Effect of Egg Washing and Hen Age on Cuticle Quality and Bacterial Adherence in Table Eggs.

The cuticle covering the outer surface of an eggshell functions as both a physical and chemical barrier against invading microorganisms. Contamination of eggs by microbial pathogens progresses in four stages: bacterial attachment to the egg surface, penetration through the cuticle and eggshell, multiplication within the underlying membranes, and the final stage of contaminating the egg contents. Therefore, it is important to study bacterial count at the first point of contact, i.

High value applications and current commercial market for eggshell membranes and derived bioactives.

Chicken eggshell membrane (ESM) is a highly insoluble structure that is greatly stabilized by extensive desmosine, isodesmosine, and disulfide cross-linkages. The ESM possesses numerous biological functions including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-wrinkle, and antioxidant activities. The ESM is mainly proteinaceous; proteomics and bioinformatics analysis of ESM has identified > 500 proteins, such as collagens, glycoproteins, avian beta-defensins, and lysozyme.

Impact of Different Layer Housing Systems on Eggshell Cuticle Quality and Adherence in Table Eggs.

The bacterial load on the eggshell surface is a key factor in predicting the bacterial penetration and contamination of the egg interior. The eggshell cuticle is the first line of defense against vertical penetration by microbial food-borne pathogens such as Enteritidis. Egg producers are increasingly introducing alternative caging systems into their production chain as animal welfare concerns become of greater relevance to today's consumer.

A novel eco-friendly green approach to produce particalized eggshell membrane (PEM) for skin health applications.

The eggshell membrane (ESM) is a natural bioactive material, which is increasingly utilized for various biomedical applications. However, the poor solubility of ESM limits the bioavailability of its constituents and reduces the expression of their potential bioactivity. In this study, we utilized an innovative green strategy to separate ESM from shell, and processed ESM for size reduction by cryo-grinding and homogenization to produce particalized eggshell membrane (PEM) approaching submicron dimensions, with enhanced anti-inflammatory activity and increased antimicrobial activity against skin associated pathogens.