Maud Langton

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | SLU · Department of Molecular Sciences

Hydrogels are useful drug release systems and tissue engineering scaffolds. However, synthetic hydrogels often require harsh gelation conditions and can contain toxic by‐products while naturally derived hydrogels can transmit pathogens and in general have poor mechanical properties. Thus, there is a need for a hydrogel that forms under ambient cond...

The deposition of proteins in the form of amyloid fibrils is closely associated with several serious diseases. The events that trigger the conversion from soluble functional proteins into insoluble amyloid are not fully understood. Many proteins that are not associated with disease can form amyloid with similar structural characteristics as the dis...

Protein nanofibrils (PNFs) have potential for use in food applications as texture inducers. This study investigated the formation of PNFs from protein extracted from whole fava bean and from its two major storage proteins, globulin fractions 11S and 7S. PNFs were formed by heating (85 °C) the proteins under acidic conditions (pH 2) for 24 h. Thiofl...

Protein nanofibrils (PNFs) have potential food uses due to their favorable mechanical and rheological properties. In order to use plant-based protein nanofibrils (PNFs) in new sustainable food applications, a better understanding is needed of the impact of pH on PNFs and their functional properties. In this study, we developed an improved method fo...

In the present work, faba bean protein (FBP) films plasticized with glycerol and reinforced with different amounts (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10% by weight of FBP) of lignin extracted from pine cones (PL) have been obtained by solution casting. The results obtained showed an elongation at break of 111.7% with the addition of 5% PL to the FBP film, which re...

Recombinant spider silk proteins (spidroins) have multiple potential applications in development of novel biomaterials, but their multimodal and aggregation-prone nature have complicated production and straightforward applications. Here, we report that recombinant miniature spidroins, and importantly also the N-terminal domain (NT) on its own, rapi...

The structure and physicochemical properties of starch isolated from the cotyledon and hull of faba beans and from wheat (as reference) were examined using 16 different methods. The amylose content in faba bean cotyledon and hull starch was 32% and 36%, respectively, and that in wheat starch was 21%. The faba bean cotyledon and hull starch were str...

Natural, high-performance fibers generally have hierarchically organized nanosized building blocks. Inspired by this, whey protein nanofibrils (PNFs) are assembled into microfibers, using flow-focusing. By adding genipin as a nontoxic cross-linker to the PNF suspension before spinning, significantly improved mechanical properties of the final fiber...

Consumption of whole grain and cereal fiber have been inversely associated with body weight and obesity measures in observational studies but data from large, long-term randomized interventions are scarce. Among the cereals, rye has the highest fiber content and high rye consumption has been linked to increased production of gut fermentation produc...

Faba bean is a promising alternative to soybean for production of protein-rich plant-based foods. Increased understanding of the gelling behaviour of non-soy legumes can facilitate development of novel plant-based foods based on other legumes, such as faba bean. A mixture design was used in this study to evaluate the effect of different proportions...

Food 3D printing allows for the production of personalised foods in terms of shape and nutrition. In this study, we examined whether protein-, starch- and fibre-rich fractions extracted from faba beans can be combined to produce fibre- and protein-rich printable food inks for extrusion-based 3D printing. Small amplitude oscillatory shear measuremen...

Natural high-performance materials have inspired the exploration of novel materials from protein building blocks. The ability of proteins to self-organize into amyloid-like nanofibrils has opened an avenue to new materials by hierarchical assembly processes. As the mechanisms by which proteins form nanofibrils are becoming clear, the challenge now...

Arabinoxylan (AX) is an abundant hemicellulose in wheat bran and an important functional component in bakery products. This review compares preprocessing and extraction methods, and evaluates their effect on AX properties and functionality as a bread ingredient. The extraction process results in AX isolates or concentrates with varying molecular ch...

The objective of this study was to evaluate sensory perception and consumers’ attitude and liking of products with different textures, crisps and pâtés, with added mealworm ingredient in different amounts. By addition of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) in the crisps, the brittleness increased. However, an increase in mealworm also increased the dark...

Both environmental sustainability and sensory properties were shown to be the main reasons for the consumers when considering buying foods with added insect ingredients.

In the present work, transparent films were obtained by the solution casting method from faba bean protein isolate (FBP), reinforced with different cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) content (1, 3, 5 and 7 wt%), obtained by acid hydrolysis of pine cone, and using glycerol as plasticizer. The influence of different CNCs loadings on the mechanical, therma...

Background and aim A high intake of whole grain foods is inversely associated with body mass index (BMI) and body fat in observational studies, but mixed results have been found in interventional studies. Among whole grains, rye is the richest source of dietary fiber and meals containing high-fiber rye foods have shown increased satiety up to 8 hou...

The monthly variation in raw dairy silo milk was investigated and related to the ripening time of the resulting cheese during an industrial cheese-making trial. Milk composition varied with month, fat and protein content being lowest in August (4.19 and 3.44 g/100 g, respectively). Casein micelle size was largest (192–200 nm) in December–February a...

Protein nanofibrils (PNFs) from plant-based protein sources have great potential for use in new sustainable food applications or biobased materials. Plant-based proteins from seven different sources (fava bean, mung bean, lupin, oat, rapeseed, soybean, and potato) were evaluated here for their ability for forming PNFs and compared with whey protein...

This chapter focuses on the microstructure, at different levels, of cereal grains and their products. It overviews the structure of the grain followed by the effect of processing on the structure of different food products. Based on the microstructure of the final product, three groups are distinguished: rolled cereals and porridge, protein network...

Within the context of circular economy, there is an increasing interest to utilise agrifood by-products. However, extensive extraction and purification steps make the valorisation of side streams not always cost effective. Therefore, an increased knowledge of the functionality of unrefined side streams could increase their utilisation in food produ...

Edible insects have gained popularity as alternative food resources in the face of climate change and increasing carbon and environmental footprints associated with conventional agricultural production. Among the positive attributes that make edible insects suitable as food and feed substrates include rapid reproduction, high energy conversion effi...

To increase the acceptability of insects as food in Western culture, it is essential to develop attractive, high-quality food products. Higher acceptability of insect-based food has been shown if the insects are "invisible". Mincing or chopping the insect material could be a first processing step to reduce the visibility of the insects. In this wor...

Microscopy was applied to explore changes in fat globules and gas chromatography was used to determine the fatty acid distribution in different lipid classes in ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk processed in a pilot plant. Four milk samples were collected at key steps during UHT-milk production. Second-stage homogenisation significantly decreased f...

Termites are widely used as a food resource, particularly in Africa and Asia. Markets for insects as food are also expanding worldwide. To inform the development of insect-based foods, we analysed selected minerals (Fe-Mn-Zn-Cu-Mg) in wild-harvested and commercially available termites. Mineral values were compared to selected commercially available...

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Protein nanofibrils have emerged as promising building blocks in functional bio/nanomaterials as well as in food products. We here demonstrate that nanofibrils with amyloid-like properties can be produced from potato protein isolate, a major sidestream from the starch industry. Methods for solubilization of potato proteins are evaluated and a proto...

The cover image is based on the Original Article Interactive effects of casein micelle size and calcium and citrate content on rennet‐induced coagulation in bovine milk by Hasitha Priyashantha et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/jtxs.12454.

The effect of extraction method, pH and NaCl addition on rheological properties and microstructure of heat-induced faba bean protein gels was evaluated. Gels formed at pH 7 (no NaCl) of alkaline-extracted protein had the densest and finest network structure and highest stress and strain at fracture. The high density of nodes and small pores in the...

As the world’s population is growing, simultaneously as availability of water, arable land and fertilisers are decreasing, an increase in the utilisation of biomass is essential in order to reach sustainable food production. In agricultural primary production an extensive part of the total biomass produced ends up in side streams, which today are o...

The composition of raw milk is important for the stability of dairy products with a long shelf-life. Based on known historical changes in raw milk composition, the aim of this study was to get a better understanding of how possible future variations in milk composition may affect the stability of dairy products. The effects of elevated calcium, cit...

In the ultra-high temperature (UHT) process, milk is subject to temperatures above 135 °C for few seconds giving a product with a shelf-life of several months. The raw milk quality, UHT process and storage conditions affect the stability. In this study, the stability of UHT milk produced in an indirect system was evaluated by studying changes in ta...

Despite the many papers reporting on disgust factors of eating insects in Western cultures, the interest of insects as food is increasing, not least because they are nutritious, sustainable and tasty! The time has come to take the next step by making insects available not only as delicious restaurant food, but also for industrial production of food...

The use of insects as food is a sustainable alternative to meat and as a protein source is fully comparable to meat, fish and soybeans. The next step is to make insects available for use in the more widespread production of food and meals. Sensory attributes are of great importance in being able to increase the understanding of insects as an ingred...

Despite the many papers reporting on disgust factors of eating insects in Western cultures, the interest of insects as food is increasing, not least because they are nutritious, sustainable and tasty! The time has come to take the next step by making insects available not only as delicious restaurant food, but also for industrial production of food...

Carotenoids are lipophilic compounds that are digested and absorbed along with lipids. Emulsions based on a mixture of plum tomato and red sweet pepper, with 5% or 10% rapeseed oil, were obtained by high pressure homogenization, and the concentration of carotenoids in the emulsion oil droplets was quantified. The fraction of lycopene and beta-carot...

In situ fibrillation of plant proteins in presence of the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) promoted formation of a hybrid nanocomposite. The morphology of NP-fibril composite was revealed using ex-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air. The NP-fibrils were associated into extended multi-fibril structures, indicating that the addit...

Interactive effects of casein micelle size and milk calcium and citrate content on rennet‐induced coagulation were investigated. Milk samples containing small (SM) and large (LM) micelles, obtained from individual Holstein cows, were modified by addition of calcium and/or citrate and milk coagulation properties were evaluated in a full factorial de...

During storage, some factors (for example, storage duration and temperature) can affect milk stability and consumer acceptability. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), lipid classes, and fatty acid profiles in stored ultra‐high temperature (UHT) milk were analyzed to assess the effects of storage time and temperature on lipid oxidation...

In the search for another appealing source of future food to cover the increasing need for nutrients of a growing global population, this study reviewed the potential of insects as human food. Most previous reviews have dealt with insects as a group, making it difficult to evaluate each individual insect species as food because of the generalized d...

The practice of adding calcium in cheese milk will alter the role of inherent citrate and influence upon micelle size. Yet, the interaction between calcium, citrate and micelle size in coagulation, is not fully understood and thus the aim of the study.

Sourdough fermented bread has been suggested to have beneficial health effects, in part mediated by increased satiety in the postprandial phase, but only limited research has been conducted to verify this. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of the amounts of sourdough and rye in soft bread on postprandial appetite. On 6 occasions, 23...

Background: High whole grain intake has consistently been associated with lowered risk of developing a number of chronic diseases. Among cereals, rye has highest content of dietary fiber, together with a wide variety of bioactive compounds. There is accumulating evidence from intervention studies of physiological effects of rye foods with potential...

Purpose: Rye products have been reported to elicit postprandial insulin and glucose responses which may be beneficial for prevention of type-2 diabetes. However, mechanisms underlying variations in responses related to processing techniques are not fully understood. Methods: Five differently processed rye products (sourdough-fermented bread, fer...

This article describes the first nanocomposite films with separately grown protein nanofibrils (PNF) in a non-fibrillar protein matrix from the same protein starting material (whey). Tensile tests on the glycerol-plasticised films indicate an increased elastic modulus and a decreased extensibility with increasing content of PNF, although the films...

Self-assembly of proteins into amyloid-like nanofibrils is not only a key event in several diseases, but such fibrils are also associated with intriguing biological function and constitute promising components for new biobased materials. The bovine whey protein β-lactoglobulin has emerged as an important model protein for the development of such ma...

I ett samarbete mellan Norrmejerier, Växa Sverige och institutioner vid SLU i Umeå och i Uppsala pågår tre sammanlänkade projekt där vi studerar hur ostens kvalitet påverkas av olika faktorer, från gård till mejeri. De bakterier och andra mikroorganismer som fi nns i foder, mjölk och ost studeras särskilt noga. Vi vill bland annat veta vad mikrofl...

Traditional sources of protein in fish feed for salmonids, such as fishmeal, face sustainability problems. Therefore, ingredients not attractive for human consumption are increasingly being considered for the development of future feeds. However, it is uncertain how this alternative range of ingredients will affect fish growth, quality and consumer...

Hyperspectral near-infrared imaging (HI-NIR) has the potential to become a useful tool in developing predictive models to evaluate the maturity of long ripened cheese (LRC) and quantify the spatial distribution of its constituents.

Sourdough fermentation is considered to have beneficial effects on postprandial satiety and metabolic responses, but studies demonstrating effects at physiological conditions are lacking. The aim of this acute breakfast intervention study was to determine the effect of consumption of sourdough-fermented and unfermented rye crispbread on self-rated...

Increased digesta viscosity is considered the mechanism underlying the cholesterol-lowering effect of oat β-glucan. Viscosity is mainly related to the molecular weight and concentration of solubilized β-glucan in the digesta and these should therefore be maintained at sufficiently high levels. Bread that includes oat bran is a potential source of β...

Introduction: The world´s population is increasing and thus the pressure on the earth´s resources. To ensure food supply and sustainability, food habits in western societies have to change. A significant contribution to global sustainability can be achieved by, for example, decreasing meat consumption 1. Advantages concerning nutrition and sustaina...

To investigate the effects of seasonal variations and processing on cow milk fat, raw milk collected in six individual months and corresponding ultra high temperature (UHT) milk were analyzed. Similar seasonal variations in lipid classes and fatty acid composition were found in raw and UHT milk. Under commercial processing, lipid content was standa...

Introduction: The world´s population is increasing and thus the pressure on the earth´s resources. To ensure food supply and sustainability, food habits in western societies have to change. By reducing the ecological footprint of food consumption, e.g., decrease meat consumption, significant contribution to global sustainability can be achieved1. A...

FAO has considered insects as food since 2003 [1] and is promoting consumption of insects (entomophagy) in the Western world because of the possibilities for sustainable production it offers. Insects as food are considered to leave smaller ecological footprints than conventional livestock (beef, pigs, and poultry) regarding feed, land and water nee...

Worldwide, huge quantities of organic wastes are generated annually in the forest industry, but most of these wastes are discarded. Only a minor proportion is used, mainly for biofuel and secondarily for compost production. Simultaneously, demand for more and new food products is increasing due to rapid growth in the global population. In recent ye...

Changes occurring in directly heated UHT milk were studied during storage at 5, 22, 30 and 40 °C. Industrially produced UHT milk samples were analysed for changes in enzymatic activity, protein modification, destabilisation of casein micelles and relocation of milk proteins in relation to sedimentation and gel formation. Sedimentation occurred at a...

The composition and properties of raw milk are of great importance for the quality and shelf life of the final dairy product, especially in products with a long shelf life [e.g., ultra-high temperature (UHT)-treated milk]. The objective of this study was to investigate the compositional variation in raw milk samples before processing at the dairy p...

The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether proofing profile influences volume and crumb firmness in bread baked from frozen dough, and whether rye or sugar content and different kneading times affect the microstructure of the frozen dough. Microscopy was used to explain the differences. Wheat doughs mixed with rye (“rye”) and with sugar...

A protocol for extraction of yellow mealworm larvae proteins was established, conditions were evaluated and the resulting protein extract was characterised. The freeze-dried yellow mealworm larvae contained around 33% fat, 51% crude protein and 43% true protein on a dry matter basis. The true protein content of the protein extract was about 75%, wi...

The aim was to study the microstructure and distribution of components of rye porridge enriched with different inulin and gluten proportions (0:0, 3:9, 6:6, 9:3), and their relationship with texture. Inulin was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) prior to its addition to the porridges, and multiple staining was applied to cryosections in...

Whole wheat pasta offers improved nutritional value compared with regular pasta but lacks appeal to many consumers owing to its negative organoleptic properties, such as texture and taste. Various approaches have been studied to improve these properties in whole wheat products. Optimizing bran particle size showed its potential in noodles, but stud...