Expansion of a food composition database for the food frequency questionnaire in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES): a comprehensive database of dietary antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity.

Objectives: This study constructed a comprehensive database of dietary antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) to facilitate the estimation of daily antioxidant intake using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). This database was applied to 3 general population-based cohorts (n=195,961) within the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Methods: To establish a database of 412 foods derived from recipes of a 106-item FFQ, we followed a pre-established standardized protocol. This included the selection of source databases, matching of foods, substitution of unmatched items with identical foods and input of values, and assessment of coverage. For each food, the TAC was estimated by summing the individual antioxidant capacities, calculated by multiplying the amount of each antioxidant by its vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity. Results: We identified 48 antioxidants across 5 classes: retinol, carotenoids, vitamins C and E, and flavonoids, with flavonoids divided into 7 subclasses. TAC values were then established. Coverage exceeded 90.0% for retinol, carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E, while coverage for flavonoids was 60.9%. The daily intakes of 4 antioxidant classes-all but vitamin E-were higher in women than in men. The Ansan-Ansung cohort exhibited the highest levels of dietary TAC, vitamin E, and flavonoids, while the Health Examinees Study cohort displayed the highest values for retinol, carotenoids, and vitamin C. Conclusion: We customized a comprehensive antioxidant database for the KoGES FFQ, achieving relatively high coverage. This expansion could support research investigating the impact of dietary antioxidants on the development of chronic diseases targeted by the KoGES.

Impact of the Ventricle Size on Alzheimer's Disease Progression: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study.

Background and Purpose: Ventricle enlargement has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied the relationship between ventricular size and cognitive function in patients with AD. We focused on the effect of the initial ventricle size on the rate of cognitive decline in patients with AD. Methods: A retrospective analysis of probable clinical AD participants with more than 2 magnetic resonance imaging images was performed. To measure ventricle size, we used visual rating scales of (1) Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) score and (2) conventional linear measurement method. Results: Increased clinical dementia rating (CDR) was correlated with a decreased Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score, and increased medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTLA) and global ventricle size (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.021, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the change in cognitive function in the group (70%-100%ile) with a large initial ventricle size (p=0.021 for ΔCDR, p=0.01 for ΔMMSE), while the median ventricle size (30%-70%ile) showed correlation with other brain structural changes (MTLA, frontal atrophy [FA], and white matter) (p=0.036 for initial MTLA, p=0.034 for FA). Conclusions: In this study, the initial ventricle size may be a potential new imaging biomarker for initial cognitive function and clinical progression in AD. We found a relationship between the initial ventricle size and initial AD-related brain structural biomarkers.

Optimization and characterization of high internal phase double emulsion (HIPDE) stabilized by with soybean protein isolate, gallic acid and xanthan gum.

This study aims to formulate a stable high internal phase double emulsion (HIPDE) using soybean protein isolate (SPI), gallic acid (GA), and xanthan gum (XG). To prepare HIPDE, W1/O was formulated with the water phase dispersed in the oil phase using polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) as a stabilizer. Thereafter, W1/O dispersed in W2 (SPI solution) was used. To stabilize the HIPDE, GA was added in W1 (0 or 1 %), XG was added in W2 (0 or 1 %), and the pH of the W phases was adjusted to acidic, neutral, and basic. The samples containing GA in W1 and XG in W2 did not phase out during the storage periods and maintained a higher ζ-potential value, a higher apparent viscosity, and a more sustainable droplet compared to others. These results were derived by the interaction between SPI and XG, SPI and GA, or GA and PGPR. Physicochemical crosslinks were formed, such as gallate-derived groups, SPI-GA complexation (Michael addition, Shiff base reaction), and hydrogen bonding. In conclusion, applying the SPI, GA, and XG to HIPDE would contribute to various industries such as food, medicine, and cosmetics.

Comprehensive Young Age Breast Cancer registry from clinical, genomics, and patient-reported outcomes measured with 15 years follow-up: the CHARM cohort profile.

BACKGROUND: In recognition of the distinct clinical challenges and research gaps in young breast cancer (YBC) patients, we established the Comprehensive Young Age Breast Cancer (CHARM) registry to collect prospective data. METHODS: This prospective cohort included patients who were newly diagnosed with histologically confirmed breast cancer without prior treatment at the Samsung Medical Center (SMC) in April 2013. We included patients who were either 40 years old or younger at the time of diagnosis, pregnant at breast cancer diagnosis or diagnosed with breast cancer within 1 year of delivery. All data were collected using Medidata's Rave Electronic Data. Clinical data were obtained from electronic medical records. Two experienced pathologists reviewed the pathologic data. Bone mineral densitometry tests have been conducted annually. To obtain multi-omics data, tumor tissues and blood samples were prospectively collected from consenting patients in the registry during surgery. The fertility-related factor also collected collaborated with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Anti-Müllerian hormone, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels were measured using an additional blood sample from baseline to last follow-up. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using mobile questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 1868 participants were included in the SMC YBC study. The average (standard deviation) age was 35.57 (3.79) and 99.8% of the participants were premenopausal. Among them, 1062 participants completed the PRO questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: The SMC YBC cohort serves as a comprehensive registry for YBC to optimize care and improve knowledge regarding the management of YBC.

The association of dietary total flavonoids and their subclasses with the risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Data from mechanistic studies suggest flavonoids may benefit glucose metabolism, but their associations with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remain unclear. This study examined the prospective associations of dietary intake of total, classes, and individual flavonoids, as well as their source foods, with T2D in the CArdioVascular disease Association Study (CAVAS). METHODS: A total of 16,666 Korean men and women were enrolled at baseline, and 953 were newly diagnosed with T2D over a median follow-up of 5.96 years. Intake of flavonoids was cumulatively averaged using all food frequency questionnaires before the censoring events. A Poisson regression model was used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Women with higher total flavonoid, flavonol, isoflavone, and proanthocyanidin intake had a lower risk of T2D (fourth vs. first quartile, IRR 0.62; 95% CI 0.44-0.89; P for linearity and non-linearity < 0.05 for total flavonoids), while in men, flavanones, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins, but not total flavonoids, were inversely associated with T2D risk (all P interaction for sex > 0.05). The key source foods contributing to flavonoid intake were also different between men and women, except for apples: tangerines and strawberries in men and green leafy vegetables and soy products in women. CONCLUSIONS: A higher intake of total flavonoids, particularly from vegetables, soybeans, and apples, may be associated with lower risk of T2D in women. However, flavonoids from fruits, rather than total flavonoids, may be inversely associated in men. The association between flavonoid intake and the risk of T2D may be contingent upon the dietary sources of flavonoids consumed.

Evidence of parental transfer of nanoplastics in pea (Pisum sativum) plants.

The increasing abundance of nanoplastics in the environment is a cause of serious concern and its acute and chronic effects on ecosystems need to be thoroughly investigated. Toward this end, this study investigated the parental transfer of nanoplastics by chronically exposing Pisum sativum (pea) plants to nanoplastics through soil medium. We observed the presence of nanoplastics in harvested fruits and a subsequent generation of plants replanted in uncontaminated soil using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The fluorescence was located in the cell wall of the vascular bundles, but not in the epidermis, indicating the parental transfer of nanoplastics. In addition, we determined the effects of nanoplastics on the health of subsequent plant generations by estimating the reproductive factors and measuring the content of individual nutrients in peas. Decreases in crop yield and fruit biomass, in addition to changes in nutrient content and composition, were noted. The transgenerational effects of nanoplastics on plants can profoundly impact terrestrial ecosystems, including both plant species and their predators, raising critical safety concerns. Our findings highlight the evidence of parental transfer of nanoplastics in the soil through plants and shows that the chronic effects of nanoplastics on plants may pose a threat to the food supply.

Effect of high pressure pretreatment on the inhibition of ice nucleation and biochemical changes in pork loins during supercooling preservation.

In this study, the effect of high pressure (HP) pretreatment on the stability of pork loins during supercooling (SC) preservation was investigated, and the freshness and postmortem metabolism of pork loins preserved by SC was evaluated. Based on the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the peak enthalpies of 200 MPa treatment were lower than those of 50 MPa treatment (P < 0.05). For the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry, extramyofibrillar water in pork loins was decreased with increasing intermyofibrillar water at >100 MPa (P < 0.05). Compared to unpressurized control all HP treatment had less α-helix structure while random coil was dominated from the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy (P < 0.05). A 200 MPa was selected to estimate the relationship between HP pretreatment and stability of SC preservation of pork loins. The HP-treated pork loins showed high stability during SC preservation under the relatively low temperature algorithm. Compared to fresh control, HP pretreatment caused physicochemical changes of pork loins which did not recover even after 2 weeks of preservation. Nevertheless, HP followed by SC preservation was able to reduce property changes better than pork loins preserved by normal refrigeration. According to the analyses of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the HP pretreatment influenced the postmortem biochemical metabolism of pork loins, however, it did not affect the freshness and quality parameters of pork loins due to the subsequently applied low preservation temperature of SC. Therefore, this study demonstrated that moderate HP pretreatment was a potential pretreatment for SC preservation of pork loins.

Storage Stability of Meat Analogs Supplemented with Vegetable Oils.

The addition of various oils to meat analog has been an important topic to improving its juiciness and tenderness. However, this causes a concern about oil leaching from the meat analog during long-term storage. Here, we aimed to assess the storage stability of vegetable-oil-supplemented meat analogs and analyze the effects of temperature and storage period on their physiochemical characteristics. The meat analogs were prepared by adding 30 g castor oil, orange oil, palm oil, shortening, or margarine vegetable oil based on 100 g of textured vegetable protein. They were then stored at -18 or -60 °C for 6 months and analyzed at one-month intervals. The meat analog supplemented with orange oil had the highest water content (64.85%; 66.07%), hardness (35.48 N; 34.05 N), and DPPH-radical-scavenging activity (30.01%; 30.87%) under -18 and -60 °C, respectively, as well as the highest liquid-holding capacity in different conditions. During frozen storage, temperature barely affected the meat quality. The storage stability of all meat analog samples was maintained for 6 months, although the quality was slightly reduced with an increase in storage duration. Coliform group bacteria were not detected regardless of the storage condition. In conclusion, all results supposed that orange oil can be a promising candidate for improving the juiciness and tenderness of meat analogs, and the quality of samples was maintained for at least 6 months under frozen storage. The findings of this study are relevant to the development and promotion of meat analog as an alternative to animal meat.

The Effect of Fermented Grains (koji) on Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Chicken Breasts.

This study investigated the tenderizing and flavor-enhancing effects of koji, a fermented grain cultured with a single microorganism, on chicken breasts during curing. Chicken breasts were cured with different ingredients, including 4% (w/w) curing agent (GC), 5% (w/w) Aspergillus oryzae with rice (FR), A. oryzae with soybean (FS), and Bacillus subtilis with soybean (BS) for 4 h at 4 °C prior to cooking. After the superheated steam procedure, all samples were cooked in a convection oven, and their physicochemical properties were analyzed. Koji-treated samples exhibited significantly higher expressible moisture due to the degradation of the protein matrix (p < 0.05). Texture profile analysis showed that the tenderness of koji-treated samples was significantly higher than that of GC (p < 0.05). Furthermore, koji-treated samples were regarded as tenderer, and they were preferred over GC (p < 0.05) in the sensory evaluation. Principal attributes analysis revealed that the overall preference for koji-treated samples was highly correlated with umami, juiciness, and tenderness (p < 0.05). Overall, this study provides insights into applying koji as a potential curing treatment to improve the eating quality of chicken breasts. Koji can be used as a novel technology in the food industry to improve taste and tenderness simultaneously.

Influence of different electrolytes and oils on the stability of W1/O/W2 double emulsion during storage and in vitro digestion.

The aim of this study is to formulate a stable water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double emulsion using different types of oils and electrolytes. W1/O was formulated with different electrolyte solutions (W1) dispersed in various oils (O) using polyglycerol polyricinoleate as a stabilizer. External aqueous phase was Tween-80 (W2), and W1/O dispersed in W2 was used. The emulsion containing NaCl or MgCl2 exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (EE) and maintained particle size. Regarding the oil type, the emulsion with MCT oil showed a small droplet size and a high viscosity and EE, presenting a stable droplet distribution in optical observation. The stability of emulsion containing NaCl was maintained during the in vitro digestion experiments. MCT oil, NaCl and MgCl2 have the potential to produce stable double emulsions for storage stability and in vitro digestion studies. The findings would be useful for preparing stable double emulsions used in the food and cosmetic industries.

Associations of cumulative average dietary total antioxidant capacity and intake of antioxidants with metabolic syndrome risk in Korean adults aged 40 years and older: a prospective cohort study (KoGES_CAVAS).

OBJECTIVES: Limited and inconsistent prospective evidence exists regarding the relationship of dietary total antioxidant capacity (dTAC) and antioxidant intake with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk. We evaluated the associations of the cumulative averages of dTAC and antioxidant intake (in 5 classes: retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and flavonoids, as well as 7 flavonoid subclasses) with the risk of MetS. METHODS: This study included 11,379 participants without MetS, drawn from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study_CArdioVascular disease Association Study (KoGES_CAVAS). The cumulative average consumption was calculated using repeated food frequency questionnaires. Incidence rate ratios were estimated using a modified Poisson regression model with a robust error estimator. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 5.16 years, and 2,416 cases of MetS were recorded over 58,750 person-years. In men, significant inverse associations were observed in all 5 antioxidant classes, except for the highest quartile of dTAC. In women, dTAC and total flavonoids were not significantly associated with MetS; however, significant L-shaped associations were found for the remaining 4 antioxidant classes. Of the 7 flavonoid subclasses, only flavones in the highest quartile for men and flavan-3-ols in women lacked significant associations with MetS. The inverse associations were not sex-specific, but they were particularly pronounced among participants with a body mass index (BMI) of 23 kg/m2 or higher. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that most antioxidant classes and flavonoid subclasses, unlike dTAC, exhibit a clear beneficial association with MetS in an L-shaped pattern in both men and women, particularly those with a high BMI.

Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells into Smooth Muscle Cells in an Internal Anal Sphincter-Targeting Anal Incontinence Rat Model.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on development of an anal incontinence (AI) model targeting smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) have not been reported. The differentiation of implanted human adipose-derived stem cells (hADScs) into SMCs in an IAS-targeting AI model has also not been demonstrated. We aimed to develop an IAS-targeting AI animal model and to determine the differentiation of hADScs into SMCs in an established model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The IAS-targeting AI model was developed by inducing cryoinjury at the inner side of the muscular layer via posterior intersphincteric dissection in Sprague-Dawley rats. Dil-stained hADScs were implanted at the IAS injury site. Multiple markers for SMCs were used to confirm molecular changes before and after cell implantation. Analyses were performed using H&E, immunofluorescence, Masson's trichrome staining, and quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Impaired smooth muscle layers accompanying other intact layers were identified in the cryoinjury group. Specific SMC markers, including SM22α, calponin, caldesmon, SMMHC, smoothelin, and SDF-1 were significantly decreased in the cryoinjured group compared with levels in the control group. However, CoL1A1 was increased significantly in the cryoinjured group. In the hADSc-treated group, higher levels of SMMHC, smoothelin, SM22α, and α-SMA were observed at two weeks after implantation than at one week after implantation. Cell tracking revealed that Dil-stained cells were located at the site of augmented SMCs. CONCLUSIONS: This study first demonstrated that implanted hADSc restored impaired SMCs at the injury site, showing stem cell fate corresponding to the established IAS-specific AI model.

Physico-Chemical Properties and Storage Stability of an Emulsion as a Fat Replacer in Meat Analogs during the Freezing Storage.

This study determined the effects of physicochemical and microbial properties of emulsion as a fat replacer in meat analogs during freezing storage. Meat analogs were prepared with different fat replacers: vegetable oil (O) for control, oil in water emulsion (E), and non-emulsified oil in water emulsion (EC) for emulsion control. After that, meat analogs were stored for 0.5, one, three, and six months at −18 °C and −60 °C. The results showed that the drip loss of all samples was not significantly different (p > 0.05). However, the liquid holding capacity of EC and E was significantly higher than that of O (p < 0.05). Additionally, the microstructures of meat analogs of E and EC were smaller with denser pore sizes than O. This explains the significantly lower hardness of E and EC compared to O (p < 0.05). Overall, E showed superior physiochemical and sensory quality. During the storage, the stability of chemical properties, such as volatile basic nitrogen and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, showed no significant changes (p > 0.05). Moreover, the microbial studies (total viable counts and Escherichia coli count) suggested that meat analogs did not deteriorate during the preparation and storage. Thus, this study suggests that emulsion-type fat replacers influence meat analogs' physicochemical and sensorial properties. However, these properties are not influenced by the storage temperature and duration.

Effects of Glucono-δ-Lactone and Transglutaminase on the Physicochemical and Textural Properties of Plant-Based Meat Patty.

Due to growing interest in health and sustainability, the demand for replacing animal-based ingredients with more sustainable alternatives has increased. Many studies have been conducted on plant-based meat, but only a few have investigated the effect of adding a suitable binder to plant-based meat to enhance meat texture. Thus, this study investigated the effects of the addition of transglutaminase (TG) and glucono-δ-lactone (GdL) on the physicochemical, textural, and sensory characteristics of plant-based ground meat products. The addition of a high quantity of GdL(G10T0) had an effect on the decrease in lightness (L* 58.98) and the increase in redness (a* 3.62). TG and GdL also decreased in terms of cooking loss (CL) and water holding capacity (WHC) of PBMPs. G5T5 showed the lowest CL (3.8%), while G3T7 showed the lowest WHC (86.02%). The mechanical properties also confirmed that G3T7-added patties have significantly high hardness (25.49 N), springiness (3.7 mm), gumminess (15.99 N), and chewiness (57.76 mJ). The improved textural properties can compensate for the chewability of PBMPs. Although the overall preference for improved hardness was not high compared to the control in the sensory test, these results provide a new direction for improving the textural properties of plant-based meat by using binders and forming fibrous structures.

Association between Micronutrient Intake and Breast Cancer Risk According to Body Mass Index in South Korean Adult Women: A Cohort Study.

This study investigated the association between micronutrient intake and breast cancer risk in South Korean adult women. This association was stratified according to body mass index (BMI) categories. Data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) and the Health Examinee Study were analyzed. Altogether, 63,337 individuals (aged ≥40 years) completed the baseline and first follow-up surveys; 40,432 women without a history of cancer at baseline were included in this study. The association between micronutrient intake and breast cancer was determined by estimating the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. A stratified analysis by BMI (<25 kg/m2 and ≥25 kg/m2) was performed. The an analysis of 15 micronutrients and breast cancer risk revealed that none of the micronutrients were associated with breast cancer risk after adjusting for covariates. In obese women, the risk of breast cancer was significantly reduced in the group that consumed vitamin C more than the recommended level (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31−0.93) and vitamin B6 levels above the recommended level (HR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25−0.89). In obese women, exceeding the recommended daily intake levels of vitamin C and vitamin B6 was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. However, other micronutrients were not associated with breast cancer risk in these women.

Normal Aging Induces Changes in the Brain and Neurodegeneration Progress: Review of the Structural, Biochemical, Metabolic, Cellular, and Molecular Changes.

Aging is accompanied by many changes in brain and contributes to progressive cognitive decline. In contrast to pathological changes in brain, normal aging brain changes have relatively mild but important changes in structural, biochemical and molecular level. Representatively, aging associated brain changes include atrophy of tissues, alteration in neurotransmitters and damage accumulation in cellular environment. These effects have causative link with age associated changes which ultimately results in cognitive decline. Although several evidences were found in normal aging changes of brain, it is not clearly integrated. Figuring out aging related changes in brain is important as aging is the process that everyone goes through, and comprehensive understanding may help to progress further studies. This review clarifies normal aging brain changes in an asymptotic and comprehensive manner, from a gross level to a microscopic and molecular level, and discusses potential approaches to seek the changes with cognitive decline.

Catalytic ozonation with vanadium oxide-doped TiO2 nanoparticles for the removal of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate.

Among various plastic additives, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) has been a great concern due to its high leaching potential and harmful effects on both human and the ecosystem. For the effective oxidation and mineralization of DEHP by ozone in the existing TiO2 catalytic processes, the heterogeneous catalyst, vanadium oxide (V2O5)-incorporated TiO2 (V2O5/TiO2), was synthesized. The generation of hydroxyl radicals was promoted by cyclic redox reactions of vanadium atoms in V2O5/TiO2 via the increase of surface oxygen vacancies by the replacement of V5+ species in the lattice of TiO2. The catalytic ozonation in the presence of V2O5/TiO2 exhibited the significantly higher degradation of DEHP with the pseudo-second-order kinetic constant of 1.7 × 105 mM-1min-1 and the removal efficiency of 58.7% after 60 s in 2 mg/L of ozone. The degradation of DEHP was initiated by the shortening of the alkyl-side chain followed by the opening of esterified benzene moieties.

A systematic review of translation and experimental studies on internal anal sphincter for fecal incontinence.

The complexity in the molecular mechanism of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) limits preclinical or clinical outcomes of fecal incontinence (FI) treatment. So far, there are no systematic reviews of IAS translation and experimental studies that have been reported. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of IAS critical role in FI. Previous studies revealed the key pathway for basal tone and relaxation of IAS in different properties as follows; calcium, Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing serine/threonine kinase, aging-associated IAS dysfunction, oxidative stress, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, cyclooxygenase, and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Previous studies have reported improved functional outcomes of cellular treatment for regeneration of dysfunctional IAS, using various stem cells, but did not demonstrate the interrelationship between those results and basal tone or relaxation-related molecular pathway of IAS. Furthermore, these results have lower specificity for IAS-incontinence due to the included external anal sphincter or nerve injury regardless of the cell type. An acellular approach using bioengineered IAS showed a physiologic response of basal tone and relaxation response similar to human IAS. However, in both cellular and acellular approaches, the lack of human IAS data still hampers clinical application. Therefore, the IAS regeneration presents more challenges and warrants more advances.

Translocation and chronic effects of microplastics on pea plants (Pisum sativum) in copper-contaminated soil.

Microplastics (MPs) released into soil environments, along with the existing pollutants in soil, may have adverse effects on plants. However, the chronic effects of MPs in soils contaminated with heavy metals on crop plants remain unidentified. This study aimed to investigate the chronic effects of MPs (polystyrene, 20 nm) on the reproductive and nutritional status of pea crop plant (Pisum sativum) grown in Cu- (40 mg/kg) and MP-contaminated soils (40, 20 mg/kg). The crop yield reduced in all groups, with an evident decrease in the complex exposure group (comprising MPs and Cu). Moreover, significant changes in plants were identified regarding the weight, color, amino acids, and protein content of peas. Nutrient content in beans increased by MP exposure in single and complex exposure groups. Cu accumulation did not differ in the presence and absence of MPs. Additionally, MPs that infiltrated into incomplete casparian strips during root formation translocated into aerial parts via the apoplast pathway along the cell walls of the vascular bundle. Therefore, long-term exposure to MPs in soil can significantly affect plants while collective application of Cu and MPs imposed severe damage. The changes in the crop quality and nutrient contents may in turn affect human health through the food chain.

Rapid Biosensor of SARS-CoV-2 Using Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Recognizing Conserved Nucleocapsid Protein Epitopes.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is characterized by symptoms such as fever, fatigue, a sore throat, diarrhea, and coughing. Although various new vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed, early diagnostics, isolation, and prevention remain important due to virus mutations resulting in rapid and high disease transmission. Amino acid substitutions in the major diagnostic target antigens of SARS-CoV-2 may lower the sensitivity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. For this reason, we developed specific monoclonal antibodies that bind to epitope peptides as antigens for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 NP. The binding affinity between antigenic peptides and monoclonal antibodies was investigated, and a sandwich pair for capture and detection was employed to develop a rapid biosensor for SARS-CoV-2 NP. The rapid biosensor, based on a monoclonal antibody pair binding to conserved epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 NP, detected cultured virus samples of SARS-CoV-2 (1.4 × 103 TCID50/reaction) and recombinant NP (1 ng/mL). Laboratory confirmation of the rapid biosensor was performed with clinical specimens (n = 16) from COVID-19 patients and other pathogens. The rapid biosensor consisting of a monoclonal antibody pair (75E12 for capture and the 54G6/54G10 combination for detection) binding to conserved epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 NP could assist in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 NP under the circumstance of spreading SARS-CoV-2 variants.