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Fermentation technologies to produce and improve alternative protein sources
No full textThe growing global population, along with evolving dietary trends and increasing concerns about health and the environment, underscores the urgent need to transform current food systems to minimize their environmental footprint and enhance global food security. This transformation has driven the development and demand for alternative food sources. In this context, alternative proteins emerge as promising options due to their production from plants, microorganisms, and insects, which potentially reduces the environmental impact of food production while supporting global food security. Nevertheless, the transition toward alternative proteins presents significant challenges related to the presence of antinutritional compounds, poor amino acid composition, lower digestibility, and undesirable organoleptic characteristics. Moreover, these new generations of alternative foods are highly processed, raising concerns about their nutritional adequacy compared to traditional products. In this context, fermentation technologies have emerged as promising tools to overcome these limitations. Traditional fermentation can degrade antinutritional factors, improve digestibility, and release bioactive compounds, allowing the production of new products with health-promoting properties. Beyond traditional fermentation, biomass fermentation to single-cell protein or microbial protein production represents a sustainable alternative, promoting a climate-friendly approach aligned with circular bioeconomy principles by upcycling various agro-industrial streams. Thus, this review discusses how microbial strategies (from traditional fermentation to cutting-edge microbial protein production) can enhance the nutritional properties of alternative protein-based foods. Emphasis is placed on the capacity of traditional fermentation to improve nutritional quality and bioactivity, mitigate undesirable sensory traits, and preserve or enhance micronutrient content. Additionally, integrating biomass fermentation and emerging precision fermentation positions microorganisms as valuable contributors to more nutritious and sustainable food systems.This research was supported by the SafeMAAP project, grant PID2022-1370090OR-I00 funded by Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF/EU. Ignacio García-Álvarez de Toledo received the grant PREP2022-000490 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FSE+. CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya, TEQUAL (2021 SGR 00461) and SEQUSAL (2021 SGR 00468).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Industry stakeholders attitudes and beliefs about tail biting and docking in pigs – A case study in Switzerland and Spain
No full textBackground
Tail docking is still widely used in major European pig-producing countries despite efforts to ban it. The present study aimed to understand the attitudes and beliefs of pig farming professionals in Spain and Switzerland regarding tail biting and tail docking. For this, n = 275 Swiss, and n = 87 Spanish participants completed an online questionnaire regarding the issue of tail biting and docking in pigs and their attitudes and beliefs.
Results
Spanish participants predominantly kept docked pigs (n = 70, 80 %), whereas Swiss participants kept undocked pigs (n = 271, 99 %). While tail biting occurrences in the last two years were reported by most participants (n = 301, 83 %), the attitudes towards them differed: Spanish participants found the management of tail biting more challenging than Swiss participants. In addition, Spanish participants considered welfare to be better for docked pigs than for undocked pigs, whereas Swiss participants perceived the welfare of undocked pigs to be better. Similarly, Spanish participants showed a strong perception of lower production risks for docked pigs than for undocked pigs, a perception that could not be found in Swiss participants. Overall, Swiss participants saw more advantages in keeping long-tailed pigs and more possibilities to prevent tail biting than Spanish participants.
Conclusions
The results suggest that Spanish pig-farming professionals’ attitudes towards tail docking are dominated by the conviction that docking is a necessity that lowers production risks and ensures animal welfare. Future efforts attempting to enforce the prohibition on tail docking should not only attempt to overcome structural barriers, but also focus on communicating with and changing the perceptions of pig farming professionals. By tackling the reluctance to try non-docking, producers can gain more experience and confidence with raising long-tailed pigs. To create sustainable changes in tail-docking practices, in addition to optimising the environment for pigs, communication should focus on changing attitudes and reducing risk perceptions.This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101000494. It is part of the DECIDE project (https://decideproject.eu/).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Effects of Lacticaseibacillus casei fermentation on the physicochemical, nutritional, volatile, and sensory profile of synbiotic peach and grape juice during refrigerated storage
No full textBoth the application of probiotics and fermentation offer great potential in developing functional foods and, therefore, interesting health benefits. This study aimed to develop a synbiotic peach and grape juice (PGJ) containing probiotics (Lacticaseibacillus casei) and prebiotic (inulin), evaluating its probiotic viability, nutritional, volatile, and sensory profile before and after fermentation and digestion over 12 days of storage at 5 °C. Thus, PGJ containing inulin (PGJI) was inoculated with L. casei (10⁷ CFU/mL) and stored for 12 days at 5 °C, either as non-fermented (PGJI_PRO) or fermented for 48 h at 37 °C (PGJI_FER). Afterward, probiotic viability, physicochemical and nutritional properties, sensory attributes, and the volatile profile were evaluated over storage time. L. casei remained viable throughout storage (7.6 log CFU/mL) and even proliferated after fermentation (8.4 log CFU/mL) without decreasing after digestion. Nutritional properties were favorably affected after fermentation, providing lactic acid (1 g/L), vitamin B12 (1.05 µg/100 mL), and enhanced antihypertensive activity. Digestion boosted polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity by 64 % and 54 %, respectively. Regarding the volatile profile, fermentation greatly impacted delivering compounds related to lactic-butter attributes (e.g., acetoin, butanoic acid) and fermentation attributes (e.g., 3-pentanone, acetic acid). Nevertheless, storage time further affected the volatile profile, particularly after six days, increasing rancid flavor-related compounds. Sensory evaluation showed high acceptance of the synbiotic juice (90 %), reaching lower rates after fermentation (50 %). This study confirms the stability and health potential of L. casei in a fruit-based synbiotic beverage, highlighting its nutritional, functional, and sensory attributes.This work was funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Grants PID-2019-104269RR-C31, PID2019-104269RR-C32, and PID2019-104269RR-C33, ALLFRUIT4ALL project), Generalitat de Catalunya (CERCA Programme), and Departament de Recerca i Universitats (Grants 2021 SGR 01477-POSTHARVEST and 2021 SGR 00705-CHEMOSENS). J. Ezenarro acknowledges support from the URV Martí i Franqués – Banco Santander program (Grant 2021PMF-BS-12)
Chilling and heat requirements of apple cultivars: Future perspectives in a global climate change context
No full textClimate change is affecting fruit tree dormancy progression around the world. Temperature increase during winter could hinder the attainment of the climatic requirements that are needed to have a correct dormancy release. In this context, knowing the chill accumulation needed by each cultivar is essential to make correct decisions on the cultivar selection for each region. Searching for new tools and alternatives is also basic to adapt current cultivars to this new scenario. For this purpose, chill and heat requirements have been assessed for ten relevant apple cultivars using the forcing methodology and their correlation with full bloom date. Bud break response at different chilling accumulations has been modelled with logistic curves. In this work, a climatic study of a highly productive apple region in a Mediterranean agroecosystem revealed a decrease in chill accumulation during the last decade. In this context, cultivars whose chill requirements were below 40 chill portions (‘Lory®’, ‘Pink Lady®’, ‘Luiza’ and ‘Galy®’) are highly recommended for the future, showing a high bud break percentage at low chilling accumulation. Other cultivars currently grown in the region (‘Gala’ or ‘Fuji’) could present problems in the most critical climate change scenarios. Rootstocks did not show any influence on the modulation of chilling requirements. Furthermore, chilling, rather than heat requirement, was the most important parameter determining the flowering date. This study will help growers in decision making for the selection of the most appropriate cultivar under future climatic conditions, thus avoiding problems related with a non-optimal chill accumulation.We would like to thank the entire team of the Fruit Production program of IRTA, specially Anna Rodríguez, for their collaboration in carrying out this trial, as well as Peng Liu of the JMP staff and Jordi Gené of the Efficient Use of Water in Agriculture program of IRTA for their help and collaboration in the data modelling. Activity co-financed by the EU through intervention 7201 of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027: ClimaFruit: Efectes del canvi climàtic en el cultiu de la poma i pera a Catalunya al llarg del segle XXI (ClimaFruit: Effects of Climate Change on Apple and Pear Cultivation in Catalonia Throughout the 21st Century), co-funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) and Gobierno de España (Government of Spain). This project has also indirectly received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under project ECO-READY (grant agreement No 101084201).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Synaptic proteome diversity is shaped by the levels of glutamate receptors and their regulatory proteins
No full textSynapses formed by equivalent pairs of pre- and postsynaptic neurons have similar electrophysiological characteristics, belonging to the same type. However, these are generally confined to microscopic brain regions, precluding their proteomic analysis. This fact has greatly limited our ability to investigate the molecular basis of synaptic physiology. We introduce a procedure to characterise the synaptic proteome of microscopic brain regions and explore the molecular diversity among the synapses forming the trisynaptic circuit in the mouse hippocampus. While we observe a remarkable proteomic diversity among these synapses, we also report that proteins involved in the regulation of the function of glutamate receptors are differentially expressed in all of them. Moreover, neuron-specific gene expression programs would contribute to their regulation. Here, we introduce a combined proteomics and transcriptomics analysis uncovering a previously unrecognized neuron-specific control of synaptic proteome diversity, directed towards the regulation of glutamate receptors and their regulatory proteins.RRV, DdCB, OZR and AB financial support was provided by: PID2024-160538OB-I00, PID2021-124411OB-I00 and RTI2018-097037-B-I00 (MINECO/MCI/AEI/FEDER, EU), Award AC17/00005 by ISCIII through AES2017 and within the NEURON framework, Ramón y Cajal Fellowship (RYC-2011-08391p), IEDI-2017-00822, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and AGAUR (2017 SGR 1776 and 2021 SGR 01005). DdCB thanks AGAUR/Generalitat de Catalunya/FEDER, EU for ‘Ajuts per a la contractació de personal investigador novel (FI)’ Ref.2020FI_B00130. All authors thank the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support. JP, AC and DS were supported by grant from Ministerio de Universidades, Ciencia y Innovación Innovación (PID2020-119932GB-I00, MCIN/ AEI /10.13039/5011000011033) and the María de Maeztu (MDM-2017-0729 to Institut de Neurociencies, Universitat de Barcelona).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Understanding Flower Frost Tolerance in Almond (Prunus dulcis): The Role of Phenology, Cultivar and Sugars Content
No full textFreezing temperatures during the flower and fruitlet stages are considered one of the most limiting factors for almond cultivation. Understanding the minimum temperature that reproductive organs can resist without damage is crucial for adapting the crop to different environmental conditions and for breeding cultivars with enhanced tolerance to frost damage. Accordingly, this study examined frost tolerance progression across various phenological stages as well as assessed frost tolerance in 20 almond cultivars during full bloom. Almond cultivars exhibited a noticeable decline in frost tolerance as they advanced through the studied phenological stages, with the highest vulnerability occurring after the fruit set. Phenotyping for frost tolerance at the flowering stage revealed significant differences within cultivars, with most experiencing 50% flower damage at temperatures around -4.0 degrees C. Among the studied cultivars, 'Vairo', 'Tarraco', 'Lauranne', 'Marinada', 'Tuono' and 'Penta' exhibited the highest tolerance to flower freezing, in contrast to 'Marta', 'Marcona' and 'Francol & iacute;' which showed the least. To further explore the relationship between physical and chemical traits and lethal temperatures, ovary and pistil weights were measured, along with the determination of the sucrose, fructose and glucose content in the pistils. Correlation analyses revealed that higher pistil sucrose content was associated with increased flower tolerance to freezing temperatures, suggesting that sucrose content enhances, to a certain extent, tolerance to frost damage at the flowering stage. This study provides valuable insights into assessing freezing tolerance within the almond germplasm, offering growers and breeders crucial information for selecting the most well-adapted cultivars in each environment.We acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the State Research Agency: Project PID2017-0084-00-00.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Water Supply on Grafted Stone Pine: Effects on Growth and Mating
No full textThe pine nut, the seed of the stone pine, is highly valued in local cuisine and dietetics for its nutritional qualities. These nuts still come from forest stands, which results in their limited and irregular presence on the market. Domesticating the species through orchard management practices could increase its production. In this context, two irrigation schedules were tested in a grafted stone pine orchard that was planted in 2009 and has been under drip irrigation since 2011. Water needs were calculated weekly using the water balance method (ETc-P). The treatments considered were as follows: T1, irrigation from April to the end of summer; T2, irrigation from April to the end of June; and T0, rainfed as the control. Monitoring of the pines, considering vegetative and reproductive responses, was carried out from 2015 (7th leaf) to 2023. T1 and T2 increased primary and secondary growth and resulted in higher strobili production compared to T0. The tree’s ability to sustain the reproductive load was enhanced under irrigation versus rainfed treatment. The longest irrigation schedule increased productivity. However, when the environmental cost of supplying twice as much water in the Mediterranean region—an annual average of 900 m3 ha−1 (T2) versus 1900 m3 ha−1 (T1)—is considered, the overall assessment changes. The irregularity of stone pine mating was not prevented by a regular water supply, but it was mitigated, promoting sustainable production.This work has had different funding lines due to its duration; on the one hand the Catalan Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda (DACC) which permitted the installation and maintenance of these field plot of Stone pine since 2009, and on the other hand the Spanish Ministry of Science Innovation and Universities that has financed the research activities carried out the last four years through the MASPINENUT project (PID2019-107483GB-100). The Catalan agency AGAUR, which provided fundings for Universities and Research in the frame of the program for Mitigation and adaptation to climate change, has contributed by editing this publication for the project ForH2O (2023 Clima 00108).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Grip aviària: quina és la situació a Catalunya i què s’està fent?
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Guiding eQTL mapping and genomic prediction of gene expression in three pig breeds with tissue-specific epigenetic annotations from early development
No full textGene expression is a dynamic phenotype influenced by tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms, which can modulate expression directly or indirectly through cis or trans factors. Identifying genetic variants in these regulatory regions can improve both expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping and gene expression prediction. Whole genome sequences offer the possibility for enhanced eQTL mapping accuracy, but detecting causal variants remains challenging. Here, we evaluate the potential added-value of integrating tissue-specific epigenetic annotations, such as chromatin accessibility and methylation status, into within-breed genomic predictions of expression for three pig breeds. Functional annotations from early developmental stages improved eQTL mapping interpretability as shown by the enrichment of trait-relevant QTLs. However, despite the use of functional annotations, predictions across breeds remain challenging due to differences in genetic architectures. Our work contributes to the understanding of gene expression regulation in livestock and highlights the value of functional annotations, despite continued challenges for predictions across breeds.This work is part of GENE-SWitCH (https://www.gene-switch.eu) and has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the grant agreement n° 817998. The work was conducted as part of EuroFAANG, a synergy of six Horizon 2020 projects that shared the common goal to discover links between genotype to phenotype in farmed animals and meet global Functional Annotation of ANimal Genomes (FAANG) objectives. This work was also partially supported by the INRAE DIGIT-BIO (Digital biology to understand and predict biological systems) Metaprogramme.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Un nuevo modelo de ratón permite estudiar la COVID-19 con más fidelidad a la enfermedad humana
No full textinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio