Comparative analysis of LC-MS/MS and real-time PCR assays for efficient detection of potential allergenic silkworm

The silkworm (Bombyx mori) has long been valued food and feed in East Asia for its abundant nutritional and medicinal attributes, conversely, it can elicit allergic responses in susceptible individuals. Therefore, the development of silkworm detection method is required to avert allergenic incidents. In this study, two methodologies, tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and real-time PCR, were developed to achieve effective silkworm detection. These methods exhibited exceptional sensitivity in identifying silkworm presence in processed foods. Furthermore, model cookies spiked with silkworm were used to validate the sensitivities of LC-MS/MS (0.0005%) and real-time PCR (0.001%). Overall, these techniques were useful for trace silkworm detection in food products; therefore, they may help prevent allergic reactions. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first comparison of LC-MS/MS and real-time PCR methods for silkworm detection, marking an important contribution to the field. Data are available from ProteomeXchange under identifier PXD042494.

Multiplex PCR detection method of genetically modified canola event (MON94100, LBFLFK, and NS-B50027-4) combined with capillary electrophoresis

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been continuously developed for their convenience and productivity. In the past three years, three new GM canola events (MON94100, LBFLFK, and NS-B50027-4) have been developed. To efficiently control these GM canola events, the detection methods were needed. Therefore, the multiplex PCR method combined with capillary electrophoresis was developed for three GM canola events. Ten GM canola, eighteen GM soybean, thirty-two GM maize, and ten non-GM crops were used to evaluate the specificity of the method. The detection limit of the multiplex PCR assay was determined to be 0.005 ng in the DNA mixture and 0.1% in the spiked sample. The aim of this study was to establish multiplex PCR coupled with capillary electrophoresis for the newly produced three GM canola events. The developed method is expected to contribute to monitor the commercially available GM canola events.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01377-z.

Leukocytes, microRNA, and complement activity in raw, heat-treated, and frozen colostrum and their dynamics as colostrum transitions to mature milk in dairy cows

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the abundance and viability of leukocytes, the abundance of microRNA, and the activity of the complement pathway in (1) colostrum following heat-treatment or freezing, and (2) colostrum, transition milk, and mature milk. In experiment 1, composite colostrum samples were harvested from individual cows (n = 14) on a commercial dairy farm in NY and split into 3 aliquots using single-use colostrum bags. One aliquot was immediately cooled on ice following harvest (RAW) and stored at 4°C overnight, one was heat-treated for 60 min at 60°C (HT) before being cooled on ice and stored at 4°C overnight, and one was frozen at -20°C overnight (FR). The following morning, all samples were warmed to 40°C before further processing. In experiment 2, cows were sampled in a longitudinal study where composite samples were collected from colostrum (first milking, n = 23), transition milk (3 to 4 d postpartum, n = 13), and mature milk (6 to 7 d postpartum, n = 13). In both experiments colostrum was harvested from the first milking within 8 h of calving and samples were processed within 14 h of collection. Colostral leukocytes were isolated before viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion and manual differential cell counts were performed. Extracellular vesicles were isolated from whey by ultracentrifugation to isolate and quantify microRNA. Activity of the alternative complement pathway was determined in casein-depleted whey by semi-solid phase hemolysis assay. Somatic cell counts were determined for all raw samples. Macrophages and neutrophils made up the greatest proportion of leukocytes in colostrum followed by lymphocytes. Lymphocyte proportion increased as colostrum transitioned to mature milk, but overall somatic cell numbers declined concurrently. Viable cells were not isolated from HT or FR samples. Abundance of microRNA isolated from transition and mature milk was decreased compared with colostrum, did not differ between HT and RAW, but was increased in FR compared with RAW. Alternative complement pathway activity was decreased in HT, but not FR compared with RAW, and was not measurable in transition or mature milk. Postharvest heat-treatment and freezing of colostrum eliminated viable colostral leukocytes and affected microRNA abundance and complement activity. Leukocyte proportions, microRNA abundance, and complement activity changed as colostrum transitioned to mature milk. Although there were clear changes in the colostral components under study in relation to treatment and transition to mature milk, the biological significance of the described treatment effects and temporal changes were not investigated here.