Lycopene is a high-value-added tetraterpenoid, which is widely used in cosmetics, medicine, food, and dietary supplements. The intracellular mevalonate pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides natural precursors for terpenoid product synthesis, so it is an excellent host for the heterologous production of lycopene. In this study, a recombinant strain named L10 with efficient lycopene production capability was constructed through multiple strategies, such as regulating the gene copy number of key enzymes, increasing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate supply, and reducing squalene accumulation. Then, considering that intracellular lycopene accumulation can cause cytotoxicity to S. cerevisiae, we attempted to identify a transporter that can efficiently transport lycopene from intracellular to extracellular space. Molecular docking simulations predicted that the ATP-binding cassette transporter Snq2p may be a potential transporter of lycopene, and its function in promoting lycopene secretion was further determined by overexpression verification. The lycopene secretion titer of the strain L10Z2 overexpressing Snq2p increased to 16.5 times that of the control at the shake-flask level. After optimizing the galactose regulation system, the intracellular and secreted lycopene production of L11Z2 reached 2113.78 and 26.28 mg/L, respectively, after 150 h fed-batch culture in a 3-L bioreactor. This work provides a new research direction for efficient lycopene synthesis in S. cerevisiae cell factory.

Prebiotic and probiotic usage has exploded, with most formulations promoting gastrointestinal and immunological benefits. Prebiotics modulate the gut microbiota, as a result, short-chain fatty acids are released into the bloodstream. Prebiotics have immunomodulatory properties that reduce inflammation while enhancing immune responses and boosting gut health. The potential of probiotics has shown steady expansion in the digestive system, metabolic balance, and vaginal health. Probiotics offer therapeutic and preventative strategies for a range of human diseases. The in vitro studies suggested the delivery matrix might influence their effects through physicochemical interactions with molecular and cellular structures as well as modifications in cellular expression. Dietary fibers and polyphenols both contribute significantly to human health protection and can ferment in the gut microbiota to create butyrate. This comprehensive review aims to highlight the probiotics and prebiotics, and provide evidence to support their use in preventive and therapeutic medicine. It is anticipated that it will help the clinical and preclinical research to look into the effects of inclusion and processing on their activity in different food delivery formulations. There are potential opportunities needed to enhance immunological and digestive health by comprehending and using the interaction between the gut microbiota and the immune system in our diet.

Rapeseed protein, as a valuable plant protein, holds great potential as a natural emulsifier for construction of food-grade high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). In this work, rapeseed protein, obtained through salt extraction combined with ultrafiltration, was employed as a sole stabilizer to formulate algae oil-based HIPEs. The effects of protein concentration and pH changes on the physicochemical properties of HIPEs are systematically evaluated. The results show that a protein concentration of 0.5 wt% is sufficient to form stable and self-supporting HIPEs. As the protein concentration increases, the droplet size of HIPEs gradually decreases, leading to a more robust structure and enhanced stability. Compared to neutral conditions (pH 7.0), the HIPEs under acidic pH 3.5 exhibit more densely packed emulsion droplets with smaller size and more uniform distribution, contributing to superior mechanical properties (higher G′ and yield stress) as well as preferable thixotropic and creep recovery behaviors, which thereby improve their physical stability during storage, thermal processing, and freeze-thaw cycles. Furthermore, the rapeseed protein-stabilized HIPEs inhibit the oxidation of algae oil, especially at pH 3.5. The results of oral lubrication indicate that the reduction in the friction coefficient is mainly associated with an increase in protein concentration, with minor effect from pH variation. These findings suggest that rapeseed protein is an effective emulsifier for preparing stable and processable HIPEs, especially under acidic conditions, which have great potential for applications in semi-solid emulsion foods or edible oil structuring.

The research on metal oxide bio-nanocomposites for sustainable food packaging has witnessed significant advancements, offering a promising alternative to traditional food packaging materials. This review briefly describes their fabrication techniques, applications, superiority over conventional packaging, challenges, limitations, and potential trends. These new materials are derived by incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles into the biopolymers and show better properties, such as better antimicrobial properties, which are vital in food packaging. The advantages of using metal oxide bio-nanocomposites over typical food packaging films include enhanced mechanical properties, better moisture and oxygen resistance, bacterial resistance, and light protection. These versatile materials not only serve the purpose of properly preserving the quality and possibly even the wholesomeness of packed food products, but they are also environmentally friendly. Moreover, the review presents current developments and areas of use of metal oxide bio-nanocomposites in food packaging and it also proposes future developments to meet the modern challenge of the food industry in the development of advanced packaging technologies.

Medicinal and edible homologous (MEHs) plants are valuable in medicine and food science as edible plants. Saponins, one of the major chemical components isolated from MEHs plants, have significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral biological activities. This paper provides an overview of the basic structure, properties, and bioactivity of saponins, the development of novel delivery systems for their enhanced bioavailability, and their applications in various fields. It also highlights the innovations and challenges of current trends in saponin research and provides a basis for the development of a safe and effective natural active ingredient based on MEHs plants. Through comprehensive analysis, this paper aims to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for further research and application of saponins in food science.

To explore the effects of lipids and emulsifiers on the release of strawberry aroma compounds in soy-based emulsions, the release of seven strawberry aroma compounds (limonene, ethyl hexanoate, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl butanoate, (Z)-3-hexenol, and diacetyl) was examined using static headspace gas chromatographic analysis. Sensory evaluations revealed that the incorporation of soy protein isolate (SPI) emulsions led to a marked imbalance in the strawberry flavor profile. Although no direct correlation was found between emulsion viscosity or particle size and flavor release, lipid type and concentration (soybean oil and palm oil), and emulsifier type (sucrose ester, tween 80, and monoglyceride) significantly impacted flavor retention. Specifically, the hydrophilic compound diacetyl exhibited significantly higher retention in soybean oil emulsions (41%) than in palm oil emulsions (34%) (p < 0.05). The retention of esters and limonene increased with lipid content, whereas diacetyl retention decreased. Sucrose ester and tween 80 demonstrated stronger adsorption of ester compounds than monoglyceride. After sucrose ester addition, retention values of ethyl butanoate, limonene, and diacetyl increased by 1.6, 2.1, and 1.8 times, respectively, compared to samples without it. This study provides theoretical insights into the flavor release behavior in soy-based beverages.

Oleaginous microorganisms have the unique ability to accumulate lipids that can exceed 20% of their dry cell weight under certain conditions. Despite their potential for efficient lipid production, the metabolic pathways involved are not yet fully understood, largely due to the complexity of intracellular processes and the challenges in phenotypic prediction. This review synthesizes the latest research on the application of Genome-scale Metabolic Network Models (GSMMs) to study oleaginous microorganisms, including bacteria, cyanobacteria, yeast, microalgae, and fungi, and provides a comprehensive analysis of how GSMMs have been utilized to decipher the metabolic mechanisms behind lipid accumulation and to identify key genes involved in lipid synthesis. The review highlights the role of GSMMs in predicting cellular behavior, optimizing metabolic engineering strategies, and discusses the future directions and potential of GSMMs in enhancing lipid production in microorganisms. This comprehensive overview not only summarizes the current state of research but also identifies gaps and opportunities for further investigation in the field.