Higher spermidine intake is linked to lower mortality: a prospective population-based study.

Background: Spermidine administration is linked to increased survival in several animal models. Objective: The aim of this study was to test the potential association between spermidine content in diet and mortality in humans. Design: This prospective community-based cohort study included 829 participants aged 45-84 y, 49.9% of whom were male. Diet was assessed by repeated dietitian-administered validated food-frequency questionnaires (2540 assessments) in 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010. During follow-up between 1995 and 2015, 341 deaths occurred. Results: All-cause mortality (deaths per 1000 person-years) decreased across thirds of increasing spermidine intake from 40.5 (95% CI: 36.1, 44.7) to 23.7 (95% CI: 20.0, 27.0) and 15.1 (95% CI: 12.6, 17.8), corresponding to an age-, sex- and caloric intake-adjusted 20-y cumulative mortality incidence of 0.48 (95% CI: 0.45, 0.51), 0.41 (95% CI: 0.38, 0.45), and 0.38 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.41), respectively. The age-, sex- and caloric ratio-adjusted HR for all-cause death per 1-SD higher spermidine intake was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.83; P < 0.001). Further adjustment for lifestyle factors, established predictors of mortality, and other dietary features yielded an HR of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.67, 0.86; P < 0.001). The association was consistent in subgroups, robust against unmeasured confounding, and independently validated in the Salzburg Atherosclerosis Prevention Program in Subjects at High Individual Risk (SAPHIR) Study (age-, sex-, and caloric ratio-adjusted HR per 1-SD higher spermidine intake: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.95; P = 0.019). The difference in mortality risk between the top and bottom third of spermidine intakes was similar to that associated with a 5.7-y (95% CI: 3.6, 8.1 y) younger age. Conclusion: Our findings lend epidemiologic support to the concept that nutrition rich in spermidine is linked to increased survival in humans. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03378843.

Continuous protein purification using functionalized magnetic nanoparticles in aqueous micellar two-phase systems.

A novel technique for technical-scale continuous purification of proteins is presented. It is based on the combined use of functionalized magnetic nano-particles and an Aqueous Micellar Two-Phase System featuring the non-ionic surfactant, Eumulgin ES, which undergoes temperature induced phase separation at ∼25°C. In the first step, conducted below the transition temperature (i.e. 15°C), the magnetic sorbent particles are added into the single dispersed phase and bind the protein of interest. Next, on raising the temperature to 30°C the protein-laden magnetic particles partition strongly into the micelle-rich top phase of the micellar two-phase system that's formed. The magnetically susceptible top phase is then continuously separated from the micelle-poor phase in a flowthrough tailor-made magnetic extractor featuring a permanent magnet providing an upwardly acting magnetic force. This separation device was shown to be effective for continuous separation of a wide range of differently sized magnetic particle sorbents (i.e. from 2µm diameter to as small as 25nm) from a 10% (w/w) Eumulgin ES system; high separation efficiencies were recorded for the phase-forming surfactant (87 to >98%), and all magnetic sorbent particles tested (95-99.9%). Finally, protein purification by continuous magnetic extraction was demonstrated at 15L scale for the recovery of an antibody fragment, A33 Fab', from a crude extract of Escherichia coli periplasm. Nearly 70% of the A33 Fab' initially present in the extract at 15.6% of the total protein content was recovered in a 2-fold concentrated and highly purified (>98%) state. Further, the amounts of magnetic sorbent and phase-forming surfactant lost in the process were very small; thus recycling of both components into subsequent rounds of continuous magnetic extraction is highly feasible.