Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) is a worldwide agricultural pest in which the transport of pheromones is indispensable and perceived by pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs). However, three-dimensional structure, pheromone binding, and releasing mechanisms of PBPs are not completely illustrated. Here, we solved three structures of the cotton bollworm HarmPBP1 at different pH values and its complex with ligand, Z-9-hexadecenal. Although apo-HarmPBP1 adopts a common PBP scaffold of six α-helices surrounding a predominantly hydrophobic central pocket, the conformation is greatly distinct from other apo-PBPs. The Z-9-hexadecenal is bound mainly by hydrophobic interaction. The pheromone can enter this cavity through an opening between the helices α5 and α6, as well as the loop between α3 and α4. Structural analysis suggests that ligand entry into the pocket is followed by a shift of Lys94 and Lys138, which may act as a lid at the opening of the pocket. Acidic pH will cause a subtle structural change of the lid, which in turn affects its ligand-binding ability, differently from other family proteins. Taken together, this study provides structural bases for the interactions between pheromones and PBPs, the pH-induced conformational switch, and the design of small inhibitors to control cotton bollworms by disrupting male–female chemosensory communication.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and its metabolite aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) are stable and carcinogenic mycotoxins that are commonly found in dairy products, posing serious food safety concerns. However, conventional degradation methods face limited degradation efficiency and high energy demand. Here, we develop an innovative polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite membrane incorporating Fe/Co-based metal-organic frameworks (MOF) (Named Fe/Co-MIL-88B(NH₂)) and CaO₂ for targeted aflatoxin removal from milk. This system integrates two synergistic mechanisms: (1) hierarchical porous MOF structures enabling superior aflatoxin adsorption capacity and peroxidase-like catalytic activity, and (2) CaO₂ acts as a controllable-release H₂O₂ donor, supplying a steady flux of reactive oxygen species without the addition of exogenous H₂O₂. Moreover, the PVDF membrane with mechanical stability offers uniform immobilization of active components, which prevents the aggregation of nanozymes. As a result, the integrated membrane achieves high degradation efficiency for AFB1 and AFM1, exceeding 95% within 60 min. By eliminating external oxidant addition and minimizing collateral nutrient damage, the technology demonstrates remarkable operational stability (>10 cycles) and milk quality preservation capability. This breakthrough establishes an efficient and reusable detoxification method, providing new opportunities for mycotoxin mitigation in dairy products through spatiotemporal control of reactive oxygen species.

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a prevalent food additive, yet comprehensive data on particle size and dietary exposure are lacking in China. Transmission electron microscopy results revealed that the quantitative proportion of nanoparticles (NPs) in food-additive TiO₂ was 37.7%, with a mass fraction of 9.89%. Laboratory test results showed that among the domestic products surveyed, candies excluding gum-based candies contained the highest content of TiO₂. Using consumption data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2018, the average dietary exposure for TiO₂ and TiO₂ NPs in the Chinese population were calculated at 34.84 and 3.44 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. The primary dietary sources were puffed food and powdered drinks. Exposure varied significantly across age and region, with children and Inner Mongolia residents having the highest intake. TiO₂ NP exposure showed a negative correlation with age. Despite this, the dietary exposure risk of TiO₂ NPs for the Chinese population remains deemed acceptable.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has always known a versatile, aromatic herb and addition to being used as a food flavoring is also known medicinally for its powerful antioxidant activity, antibacterial and hepatoprotective properties. In this study we examined the effects of rosemary iextract on the lifespan and aging in Drosophila melanogaster against high-fat induced oxidative injury, and found that it responded to rosemary extract with an increased lifespan and reduced MDA content during aging. We found that lifespan extension by rosemary extract was attributed to its increasing the activity of SOD, CAT and decreasing the content of MDA. Moreover, Realtime-PCR analysis showed that the gene expression of SOD, and CAT was enhanced, in contrast MTH was significantly reduced. In conclusion, these results suggest that the antioxidant and antiaging effect of rosemary extract may, at least in part, be due to its interactions with endogenous antioxidant protective enzymes including SOD and CAT.