Xianjun Dai

This study systematically compares the inactivation mechanisms of 222 nm far‐UVC (UV222) and conventional 254 nm UV (UV254) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Unlike UV254, which primarily targets DNA by inducing cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, UV222 operates through a multi‐target synergistic pathway involving membrane lipid peroxidation, ribosomal damage, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Specifically, UV222 exposure increased cell membrane permeability, induced a 2.3‐fold rise in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and caused 37.6% of treated cells to exhibit elevated intracellular ROS, as detected by DCFH‐DA flow cytometry. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 669 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under UV222, enriched in ribosome biogenesis and carbon metabolism, while UV254 triggered 1185 DEGs linked to DNA repair and stress responses. RT‐qPCR confirmed upregulation of ribosomal protein genes exclusively after UV222 treatment. The Weibull model best described inactivation kinetics for both wavelengths, with UV222 showing multi‐mechanism synergy. These findings establish UV222 as a promising mechanism‐driven alternative to UV254 for sustainable disinfection in food processing and healthcare settings.

Eggs are natural and multifunctional bioresources, and their components are widely applied in the food, biomedical, functional, and environmental fields. Most studies have focused on the chemical properties or functional characteristics of individual components, and a systematic understanding that connects molecular structure, material performance, and cross‐disciplinary applications is lacking. This review comprehensively synthesized existing studies, covering inorganic constituents (e.g., eggshell minerals), natural fibers (e.g., eggshell membrane), and protein and lipid structural features, determining their roles in functional regulation, interfacial activity, network formation, and material properties. Advancements in egg‐based composite systems, including protein–polysaccharide networks, egg yolk lipid‐based nanocarriers, eggshell–eggshell membrane composites, and protein–keratin crosslinked systems, are highlighted. The effects of the conditions of preparation, composite strategies, and interfacial modulation on the microstructure, rheology, film‐forming ability, and stability were critically discussed. Future perspectives were proposed, emphasizing multicomponent synergistic design, cross‐phase interface engineering, and the development of egg‐based smart materials. This framework provides a systematic reference for using eggs in high‐performance food systems, biomedical applications, and functional composite materials.

Intestinal aging manifests as the decline in gut function and structure, affecting nutrient absorption and overall health. Agarose oligosaccharides (AOS) exhibit considerable anti-aging effects, but their mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, aging male Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) were employed to evaluate the effects of AOS on the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cell (ISC) and its underlying mechanism. Our findings revealed that supplementation with AOS significantly extended mean and maximum lifespan, reduced oxidative stress, and alleviated intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction. Notably, AOS supplementation reduced the mean fluorescence intensity of esg⁺ cells and enteroblasts (EB), leading to an improvement in ISC homeostasis, with potential mechanisms associated with activation of the PERK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways, as demonstrated by RNA interference. Integrated 16S rRNA sequencing, strain isolation, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analysis revealed that AOS was beneficial for intestinal microflora and its metabolites, evidenced by the significant increase in Acetobacter persici and acetic acid contents. Importantly, further experiments demonstrated that Acetobacter persici and acetic acid treatment could significantly decrease the esg⁺ ISC count and downregulate the expression levels of PERK, STAT, and Hsp70Bbb, suggesting that AOS can increase production of Acetobacter persici and its metabolite acetic acid, thereby modulating JAK/STAT signaling to improve ISC steady-state. The homeostasis of ISC in aging D. melanogaster is balanced by AOS via the acetic acid-JAK/STAT axis mediated by Acetobacter persici. This axis counters age-related ISC dysregulation by balancing proliferative signals with redox homeostasis, positioning AOS as a microbiota-targeted intervention for age-associated intestinal decline.

Resveratrol is a naturally non-flavonoid polyphenol compound that demonstrates potent antibacterial properties against a range of foodborne pathogenic bacteria. However, its underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. In present study, the antibacterial properties of resveratrol were assessed, with a focus on its impact on the cell membrane and the KEEG pathway in Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). The results indicated that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of resveratrol against L. monocytogenes strains ATCC216353, ATCC19111, CMCC(B)54002, and ATCC54004 were 200, 200, 100, and 400 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that the growth of L. monocytogenes was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by resveratrol. The Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) revealed that following resveratrol treatment, bacterial cells experienced shrinkage and rupture, resulting in the leakage of numerous substances. Concurrently, the outcomes of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) indicated that resveratrol inflicted significant damage on cellular membranes and hindered the development of bacterial biofilms, thereby diminishing their stability. Additionally, transcriptome analysis revealed that resveratrol treatment mainly inhibits the metabolism of a small molecule on the membrane affecting synthesis of bacterial cell membranes and ABC transporter pathways.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) have been studied for their antioxidant properties, which can mitigate oxidative stress and improve health outcomes. The study aimed to compare the antioxidant properties of single and binary L. plantarum and their impact on yogurt. L. plantarum 847 (Lp-C), L. plantarum 8014 (Lp-G), and their combination were chosen for their in vitro antioxidant potential. In vivo experiments were performed in Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) and results showed that binary L. plantarum significantly improved the survival time, weight, catalase activity and intestinal integrity in H₂O₂-induced flies. As compared with single L. plantarum treated flies, binary strains improved the survival curve, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in females, prolonged the average survival time in males, and increased the expression level of keap1, Nrf2 and SOD genes in all genders. To explore the effect of single and binary L. plantarum on milk fermentation, the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of yogurt were detected, and results presented that yogurt fermented with L. plantarum exhibited the improved antioxidant capacity, with the binary strain combination demonstrating superior effects in rheological properties and the later period of yogurt storage. This research offers a foundation for choosing the combinations of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with antioxidant properties.

Purpose Aging is a process that accompanies a decline in the function of various tissues and organs, especially affecting intestinal health. Agarose oligosaccharide (AOS) can prolong the lifespan of organisms and protect the intestine in the previous study. It was examined to evaluate the effects of AOS on intestinal health, and the potential associations between intestinal homeostasis and health status were further validated. Methods D-galactose-induced aging mice were used to investigate the role of AOS in promoting intestinal health by determining intestinal physiology, microbiota and stem cells. Results AOS supplementation decreased the clinical frailty index of aging mice with increasing intestinal length and crypt depth; moreover, it decreased the average flatulence index and PCNA protein content in the intestine. Besides, AOS contributed to the diversity of the gut microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and other bacteria that could produce short-chain fatty acids. Furthermore, AOS affected the expression of proinflammatory factors in aging mice, promoting the proliferative equilibrium of intestinal stem cells. Conclusion These findings confirmed that AOS could improve intestinal health in aging mice by maintaining intestinal homeostasis, which provides new insights into the potential application of AOS as a prebiotic.

As a natural nonflavonoid polyphenol compound, resveratrol is the main functional component of Reynoutria japonica and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and other physiological activities. In this study, the effect of resveratrol on the viability of RAW264.7 cells was examined, and murine norovirus (MNV-1) was used as a surrogate for human norovirus to evaluate the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. The concentrations of resveratrol resulting in 50% cytotoxicity (CC₅₀) for RAW264.7 cells were 21.32 and 24.97 μg/mL after 24 and 48 h of incubation, respectively, and resveratrol at a concentration lower than the half-effective inhibitory concentration (EC₅₀) could not damage cell DNA. The EC₅₀ of resveratrol on MNV-1 in infected RAW264.7 cells was determined to equal 5.496 μg/mL. After RAW264.7 cells, virus, and a fresh mixture of virus and RAW264.7 cells were treated with resveratrol solution for 1 h (denoted cell pre-treatment, virus pre-treatment, and mixture coprocessing), the RAW264.7 cells obtained after cell pre-treatment exhibited lower virus infection, and MNV-1 obtained after virus pre-treatment and mixture coprocessing showed a decreased infectious capacity. The inhibition ratio of resveratrol on MNV-1 did not significantly differ between the treatments at 4 and 25 °C or among the various pH values except for the lower acidic condition (pH 2). TEM revealed significant changes in the morphology of MNV-1 after treatment with resveratrol, and molecular docking indicated that resveratrol strongly binds to the viral capsid protein of MNV-1. In addition, resveratrol regulated the expression of cytokine that protects against MNV-1 infection. Therefore, at a lower concentration, resveratrol, a natural component from Reynoutria japonica, exerts an inhibitory effect on MNV-1 growth and could be used as a safe additive in food products to improve the nutritional status and control norovirus.

Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) is a new type of marine functional oligosaccharide with biological activities such as regulating intestinal microflora and improving intestinal immunity. In this study, femaleDrosophila melanogasterwas used as a model organism to evaluate the effect of COS on intestinal injury by H₂O₂induction, and its mechanism was explored through the analysis of intestinal homeostasis. The results showed that 0.25% of COS could effectively prolong the lifespan of stressed femaleD. melanogasterby increasing its antioxidant capacity and maintaining intestinal homeostasis, which included protecting the mechanical barrier, promoting the chemical barrier, and regulating the biological barrier by affecting its autophagy and the antioxidant signaling pathway. Additionally, the protective effect of COS on the intestinal barrier and homeostasis ofD. melanogasterunder oxidative stress status is directly related to its regulation of the intestinal microflora, which could decrease excessive autophagy and activate the antioxidant system to promote health.IMPORTANCE: The epithelial barrier plays an important role in the organism’s health. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), a new potential prebiotic, exhibits excellent antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory effects. Our study elucidated the protective mechanisms of COS on the intestinal barrier ofDrosophila melanogasterunder oxidative stress, which could provide new insights into COS application in various industries, such as food, agriculture, and medicine.