Algae and cyanobacteria, other than their nutritional value, possess different beneficial properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial ones. Therefore, they can be considered functional ingredients in animal feed and natural substitutes for antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity against porcine O138 E. coli of Ascophyllum nodosum, Chlorella vulgaris, Lithotamnium calcareum, Schizochytrium spp. as algal species and Arthrospira platensis as cyanobacteria. The antioxidant capacity was determined by ABTS Radical Cation Decolorization Assay testing at three different concentrations (100%; 75%; 50%). The growth inhibition effect of the extracts at concentrations of 25%, 12.5%, 6%, 3% and 1.5% against porcine O138 E. coli was genetically characterized by PCR to detect the presence of major virulence factors; this was evaluated by following the microdilution bacterial growth method. The ABTS assay disclosed that Ascophyllum nodosum was the compound with the major antioxidant properties (57.75 ± 1.44 percentage of inhibition; p < 0.0001). All the extracts tested showed growth inhibition activity at a concentration of 25%. Among all extracts, A. nodosum was the most effective, showing a significant growth inhibition of E. coli; in particular, the log10 cells/mL of E. coli used as a control resulted in a significantly higher concentration of 25% and 12.5% after 4 h (8.45 ± 0.036 and 7.22 ± 0.025 log10 cells/mL, respectively; p < 0.005). This also suggests a dose-dependent relationship between the inhibitory activity and the concentration. Also, a synergistic effect was observed on antioxidant activity for the combination of Ascophyllum nodosum and Lithotamnium calcareum (p < 0.0001). Moreover, to determine if this combination could affect the viability of the IPEC-J2 cells under the normal or stress condition, the viability and membrane integrity were tested, disclosing that the combination mitigated the oxidative stress experimentally induced by increasing the cell viability. In conclusion, the results obtained highlight that the bioactive compounds of algal species are able to exert antioxidant capacity and modulate O138 E. coli growth. Also, the combination of Ascophyllum nodosum and Lithotamnium calcareum species can enhance their bioactivity, making them a promising functional feed additive and a suitable alternative to antibiotics.

The constant growth of the population has pushed researchers to find novel protein sources. A possible solution to this problem has been found in cellular agriculture, specifically in the production of cultured meat. In the following review, the key steps for the production of in vitro meat are identified, as well as the most important challenges. The main biological and technical approaches are taken into account and discussed, such as the choice of animal, animal-free alternatives to fetal bovine serum (FBS), cell biomaterial interactions, and the implementation of scalable and sustainable biofabrication and culturing systems. In the light of the findings, as promising as cultured meat production is, most of the discussed challenges are in an initial stage. Hence, research must overcome these challenges to ensure efficient large-scale production.

The growth of the world population has prompted research to investigate new food/feed alternatives. Hemp-based products can be considered excellent candidates. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an environmentally sustainable plant widespread worldwide. Following the reintroduction of its cultivation, hemp is attracting interest, especially in the food/feed industry. To date, scientific research has mainly focused on its nutritional aspect. Therefore, the aim of the work was also to investigate the functional profile (total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (Ferric- reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)) of hemp-based products (hempseeds (HSs), flowers, and HS protein extract), following methanol extraction and in vitro digestion, to study the behaviour of the molecules involved. The results show an interesting nutritional value, even when compared to matrices used in the food/feed industry, such as soy and flaxseeds. The functional profile revealed a very interesting TPC following methanol extraction for HSs, flowers, and HS protein extract, respectively, (550.3 ± 28.27; 2982.8 ± 167.78; and 568.9 ± 34.18 mg Tannic Acid Equivalent (TAE)/100 g). This trend was also confirmed for FRAP (50.9 ± 4.30; 123.6 ± 8.08; and 29.73 ± 1.32 mg Ascorbic Acid Equivalent (AAE)/100 g), recording values similar/higher than soy protein extract and flaxseeds (17.4 ± 1.55; and 10.4 ± 0.44 mg AAE/100 g). The results were also maintained following physiological digestion. These results, although promising, need further investigation, confirming what has been observed with different antioxidant activity assays and identifying individual molecules involved in functional pathways. This information will be necessary to gain a better understanding of the functional characteristics of these matrices for use in food/feed formulations.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially butyrate (BUT), are known to promote intestinal health, but their role in the protection of intestinal barrier integrity is poorly characterized. The aim of the study was to set up an in vitro model of human colon epithelium using HT29-MTX-E12 cells to delineate the potential role of SCFAs under stress conditions. Accordingly, the HT29-MTX-E12 cells were differentiated for 42 days and subsequently exposed to dextran sulphate sodium (DSS). Further, the effects of BUT or its mixture with acetate and propionate (SCFAs-MIX) were tested to study proliferation, epithelial integrity and mucus production. The results showed that the concentration of 10% DSS for 24 h decreased the TEER about 50% compared to the control in HT29-MTX-E12 cells. The pre-treatment on HT29-MTX-E12 cells with BUT or SCFAs-MIX at specific concentrations significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the DSS-induced damage on epithelial cell integrity and permeability. Further, the treatment with specific concentrations of BUT and SCFAs-MIX for 24 h significantly promoted ZO-1, MUC2 and MUC5AC mRNA expression (p < 0.005). The present study demonstrated the suitability of HT29-MTX-E12 cells treated with DSS as an in vitro stress model of inflammatory bowel disease, which enabled us to understand the effect of bioactive SCFAs on the intestinal barrier.