaming (SM), boiling (BO), frying (FY), roasting (RO), and vacuum sealing (SV), on the sensory, physicochemical properties, and microbial composition of grass carp meat during refrigerated storage, alongside unheated raw meat (RW) as control. The results showed that thermal treatment improved the sensory quality and shelf life of refrigerated grass carp meat, and their shelf life was RW < BO Collapse

Key Words

• Correlation analysis
• Grass carp
• Microbial metabolism
• Refrigeration
• Thermal processing

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Affiliation(s)

Lu Zhang National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China School of Health, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Yaqin Yu National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Chunming Tan School of Health, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Shi Nie National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Qinghui Wen School of Health, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China
Zongcai Tu National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China School of Health, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330022, China Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China

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Comprehensive insights into the mechanism of flavor formation driven via inoculation with mixed starter cultures in dry-fermented tilapia sausages: Integration of macrogenomics, volatilomics, and lipidomics

To investigate the mechanisms of flavor formation in dry-fermented tilapia sausages, the volatiles, bacterial community, and lipid composition during fermentation were analyzed using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry, 16S high throughput sequencing, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. Pediococcus pentosaceus, Staphylococcus xylosus, and Staphylococcus carnosus became dominant bacteria during the fermentation. A total of 66 volatiles and 293 lipids (48 differential lipids) were identified. PC and PE content decreased. Aldehyde and 1-octen-3-ol content decreased. Most esters and ketones content increased during fermentation. Six metabolic pathways associated with differential lipids were identified by enrichment analysis. Glycerophospholipid metabolism was the main metabolic pathway. Correlation analysis revealed that PC and PE were precursors for volatiles, including PC 16:0/18:2 and PE 18:0/22:6. The dominant bacteria facilitate the hydrolysis of PC and PE, leading to the formation of esters and ketones. This study provides a theoretical basis for the targeted regulation of fermented sausage flavors.

Deep learning models with optimized fluorescence spectroscopy to advance freshness of rainbow trout predicting under nonisothermal storage conditions

This study established long short-term memory (LSTM), convolution neural network long short-term memory (CNN_LSTM), and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) based on optimized excitation-emission matrix (EEM) from fish eye fluid to predict freshness changes of rainbow trout under nonisothermal storage conditions. The method of residual analysis, core consistency diagnostics, and split-half analysis of parallel factor analysis was used to optimize EEM data, and two characteristic components were extracted. LSTM, CNN_LSTM, and RBFNN models based on characteristic components of EEM used to predict the freshness indices. The results demonstrated the relative errors of RBFNN models with an R2 above 0.96 and relative errors less than 10% for K-value, total viable counts, and volatile base nitrogen, which were better than those of LSTM and CNN_LSTM models. This study presents a novel approach for predicting the freshness of rainbow trout under nonisothermal storage conditions.

The occurrence, role, and management strategies for phytic acid in foods

Phytic acid, a naturally occurring compound predominantly found in cereals and legumes, is the focus of this review. This review investigates its distribution across various food sources, elucidating its dual roles in foods. It also provides new insights into the change in phytic acid level during food storage and the evolving trends in phytic acid management. Although phytic acid can function as a potent color stabilizer, flavor enhancer, and preservative, its antinutritional effects in foods restrict its applications. In terms of management strategies, numerous treatments for degrading phytic acid have been reported, each with varying degradation efficacies and distinct mechanisms of action. These treatments encompass traditional methods, biological approaches, and emerging technologies. Traditional processing techniques such as soaking, milling, dehulling, heating, and germination appear to effectively reduce phytic acid levels in processed foods. Additionally, fermentation and phytase hydrolysis demonstrated significant potential for managing phytic acid in food processing. In the future, genetic modification, due to its high efficiency and minimal environmental impact, should be prioritized to downregulate the biosynthesis of phytic acid. The review also delves into the biosynthesis and metabolism of phytic acid and elaborates on the mitigation mechanism of phytic acid using biotechnology. The challenges in the application of phytic acid in the food industry were also discussed. This study contributes to a better understanding of the roles phytic acid plays in food and the sustainability and safety of the food industry.

Inhibition mechanism of crude lipopeptide from Bacillus subtilis against Aeromonas veronii growth, biofilm formation, and spoilage of channel catfish flesh

Aeromonas veronii is associated with food spoilage and some human diseases, such as diarrhea, gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic septicemia or asymptomatic and even death. This research investigated the mechanism of the growth, biofilm formation, virulence, stress resistance, and spoilage potential of Bacillus subtilis lipopeptide against Aeromonas veronii. Lipopeptides suppressed the transmembrane transport of Aeromonas veronii by changing the cell membrane's permeability, the structure of membrane proteins, and Na+/K+-ATPase. Lipopeptide significantly reduced the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) by 86.03% and 56.12%, respectively, ultimately slowing Aeromonas veronii growth. Lipopeptides also restrained biofilm formation by inhibiting Aeromonas veronii motivation and extracellular polysaccharide secretion. Lipopeptides downregulated gene transcriptional levels related to the virulence and stress tolerance of Aeromonas veronii. Furthermore, lipopeptides treatment resulted in a considerable decrease in the extracellular protease activity of Aeromonas veronii, which restrained the decomposing of channel catfish flesh. This research provides new insights into lipopeptides for controlling Aeromonas veronii and improving food safety.

Characteristics of hen egg white lysozyme, strategies to break through antibacterial limitation, and its application in food preservation: A review

Hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) is used as a food additive in China due to its outstanding antibacterial properties. It is listed as GRAS grade (generally recognized as safe) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA, US) and has been extensively researched and used in food preservation. And the industrial production of HEWL already been realized. Given the complex food system that can affect the antibacterial activity of HEWL, and the limitations of HEWL itself on Gram-negative bacteria. Based on the structure and main biological characteristics of HEWL, this paper focuses on reviewing methods to enhance the stability and antibacterial properties of HEWL. Immobilization tactics such as chemically driven self-assembly, embedding and adsorption address the restriction of poor HEWL antibacterial activity effected by external factors. Both intermolecular and intramolecular modification strategies break the bactericidal deficiencies of HEWL itself. It also comprehensively analyzes the current application status and future prospects of HEWL in the food preservation. There was limited research on the biological methods in modifying HEWL. If the HEWL is genetically engineered, it can broaden its antimicrobial spectrum, improve its other biological activities, so as to further expand its application in the food industry. At present, research on HEWL mainly focused on its antibacterial properties, whereas its application in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects also presented great potential.

Preservative effect of gelatin/chitosan-based films incorporated with lemon essential oil on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fillets during storage

The present study investigated the effect of fish gelatin/chitosan-based (FG/CS-based) films incorporated with lemon essential oil (LEO) on grass carp fillets in terms of moisture status, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), and microbial community succession during chilled (4 °C) and iced (0 °C) storage. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) revealed that the active films remarkably inhibited moisture transformation from being the immobilized to free water in grass carp fillets, accompanied with the reduced T22 relaxation time. Besides, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected a higher density of proton in the treated fish samples, indicating that the active films could improve the water-holding capacity of fish samples. Moreover, high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing suggested that the FG/CS-based films loaded with LEO efficiently decreased the relative abundance of the bacterial genera Shewanella and Aeromonas in grass carp fillets, with minimal accumulation of TVB-N during storage. Additionally, the low storage temperature (0 °C) could further enhance the preservative effect of the active films on the fish samples, which together prolonged their shelf-life to 18 days. Overall, the combination of the active films and iced storage could provide a promising strategy to preserve grass carp fillets.

Bacterial community succession and volatile compound changes in Xinjiang smoked horsemeat sausage during fermentation

This study examined the bacterial community dynamics and their relationship with volatile compounds in Xinjiang smoked horsemeat sausage during fermentation. We employed single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) to identify the bacterial composition, while headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was utilized to detect volatile compounds in the sausage. The findings indicated that Staphylococcus xylosus, Lactococcus garvieae, Latilactobacillus sakei, Lactococcus lactis, and Weissella hellenica were the predominant species during the fermentation. Moreover, we identified 56 volatile substances in the smoked horsemeat sausages, including alcohols, esters, ketones, acids, aldehydes, terpenes, and phenols. Notably, the correlation analysis demonstrated positive associations between the major bacteria and the primary volatile compounds, with notable connections observed for Staphylococcus xylosus, Lactococcus garvieae and Weissella hellenica. These research findings provide a foundation for future endeavors aimed at enhancing the flavor quality of smoked horsemeat sausage.

Impact of Ethanolic Thai Indigenous Leaf Extracts on Melanosis Prevention and Shelf-Life Extension of Refrigerated Pacific White Shrimp

Shrimp has been known for its delicacy, but it undergoes rapid deterioration induced by biochemical and microbiological reactions. Melanosis is a major cause of discoloration associated with consumer rejection. All ethanolic extracts from different leaves including soursop, noni, and Jik leaves were dechlorophyllized via the "Green" sedimentation method before being used. The inhibitory activity against polyphenoloxidase (PPO) from Pacific white shrimp (Litopeneous vannamei) and the copper-chelating properties of varying extracts were compared. Soursop leaf extract (SLE) showed higher PPO inhibitory activity and copper-chelating ability than others (p < 0.05). Based on LC-MS, aempferol-3-O-rutinoside was identified as the most abundant compound, followed by catechin and neocholorigenic acid. The efficacy of SLE at different levels (0.25-1%) for inhibiting melanosis and preserving the quality of Pacific white shrimp was evaluated during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for 12 days in comparison with that of a 1.25% sodium metabisulfite (SMS)-treated sample. SLE at a level of 1% effectively retarded melanosis and bacterial growth, in which the total viable count did not exceed the microbial limit within 12 days. In addition, 1% SLE treatment impeded autolysis, reduced protein degradation and decomposition, and minimized lipid oxidation, as witnessed by the lower increases in pH, TVB-N, and TBARS values. Sensory evaluation indicated higher likeness scores and overall acceptability for SLE-1% and SMS-1.25% shrimps than those of the control and other samples. Therefore, SLE could be used as a natural alternative that effectively lowered the melanosis and quality loss of shrimp during refrigerated storage.

Phytic acid is a new substitutable plant-derived antifungal agent for the seedling blight of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica caused by Fusarium oxysporum

Phytic acid (PA) is a new substitutable plant-derived antifungal agent; however, few reports have been published regarding its antifungal effects on pathogenic fungi. The present study explored the in vitro antifungal activity of PA against four phytopathogenic fungi and found that PA was the most effective at inhibiting the growth of Fusarium oxysporum. This study aimed to investigate the in vivo and in vitro antifungal activities of PA against the seedling blight of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica caused by F. oxysporum and to determine its possible mechanism of action. The results showed that PA inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth of F. oxysporum in a concentration-dependent manner and exhibited strong inhibition when its concentration exceeded 1000 mg/L. It mainly destroyed the integrity of the cell membrane, increasing its cell membrane permeability, causing the cell contents to spill out, and impairing fungal growth. In addition, the leakage of intercellular electrolytes and soluble proteins indicated that PA used at its EC₂₀ and EC₅₀ increased the membrane permeability of F. oxysporum. The increase in malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content confirmed that PA treatment at its EC₂₀ and EC₅₀ damaged the cell membrane of the pathogen. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that PA affected the morphology of mycelia, causing them to shrivel, distort, and break. Furthermore, PA significantly reduced the activities of the antioxidant-related enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, as well as that of the pathogenicity-related enzymes polygalacturonase, pectin lyase, and endoglucanase (EG) in F. oxysporum (P < 0.05). In particular, EG enzyme activity was maximally inhibited in F. oxysporum treated with PA at its EC₅₀. Moreover, PA significantly inhibited the incidence of disease, and growth indices in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica seedling blight was determined. In summary, PA has a substantial inhibitory effect on F. oxysporum. Therefore, PA could serve as a new substitutable plant-derived antifungal agent for the seedling blight of P. sylvestris var. mongolica caused by F. oxysporum.

Effects of ellagic acid and ε-polylysine hydrochloride on the content of biogenic amines, volatile compounds and quality of salmon slices during chilled storage

This study aimed to investigate effects of ellagic acid (EA) and ε-polylysine hydrochloride (ε-PL) on biogenic amines (BAs), volatile compounds and quality of salmon slices stored at 4 °C. The results showed that EA and ε-PL attenuated the production of BAs, retarded the increase of TVC, TVB-N and TBARS. Additionally, water mobility, texture properties of salmon slices were also stabilized by the EA and ε-PL. Volatile compounds including aldehydes, alcohols and hydrocarbons were identified and spoilage-related compounds reduced by the EA and ε-PL, which was related to the inhibition of bacterial, TVB-N and TBA growth by EA and ε-PL. The content of phencthylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine in EA-s-PL groups reduced by 46.53%, 54.1%, 26.42%, 31.98% and 45.37% compared to the control group at the end of storage, respectively. Therefore, EA and ε-PL can be applied for inhibiting the increase of BAs and delaying quality deterioration of salmon slices.

Unraveling the effect of the combination of modified atmosphere packaging and ε-polylysine on the physicochemical properties and bacterial community of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili)

The combined effect of ε-polylysine (PL) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; 60% CO2/40% N2) on the bacterial community of greater amberjack filets and their physicochemical properties was evaluated at 4°C. The total viable counts (TVC), psychrotrophic bacterial count, sensory index, texture analysis, and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) revealed that PL, MAP, and MAP + PL treatment delayed the deterioration of greater amberjack filets. These treatment groups also showed decreased accumulation of biogenic amines. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing results indicated that these treatments suppressed the growth of Pseudomonas in greater amberjack filets. Furthermore, the MAP + PL treatment group was observed to be more effective than the PL and MAP groups, extending the shelf life of greater amberjack filets by 6 days. This investigation showed that the combination of PL and MAP has the potential to retain the quality and extend the shelf life of greater amberjack.

Effects of immersing treatment of curcumin and piperine combined with vacuum packaging on the quality of salmon (Salmo salar) during cold chain logistics

In order to study the effects of the compound preservatives (curcumin and piperine (CP)) and vacuum packaging (VP) on the quality of salmon during cold chain logistics suffered from temperature abuse, the physiochemical indexes (texture, water holding capacity (WHC), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), free amino acids (FAA) contents), microbial indicators (total mesophilic bacteria count (MBC), total psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC), H2S-producing bacteria count (HSBC)) were determined, and the moisture changes were explored by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). The results showed that the treatment of curcumin and piperine in combination with vacuum packaging could maintain the quality of salmon suffered from temperature abuse most effectively. At the end of storage, the MBC of VP+CP was only 4.95 log CFU/g, which was about 1 log CFU/g lower than the control sample stored at the same condition. The combined treatment also retarded the increase of TVB-N, TBARS, and the decrease of hardness, springiness, and a* value, as well as water migration in salmon, contributing to higher water holding capacity and better appearance. Besides, VP+CP retarded the decrease of free glutamate, which contributed to umami taste. Due to the biological activity and safety of the preserves, the combined treatment could be a promising method for preservation of seafood.

Effects of chitosan and apple polyphenol coating on quality and microbial composition of large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during ice storage

BACKGROUND

Large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) has important commercial value because of its high nutritional value and delicious taste. However, large yellow croaker is readily affected by microorganisms during storage, which causes the corruption of muscle tissue. Both chitosan (CS) and apple polyphenols (APs) are bio-preservatives, which can effectively inhibit the growth of microorganisms and improve the quality of large yellow croaker. The effects of 10.0 and 20.0 g L^-1 CS combined with 1.0 g L^-1 AP coating on the quality and microbial composition of large yellow croaker during ice storage were investigated respectively.

RESULTS

CS + AP coating restrained the increase of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and biogenic amines, slowed down the rise of K-value and retarded the growth of microorganisms. The bacteriostatic effect was positively correlated with the concentration of CS. Through the analysis of high-throughput sequencing (HTS), the microbial diversity was changed respectively. The proportion of Shewanella was significantly decreased by CS + AP coating treatment and Pseudomonas was the dominant microorganism in spoiled samples. Compared with the shelf-life of the control group (8 days), 20.0 g L^-1 CS combined with 1.0 g L^-1 AP coating treatment could extend the shelf-life of large yellow croaker for another 8 days.

CONCLUSIONS

CS combined with AP coating may be considered a promising method to delay the biochemical changes of ice stored large yellow croaker and extend its shelf life. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytic Acid Treatment Inhibits Browning and Lignification to Promote the Quality of Fresh-Cut Apples during Storage

Browning and lignification often occur in fresh-cut apple processing, leading to quality deterioration and limiting the shelf life of products. In this study, 0.8% (v/v) phytic acid was used to improve the quality and shelf life of fresh-cut apples. From the results, the browning was inhibited by the phytic acid treatment and the browning index (BI) of the control fruit was 1.62 times that of phytic acid treatment at 2 d of storage. The lignin content in phytic acid-treated fruit significantly decreased at 2, 4, and 6 d of storage compared to the control. Phytic acid treatment also reduced H₂O₂ and malonaldehyde (MDA) contents, which may indicate lighter membrane damage to apples. Compared with the control, the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities decreased while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased in phytic acid-treated fruit. Consistent with the lignin content, the activities of phenylpropane metabolism-related enzymes phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL) were inhibited by phytic acid treatment. In conclusion, phytic acid alleviated the browning and lignification of fresh-cut apples by reducing PPO and POD activities, maintaining cell membrane integrity, and inhibiting phenylpropane metabolism.

Preparation of chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating and its effect on pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) preservation

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to investigate the preservative effect of chitosan-caffeic acid grafts coating (CS-g-CA) on the quality and microbial characteristics of pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) during iced storage. CS-g-CA was prepared by a 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimidehydro/N-hydroxysuccinimide coupling reaction. The grafting of CS-g-CA was confirmed by UV-visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectra. Samples were treated with distilled water (control), chitosan (CS), caffeic acid (CA) and CS-g-CA for 10 min, respectively. Microbiological [total viable count (TVC), H₂ S-producing bacteria count, Pseudomonas bacteria count], physicochemical indicators [water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), texture profile analysis, free amino acids] and sensory evaluation were investigated during ice storage at 4 °C for up to 27 days.

RESULTS

The results showed that the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of CS could be improved by grafting CA onto CS. CS-g-CA coating could greatly slow down the speed of water loss and maintain WHC. Furthermore, CS-g-CA coating showed superior antibacterial activities by inhibiting the growth of TVC, delayed the decline of flavor amino acids and reduced sensory change. In addition, CS-g-CA coating reduced lipid oxidation and protein degradation as indicated by the decrease in TBA and TVB-N, possibly as a result of the addition of CA into CS membrane significantly improving the antioxidant activity of CS.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the control group, CS-g-CA coating had the optimal effect and could enhance the shelf-life of Trachinotus ovatus for at least another 9 days. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of ultrasound-assisted chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating on the quality and microbial composition of pompano during ice storage

The effects of ultrasound-assisted chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating on the quality and microbial composition of fresh pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) fillets during ice storage for 24 days were evaluated. Samples were treated by distilled water (CK), ultrasound (US), chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating (G), and chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating with ultrasound-assisted (USG). Results showed that samples treated with USG could inhibit the formation of corrupt substances such as TVB-N, TBA, biogenic amines (BAs), hypoxanthine (Hx), and hypoxanthine riboside (HxR) when compared to the CK group.The results of high-throughput sequencing technology observed that the major bacteria genus of fresh samples was Acinetobacter.The diversity of bacterial communities at the initial stage was more diverse than that at the end of stage. With the extension of storage time, the USG treatment could maintain the microbial diversity. The dominant microbiota was Shewanella and Brochothrix in the CK group after 24 days of storage. In addition, Brochothrix in treated groups was effectively decreased. The microbial communities of samples in all treatments were changed during storage. At the end of storage, there was a significant difference in bacterial composition between the CK and treated samples, indicating that the treatment can effectively inhibit the growth of microorganisms, especially spoilage microorganisms, and reduce the quality deterioration caused by bacteria.

Effects of Chitosan-Grafted-Phenolic Acid Coating on Quality and Microbiota Composition of Vacuum-Packaged Sea Bass (Lateolabrax japonicus) Fillets during Chilled Storage

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research was to experimentally assess the effect of chitosan (CS)-grafted phenolic acid (CS-g-PA) derivatives on the quality and microbiota composition of vacuum-packaged sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus). Samples were treated by deionized water (CK), 1% CS, 1% CS-g-PA copolymer, and 1% CS-grafted gallic acid (CS-g-GA) copolymer for 10 min and combined with vacuum packaging stored at 4°C to analyze the microbiological and physicochemical indicators; they were also combined with 16s RNA high-throughput sequencing to explore the effects of CS derivatives on quality and microbial composition. The results showed that the treatment of CS-g-GA and CS-g-PA could retard the increase of pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, and the K value. The degradation of ATP-related compounds, production of biogenic amines, and growth of spoilage bacteria were inhibited by CS-g-GA and CS-g-PA. Moreover, CS-g-GA and CS-g-PA performed better in the inhibition of lipid oxidation by the analysis of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and relative fluorescence intensity. According to the results of high-throughput sequencing, the diversity of microbial composition in all groups was decreased significantly during chilled storage, especially in the CK group. The predominant microorganism was Acinetobacter in the middle period of storage, while Pseudomonas and Shewanella became predominant at the end of storage. The treatment of CS-g-GA and CS-g-PA had significant effects inhibiting the growth of Shewanella during storage. On the basis of the analysis of the microorganism and physicochemical quality, compared with the CK group, CS-g-GA and CS-g-PA can maintain the good quality of sea bass fillets and prolong the shelf life for another 12 days.

HIGHLIGHTS

Phytic Acid against Clostridium perfringens Type A: A Food Matrix Study

This study evaluated the inhibitory effect of phytic acid (PA) on the spore germination and vegetative cells growth of Clostridium perfringens type A, as well as its effect in combination with maltodextrin (MD) in cooked sausages. The addition of 1% PA showed a satisfactory inhibition of spores’ germination and vegetative cells growth of C. perfringens in BHI media. The inhibitory effect of 1% PA on vegetative cells was similar to the additive sodium sorbate (SS) at 10%. Subsequently, a mixture of PA-MD (1:1; w/w) was evaluated for the inhibition of C. perfringens spores in cooked sausages. The PA-MD 1.5% and 2.5% had a similar performance to SS 10% and a similar or higher performance than 0.015% NO₂ (p < 0.05). In an unprecedented way, the present study demonstrated that PA inhibited spore germination and vegetative cells growth of C. perfringens, highlighting its potential use as an alternative and natural preservative for the meat industry.

Vacuum impregnation of chitosan coating combined with water-soluble polyphenol extracts on sensory, physical state, microbiota composition and quality of refrigerated grass carp slices

Herein, the effects of chitosan (CH) coating with different water-soluble polyphenol extracts (pomegranate peel (PPE), grape seed (GSE) and green tea (GTE)) through vacuum impregnation on the quality retention and microflora of refrigerated grass carp fillets were studied. Generally, the quality degradation of carp fillets was remarkably alleviated using coatings when compared to the control. As suggested by microbial enumeration and high-throughput sequencing, protective coatings were conductive to inhibit bacteria growth, especially spoilage bacteria of Pseudomonas. As a result, the indicator related to bacteria such as total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and K value had lower levels in coating groups than that in control. In addition, coating also slowed down the deterioration of physical properties of color, texture and water holding capacity in fillets, giving fillets a better edible quality. By contrast, the fillets treated by composite coatings had better quality during storage when compared to chitosan coating alone, and a relatively good synergistic antibacterial effect between chitosan and extracts was also observed, especially for CH-GTE. Overall, the best performance to inhibit quality deterioration was recorded in CH-GTE, with the lowest values of TVB-N, TBARS, K-value and water loss, and highest values of shear force and sensory preference among groups.

Multifunctional bioactive coatings based on water-soluble chitosan with pomegranate peel extract for fish flesh preservation

This study aimed to reveal the effects of vacuum-impregnated carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) coating with pomegranate peel extract (PPE) on quality retention of fish flesh during refrigeration. Herein, CMCS-PPE coating was effective in attenuating quality loss of grass carp fillets. Compared to Control, the levels of drip loss, total volatile base nitrogen, and K value in coated samples were sharply decreased (p < 0.05) by 24.5%, 35.3% and 25.2% on day 9, respectively. Meanwhile, the coating also helped inhibit oxidation, bioamine accumulation, and texture softening in fillets. Moreover, the microbial enumeration was reduced by >1.4 lg cfu/g as compared to Control on day 6 afterward, and high throughput sequencing analysis further showed the active coating contributed to the notable growth suppression of spoilage bacteria like Shewanella. Additionally, the positive effect of the coating scheme was also verified in longsnout catfish and snakehead, further confirming its good applicability for fish flesh preservation.

Multi-frequency ultrasound:A potential method to improve the effects of surface decontamination and structural characteristics on large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during refrigerated storage

The effects of multi-frequency ultrasound on surface decontamination and structural characteristics of large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during refrigerated storage were evaluated. The results of total viable counts (TVCs) and psychrophilic bacteria counts (PBCs) demonstrated that multi-frequency ultrasound retarded the growth of microorganisms. The bacteriostatic effect was positively correlated with the increase of ultrasound frequencies. However, compared with triple-frequency ultrasound (TUS, 20/28/40 kHz) treatment, dual-frequency ultrasound (DUS, 20/28 kHz) treatment had higher water-holding capacity (WHC) and immobilized water content, better texture characteristics, lower pH and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N). Through the results of myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), intrinsic fluorescence intensity (IFI) and atomic force microscope (AFM), multi-frequency ultrasound could effectively stabilize the myofibrillar protein structure of refrigerated large yellow croaker, which could maintain better texture characteristics. The effects of DUS were the most significant. Therefore, multi-frequency ultrasound treatment could inhibit the growth of microorganisms and improve the structural characteristics of large yellow croaker during refrigerated storage.

Lysozyme-like Protein Produced by Bifidobacterium longum Regulates Human Gut Microbiota Using In Vitro Models

The extracellular secreted protein of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the human intestinal microenvironment. However, the mechanism(s) of interaction remain unclear. Lysozyme is a kind of antibacterial peptide. In this study, the amino acid sequence of a lysozyme-like protein of B. longum based on whole-genome data of an isolate from human gut feces was found. We further predicted functional domains from the amino acid sequence, purified the protein, and verified its bioactivity. The growth of some bacteria were significantly delayed by the 020402_LYZ M1 protein. In addition, the gut microbiota was analyzed via high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and an in vitro fermentation model, and the fluctuations in the gut microbiota under the treatment of 020402_LYZ M1 protein were characterized. The 020402_LYZ M1 protein affected the composition of human gut microbiota significantly, implying that the protein is able to communicate with intestinal microbes as a regulatory factor.

Novel technique for treating grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by combining plasma functionalized liquids and Ultrasound: Effects on bacterial inactivation and quality attributes

A novel technique for treating grass carp by combining plasma functionalized liquids and ultrasound to inactivate bacteria was developed. The effects of the plasma functionalized liquids (PFL) including plasma functionalized water (PFW) and buffer (PFB) and their respective combination with ultrasound treatment (USPFW and USPFB) on the oxidative and physical qualities of grass carp were also investigated. Individual applications of PFW and PFB significantly reduced the populations of Escherichia coli and Shewanella putrefaciens in the range of 0.31-1.18 log CFU/g, compared with the control with a reduction of 0.18 log CFU/g, while combined treatments of USPFW and USPFB presented additional reductions of 0.05-0.65 log CFU/g, with potential synergy demonstrated for PFW and ultrasound. The treatment resulted in improved biomedical index and nutritional value of fatty acids and lipids, protein structural unfolding, increased lipid oxidation and protein degradation with values within the acceptable limits, and the combined treatment was more effective for retarding the hardness reduction in grass carp, while the colour change was also significantly affected, resulting in increased whiteness. The results indicated that the combined treatments may be a promising approach to improving the quality of seafood products.

Synergistic effects of UVA irradiation and phlorotannin extracts of Laminaria japonica on properties of grass carp myofibrillar protein gel

BACKGROUND

Oxidized phlorotannin can be used as a protein crosslinking agent to produce high-quality fish gel products. Phlorotannin can be easily induced to form quinone compounds in an oxidizing environment, while o-quinone has been proven to be a reactive, electrophilic intermediate that easily reacts with proteins to form rigid molecular crosslinking networks. The objective of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation (1 h, 15 W m-2 ) and various concentrations of Laminaria japonica phlorotannin extracts (PTE) on the gel properties of grass carp myofibrillar protein (MP).

RESULTS

UVA treatment and PTE could synergistically improve the MP gel properties more than PTE alone (P < 0.05). At 625 mmol kg-1 MP PTE alone, the gel strength and cooking yield reached 3.10 ± 0.16 g cm and 47.45 ± 0.35%, respectively, while with the same level of PTE plus UVA they became 4.26 ± 0.19 g cm and 53.89 ± 1.54%, respectively. The three-dimensional network structure of the gel (with PTE + UVA) showed higher connectivity and tightness than that of the control group (no treatment).

CONCLUSIONS

The synergistic effects of PTE and UVA could effectively induce crosslinking of grass carp MP, which could lead to an improvement of MP gel quality. These findings would provide a new technical approach to produce high-quality protein gel products in the fish processing industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of ε-polylysine and rosemary extract on quality attributes and microbial communities in vacuum-packaged large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during ice storage

The effects of vacuum package combined with 0.1% ε-polylysine and 0.2% rosemary extract (V + RP) on the quality attributes and microbial communities of large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during ice storage were investigated. The quality was evaluated by chemical characteristics (total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), K-value and biogenic amines (BAs)), microbiological indexes (Total viable counts (TVC), Shewanella bacteria counts, Pseudomonas bacteria counts, Psychrophilic bacteria counts (PBC)), changes in microbial composition were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that the increase of TVB-N, K-value, microorganisms and BAs could be inhibited by V + RP. Psychrobacter and Pseudomonas were detected in all samples. Shewanella increases rapidly in the middle of storage. Vagococcus and Shewanella were related to the decomposition of ATP, the formation of BAs, and TVB-N, respectively. In conclusion, V + RP presented the optimal effects, which could extend the shelf life of large yellow croaker for another 9 days compared with the control.

A strategy of ultrasound-assisted processing to improve the performance of bio-based coating preservation for refrigerated carp fillets (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Effects of ultrasound-assisted chitooligosaccharides (COS-UA) coating on the quality attributes and microbial composition of refrigerated grass carp fillets were evaluated. The results showed that COS and COS-UA coatings retarded quality deterioration of fillets during storage. Compared to COS coatings, COS-UA treated samples had lower contents of BAs, simultaneously their levels of total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), K value and total viable counts (TVC) were further decreased by 13.6%, 4.2% and 7.8% on day 12, respectively. High-throughput sequencing showed that Aeromonas and Shewanella increased rapidly in control samples and became the main microbiota at day 12. By contrast, both coatings changed the microbial composition and reduced the proportion of spoilage organisms. Based on multiple evaluations, COS-UA extended shelf life of fillets by another 2 days when compared to COS. Therefore, ultrasonic treatment could be considered as an effective supplementary to improve the preservation effect of COS-based coatings for fresh preprocessed fish.

Changes in food quality and microbial composition of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedti) fillets treated with low temperature vacuum heating method during storage at 4 °C

Russian sturgeon is a high-quality cultured fish and traditional heating methods may lead to deterioration of its food quality. This study aimed to evaluate the food quality and microbial composition of sturgeon fillets by low temperature vacuum heating (LTVH) and storage at 4 °C. The treatments varied in temperature (50, 60, and 70 °C) and duration (15 and 30 min); samples treated by traditional heating (100 °C, 15 min) methods were included as controls. We found that LTVH could reduce the values of lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), and pH and increase the values of redness (a*), chewiness, and hardness, to promote food quality. The biogenic amine content declined with the increase in heating temperature and time, the histamine of most concern was low at the end of storage, the values of LTVH70-30 and TC was 33.12 ± 1.25 and 30.39 ± 0.86 mg/kg. The total viable count (TVC) and biogenic amines showed the same trend, and the finial TVC values of LTVH60-30, LTVH70-15, LTVH70-30 and TC were 6.72 ± 0.17, 6.33 ± 0.18, 6.18 ± 0.08 and 5.93 ± 0.16 log CFU/g, which did not exceed the limit value (7 log CFU/g), indicating that the biosafety risk was reduced. According to the high-throughput sequencing results, the microbial composition of LTVH samples showed a lesser abundance pseudomonads than that found in the control. Thus, LTVH technology could be used as an alternative to traditional heating treatment.

A New Cold-Active Glucose Oxidase From Penicillium: High-Level Expression and Application in Fish Preservation

Glucose oxidase (GOx) with high enzyme activity at low temperature (4°C) is potentially useful for food preservation, especially for aquatic products preservation. A cold-active GOx with approximately 83% similarity to known protein sequences, was isolated from Penicillium sp. MX3343 and expressed in Pichia pastoris X33. Through high cell density fermentation, the yield of recombinant enzyme (named GOxP5) reached 458.6 U/mL. GOxP5 showed optimal activity at 30°C and pH 5.5, and was stable at a broad pH range from pH 2-6. Moreover, GOxP5 could maintain 72% maximum activity at 4°C, suggesting its application for the preservation of aquatic products at low-temperatures. Importantly, GOxP5 showed a good antimicrobial effect against common fish pathogenic bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Vibrio parahaemolyticus). Moreover, sensory, microbiological (total bacterial count), and physicochemical (total volatile basic nitrogen and pH) systematic analyses proved GOxP5 to be an excellent freshness preserving agent in the context of the grass carp. These favorable enzymatic properties of GOxP5 make it potentially useful in food biopreservation, and the effect was better compared to the commonly used chemical preservatives.

The microbial safety of fish and fish products: Recent advances in understanding its significance, contamination sources, and control strategies

Microorganisms play a crucial and unique role in fish and fish product safety. The presence of human pathogens and the formation of histamine caused by spoilage bacteria make the control of both pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms critical for fish product safety. To provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the involvement of microorganisms in fish and fish product safety, this paper reviewed outbreak and recall surveillance data obtained from government agencies from 1998 to 2018 and identified major safety concerns associated with both domestic and imported fish products. The review also summarized all available literature about the prevalence of major and emerging microbial safety concerns, including Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Aeromonas hydrophila, in different fish and fish products and the survival of these pathogens under different storage conditions. The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), two emerging food safety concerns, is also reviewed. Pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms as well as ARB and ARGs can be introduced into fish and fish products in both preharvest and postharvest stages. Many novel intervention strategies have been proposed and tested for the control of different microorganisms on fish and fish products. One key question that needs to be considered when developing and implementing novel control measures is how to ensure that the measures are cost and environment friendly as well as sustainable. Over the years, regulations have been established to provide guidance documents for good farming and processing practices. To be more prepared for the globalization of the food chain, harmonization of regulations is still needed.

Use of Spectroscopic Techniques to Monitor Changes in Food Quality during Application of Natural Preservatives: A Review

Consumer demand for food of high quality has driven research for alternative methods of food preservation on the one hand, and the development of new and rapid quality assessment techniques on the other hand. Recently, there has been a growing need and interest in healthier food products, which has led to an increased interest in natural preservatives, such as essential oils, plant extracts, and edible films and coatings. Several studies have shown the potential of using biopreservation, natural antimicrobials, and antioxidant agents in place of other processing and preservation techniques (e.g., thermal and non-thermal treatments, freezing, or synthetic chemicals). Changes in food quality induced by the application of natural preservatives have been commonly evaluated using a range of traditional methods, including microbiology, sensory, and physicochemical measurements. Several spectroscopic techniques have been proposed as promising alternatives to the traditional time-consuming and destructive methods. This review will provide an overview of recent studies and highlight the potential of spectroscopic techniques to evaluate quality changes in food products following the application of natural preservatives.

Characterization of the Volatiles and Quality of Hybrid Grouper and Their Relationship to Changes of Microbial Community During Storage at 4 °C

To investigate the effects of spoilage bacteria on aquatic product quality and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀×Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂), the physical conditions were evaluated, the chemical changes including color, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), VOCs, and free amino acids (FFAs) were determined, and biological profiles were made through microbial community (total viable counts (TVC), 16S rRNA gene amplification sequencing, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology on hybrid grouper, which were stored at 4 °C for 10 days. The results showed that the whiteness and TVB-N of grouper increased throughout the storage period. The contents of glycine, alanine, and total free amino acid decreased with the microbial activity towards the end of the study period. At the end of storage, the TVC reached 9.0 log10 (CFU/g). Seventy eight strains of bacteria were isolated from the hybrid grouper, most of which were shown to be Pseudomonas spp., after 16S rRNA sequencing. The results of the NGS test showed that the diversity of dominant bacteria decreased with time; Pseudomonas azotoformans was the dominant spoilage bacteria at the end of storage. The VOCs of fish and bacteria in the grouper's spoilage process were presented in headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Twenty eight compounds were identified in hybrid grouper, among which alcohol and aldehyde were used to characterize freshness, both of which were not only related to the overall flavor of the grouper, but were also affected by microbial activity. However, due to the complexity of microbial communities in aquatic products, the correlation between community changes and VOCs needs further research. This study provides insights into the correlation between VOCs and specific spoilage organisms (SSOs) through the analysis of the microbial community and VOCs.