The development of the bio-nanocomposite coating materials for eggshells has received more attention because of the decline in interior egg quality. This work evaluated the effects of weight loss, Haugh unit, yolk index, air space and albumen pH, eggshell strength, number of microorganisms on eggshells, contact angle and water vapor permeability of uncoated eggs and eggs coated with soy protein isolate/montmorillonite emulsions (5/0, 5/ 0.20, 5/0.50, 5/0.80; w/w) during 6 weeks at 25°C. A scanning electron microscope was used to visualize morphologies of soy protein isolate and the soy protein isolate/montmorillonite composite coatings, and the scanning probe microscope was determined. Compared with uncoated and soy protein isolate-coated eggs, the interior egg quality was improved by the increase of Haugh unit, yolk index, air space or eggshell strength, and decrease in weight loss, albumen pH, or the number of microorganisms on eggshells. The higher contact angle indicated the hydrophobicity of coatings. The values of water vapor permeability with 0.2% montmorillonite, 0.5% montmorillonite, and 0.8% montmorillonite were reduced by 21.14, 57.78, and 69.13%, respectively, as compared to those of soy protein isolate coatings. The images by a scanning electron microscope indicated that coatings could cover the cracks of eggshells to preserve the interior egg quality. The experimental values of the scanning probe microscope showed that montmorillonite would not penetrate through the eggshell pores, and it was safe to coat with montmorillonite. This study highlights the use of soy protein isolate/montmorillonite coating to maintain the internal quality and enhance the shelf life of eggs stored at 25°C.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) performs many physiological functions, but the fermentation time is long when fermented milk is prepared using LGG alone. To shorten the fermentation time, we analyzed the nutrient requirement profiles of LGG. Based on nutrient requirement profiles, we evaluated the effects on the fermentation time, quality, and sensory properties of unmodified cow's milk fermented by LGG alone. According to the consumption and necessary patterns of amino acids and those of purine, pyrimidine, vitamins, metal ions, and nutrients essential to LGG, we selected Cys, Ser, Arg, Pro, Asp, Glu, guanine, uracil, and xanthine with which to supplement milk. Compared with fermented milk prepared using LGG alone in unmodified milk, the fermentation time of supplemented milk was shortened by 5 h. Viable cell counts, titratable acidity, and water-retaining capability of the fermented milk were improved by addition of nutrient supplements. Supplementation with nutrients did not obviously change the sensory and textural characteristics of fermented milk.

Aims: Application of autochthonous strain Kocuria rosea KDF3 and its protease KP3 as adjuncts for acceleration of Kedong sufu ripening. Methods and Results: Kedong sufu was manufactured using autochthonous cultures (batch A), K. rosea KDF3 plus autochthonous cultures (batch B) and protease KP3 plus autochthonous cultures (batch C). The effects of certain key factors on the quality of sufu were analysed during a 150-day ripening period. The physicochemical properties of sufu samples from batches B and C after 120 days of ripening met the national standard requirements and samples from batch A after 150 days of ripening. The sensory evaluations of sufu samples from batches B and C after 120 days of ripening and from batch A after 150 days of ripening showed no significant differences (P > 0Á05). Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the shorter ripening time and typical sensory quality of sufu prepared with K. rosea KDF3 or protease KP3 was partly revealed by profiles of peptides and free amino acids. The maturation times of Kedong sufu were shortened by 30 days, and the desired characteristics were obtained by adding K. rosea KDF3 or its protease KP3. Conclusions: Kocuria rosea KDF3 or its protease KP3 can hasten sufu maturation. They could be used as adjuncts or additives for accelerating the ripening of Kedong sufu. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study is the first report of using autochthonous strain K. rosea KDF3 or its protease KP3 as adjuncts for accelerating Kedong sufu ripening. The results are useful for characterizing the ripening of Kedong sufu, and they lay the foundation for pilot plant tests and full-scale plant tests.

Elucidating the amino acid (AA) metabolism patterns of Streptococcus thermophilus has important effects on the precise design of nitrogen sources for high-cell-density culture. Transcriptomics and metabolomics were combined to reveal the cysteine, methionine, glutamate, glutamine, arginine, aspartate, asparagine and alanine metabolic pathways in S. thermophilus MN-ZLW-002, including glutathione. The changes in the synthesis, consumption and concentration of AAs and their metabolites, as well as regulatory genes with time were revealed. The metabolism of L-cysteine, L-glutamate, L-aspartate and L-alanine generated some potential functional metabolites. The metabolism of methionine and glutamate generated potential harmful metabolites. S. thermophilus MN-ZLW-002 can synthesize glutathione. Some potential functional metabolites have similar biological functions, indicating that S. thermophilus can resist environmental stresses through multiple mechanisms. The expression of some key genes in synthesis pathway of AA indicated that cysteine, methionine, asparagine, aspartate, arginine and lysine were insufficient or imbalance between nutrient components. The accumulation of large amounts of AA metabolites might be the primary cause of the overconsumption of AAs and influence the growth of S. thermophilus. The present study revealed the metabolic profiles of abovementioned AAs as well as those of regulatory genes and metabolites. These results were beneficial to the precise design of nitrogen sources and regulation of functional metabolites for the high-cell-density culture of S. thermophilus.

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