Food Science Commons^™

Sequence-Based Methods For Detecting And Evaluating The Human Gut Mycobiome, Mallory J. Suhr, Nabaraj Banjara, Heather E. Hallen-Adams

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

We surveyed the fungal microbiota in 16 fecal samples from healthy humans with a vegetarian diet. Fungi were identified using molecular cloning, 454 pyrosequencing and a Luminex analyte specific reagent (ASR) assay, all targeting the ITS region of the rRNA genes. Fungi were detected in each fecal sample and at least 46 distinct fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected, from two phyla — Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Fusarium was the most abundant genus, followed by Malassezia, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Candida. Commonly detected fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, as well as known dietary fungi Agaricus bisporus and …

Conformational Stability Of Digestion-Resistant Peptides Of Peanut Conglutins Reveals The Molecular Basis Of Their Allergenicity, Danijela Apostolovic, Dragana Stanic-Vucinic, Harmen H.J. De Jongh, Govardus A.H. De Jong, Jelena Radosavljevic, Milica Radibratovic, Julie A. Nordlee, Joseph L. Baumert, Milos Milcic, Steve L. Taylor, Nuria Garrido Clua, Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic, Stef J. Koppelman

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Conglutins represent the major peanut allergens and are renowned for their resistance to gastrointestinal digestion. Our aim was to characterize the digestion-resistant peptides (DRPs) of conglutins by biochemical and biophysical methods followed by a molecular dynamics simulation in order to better understand the molecular basis of food protein allergenicity. We have mapped proteolysis sites at the N- and C-termini and at a limited internal segment, while other potential proteolysis sites remained unaffected. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that proteolysis only occurred in the vibrant regions of the proteins. DRPs appeared to be conformationally stable as intact conglutins. Also, the overall secondary …

Prebiotics And Synbiotics: Dietary Strategies For Improving Gut Health, Janina A. Krumbeck, Maria X. Maldonado-Gomez, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Robert W. Hutkins

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Purpose of review — A wide range of dietary carbohydrates, including prebiotic food ingredients, fermentable fibers, and milk oligosaccharides, are able to produce significant changes in the intestinal microbiota. These shifts in the microbial community are often characterized by increased levels of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. More recent studies have revealed that species of Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia, and other less well studied members may also be enriched. We review the implications of these recent studies on future design of prebiotics and synbiotics to promote gastrointestinal health.

Recent findings — Investigations assessing the clinical outcomes associated with dietary modification of the …

Multistate Product Traceforward Investigation To Link Imported Romaine Lettuce To A Us Cyclosporiasis Outbreak – Nebraska, Texas, And Florida, June–August 2013, B. F. Buss, M. V. Joshi, J. L. Dement, V. Cantu, T. J. Safranek

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

During June–August 2013, 25 US states reported 631 cyclosporiasis cases including Nebraska and Iowa where a regional investigation implicated common-source imported salad mix served in two chain restaurants. At least two common-origin growing fields were likely sources of contaminated romaine lettuce. Using producer- and distributor-provided data, we conducted a grower-specific traceforward investigation to reveal exposures of ill US residents elsewhere who reported symptom onset during 11 June–1 July 2013, the time period established in the Nebraska and Iowa investigation. Romaine lettuce shipped on 2–6 June from one of these Mexico-origin growing fields likely caused cyclosporiasis in 78 persons reporting illness …

Threshold Dose Distribution And Eliciting Dose Of Cashew Nut Allergy, Johanna P. M. Van Der Valk, Roy Gerth Van Wijk, J. L. Baumert, Julie A. Nordlee, Berber J. Vlieg-Boerstra, Hans De Groot, Anthony E. J. Dubois, Nicolette W. De Jong

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

A previous study found that 137 of 179 cashew nut sensitized children (76.5%) suspected of having cashew nut allergy had a positive double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC result), with 63 of 137 children (46%) manifesting subjective and/or objective symptoms to the lowest dose (1 mg of cashew nut protein). The primary aim of this study was to determine the distribution of threshold doses and the eliciting doses (EDs) in this population. The secondary aim was to investigate whether children who reacted to 1 mg of cashew nut (n = 63) could react to even lower doses than 1 mg (low-dose …

Regional Investigation Of A Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Linked To Imported Romaine Lettuce – Nebraska And Iowa, June–August 2013, Bryan F. Buss, M. V. Joshi, C. D. Allensworth, A. Garvey, K. Obbink, S. Mandernach, Thomas J. Safranek

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

A regional, multistate investigation into a June–August 2013 cyclosporiasis outbreak was conducted in Nebraska, Iowa, and neighbouring states. Cases were confirmed on the basis of laboratory and clinical findings. Of 227 cases in Iowa (n = 140) and Nebraska (n=87) residents, 162 (71%) reported dining at chain A/B restaurants – 96% reported house salad consumption. A case-control study identified chain A/B house salad as the most likely vehicle. Traceback was conducted to ascertain production lot codes of bagged salad mix (iceberg and romaine lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots) served as house salad in implicated restaurants. A single production lot code …

Suppression Of Nlrp3 Inflammasome By Γ-Tocotrienol Ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes, Yongeun Kim, Wei Wang, Meshail Okla, Inhae Kang, Regis Moreau, Soonkyu Chung

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The Nod-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an intracellular sensor that sets off the innate immune system in response to microbial-derived and endogenous metabolic danger signals. We previously reported that γ-tocotrienol (γT3) attenuated adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity, but the underlying mechanism remained elusive. Here, we investigated the effects of γT3 on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and attendant consequences on type 2 diabetes. γT3 repressed inflammasome activation, caspase-1 cleavage, and interleukin (IL) 1β secretion in murine macrophages, implicating the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome in the anti-inflammatory and antipyroptotic properties of γT3. Furthermore, supplementation of leptin-receptor KO mice …

Allergenicity Attributes Of Different Peanut Market Types, Stef J. Koppelman, Shyamali Jayasena, Dion Luykx, Erik Schepens, Danijela Apostolovic, Govardus A.H. De Jong, Thomas G. Isleib, Julie A. Nordlee, Joseph L. Baumert, Steve L. Taylor, Hsiaopo Cheng, Sohelia Maleki

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Four different market classes of peanut (Runner, Virginia, Spanish, and Valencia) are commonly consumed in Western countries, but for some consumers peanuts are a main cause of food-induced anaphylaxis. Limited information is available on the comparative allergenicity of these distinct market classes. The aim of this study was to compare allergenicity attributes of different peanut cultivars. The protein content and protein profiles were highly comparable for all tested cultivars. All cultivar samples contained the major allergens Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3 and Ara h 6, as assessed by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC, although some minor differences in …

Two Clinical Isolates Of Mycoplasma Hyosynoviae Showed Differing Pattern Of Lameness And Pathogen Detection In Experimentally Challenged Pigs, João Carlos Gomes-Neto, Matthew Raymond, Leslie Bower, Alejandro Ramirez, Darin M. Madson, Erin L. Strait, Everett L. Rosey, Vicki J. Rapp-Gabrielson

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Mycoplasma (M.) hyosynoviae is known to colonize and cause disease in growing-finishing pigs. In this study, two clinical isolates of M. hyosynoviae were compared by inoculating cesarean-derived colostrum-deprived and specific-pathogen-free growing pigs. After intranasal or intravenous inoculation, the proportion and distribution pattern of clinical cases was compared in addition to the severity of lameness. Tonsils were found to be the primary site of colonization, while bacteremia was rarely detected prior to the observation of clinical signs. Regardless of the clinical isolate, route of inoculation, or volume of inocula, histopathological alterations and tissue invasion were detected in multiple …

Synthesis, Characterisation And Evaluation Of Novel Antibacterial Agents, Alessandra Ghion, Christine O’Connor

Other resources

No abstract provided.

Enzymes In Processing Of Functional Foods Ingredients And Nutraceuticals, Rajeev Ravindran, Samriti Sharma, Amit Jaiswal

Books/Book Chapters/ Proceedings

Functional foods are nutriments consumed to cover the nutritional needs that cannot be met by a normal diet alone. Consumption of functional foods has proven to have physiological benefits such as reduced risk of certain chronic diseases, thus differentiating them from conventional foods. Several health benefits have been reported to be associated with the consumption of nutraceuticals and functional foods. Many natural sources have been successfully implemented in imparting additional health benefits and preventing the onset of chronic diseases related to aging, faulty genetics, or lifestyle. Functional foods can basically be categorised into different groups based on their nature and …

Enzymes In Food Processing: Impact On Food Products Attributes, Rajeev Ravindran, Samriti Sharma, Amit Jaiswal

Books/Book Chapters/ Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Protein Source At Breakfast On Energy Metabolism, Metabolic Health, And Food Intake: A Pilot Study, Lauren A. Cambias, Brianna L. Neumann, Charlayne Mitchell, Jamie I. Baum

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Over 30% of adults in the U.S. are obese. A primary contributor to obesity is an unhealthy diet related to imbalanced macronutrients. Diets higher in protein (PRO) rather than carbohydrate (CHO) are associated with increased energy expenditure (EE) and reduced food intake. The objective of this pilot study was to determine if protein source at breakfast influences EE in young men (n = 4; ages 18-35). Participants consumed three isocaloric (whey (WP), pea (PP), beef (BP); 275 kcal, 62% PRO, 23% CHO, 15% Fat) drinks in a randomized, crossover design study with a one-week washout period (time between the administration …

Artemisinin Production By Plant Hairy Root Cultures In Gas- And Liquid-Phase Bioreactors, Nivedita Patra, Ashok K. Srivastava

Articles

Key message

Alternative biotechnological protocol for large-scale artemisinin production was established. It featured enhanced growth and artemisinin production by cultivation of hairy roots in nutrient mist bioreactor (NMB) coupled with novel cultivation strategies.

Artemisinin is used for the treatment of cerebral malaria. Presently, its main source is from seasonal plant Artemisia annua. This study featured investigation of growth and artemisinin production by A. annua hairy roots (induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated genetic transformation of explants) in three bioreactor configurations—bubble column reactor, NMB and modified NMB particularly to establish their suitability for commercial production. It was observed that cultivation of …

Controlling Microbial Safety Challenges Of Meat Using High Voltage Atmospheric Cold Plasma, Lu Han, Dana Ziuzina, Caitlin Marie Heslin, Daniela Boehm, Apurva Patange, David Millan-Sango, Vasilis Valdramidis, Patrick J. Cullen, Paula Bourke

Articles

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a non-thermal technology, effective against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. Inactivation efficacy results from plasma generated reactive species. These may interact with any organic components in a test matrix including the target microorganism, thus food components may exert a protective effect against the antimicrobial mode of action. The effect of an in-package high voltage ACP process applied in conjunction with common meat processing MAP gas compositions as well as bacteria type and meat model media composition have been investigated to determine the applicability of this technology for decontamination of safety challenges associated with meat …

The Groundwork For Food Criticism: How Normative Aesthetic Judgments Are Possible With Regards To Tastes, Jacob Caldwell

Senior Independent Study Theses

Issues of tastes and smells are often relegated to an ancillary or minor rank of importance in the domain of aesthetics, if recognized at all as legitimate objects of aesthetic inquiry and experience. This essay aims, firstly, to carve out a space of legitimacy for the aesthetics of tastes, and secondly, to clarify what aesthetic inquiry with regards to tastes must look like. In order for the above to be decisively established, the following positions will be argued for: (1) tastes are real, (2) our ordinary or scientific conception of what tastes are, upon which our reasons for doubting the …

Animal Mourning: Précis Of How Animals Grieve (King 2013), Barbara J. King

Animal Sentience

Abstract: When an animal dies, that individual’s mate, relatives, or friends may express grief. Changes in the survivor’s patterns of social behavior, eating, sleeping, and/or of expression of affect are the key criteria for defining grief. Based on this understanding of grief, it is not only big-brained mammals like elephants, apes, and cetaceans who can be said to mourn, but also a wide variety of other animals, including domestic companions like cats, dogs, and rabbits; horses and farm animals; and some birds. With keen attention placed on seeking where grief is found to occur and where it is absent …

Success Stories And Emerging Themes In Conservation Physiology, Christine L. Madliger, Steven J. Cooke, Erica J. Crespi, Jennifer L. Funk, Kevin R. Hultine, Kathleen E. Hunt, Jason R. Rohr, Brent J. Sinclair, Cory D. Suski, Craig K. R. Willis, Oliver P. Love

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The potential benefits of physiology for conservation are well established and include greater specificity of management techniques, determination of cause–effect relationships, increased sensitivity of health and disturbance monitoring and greater capacity for predicting future change. While descriptions of the specific avenues in which conservation and physiology can be integrated are readily available and important to the continuing expansion of the discipline of ‘conservation physiology’, to date there has been no assessment of how the field has specifically contributed to conservation success. However, the goal of conservation physiology is to foster conservation solutions and it is therefore important to assess whether …

Characterization Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Atmospheric Air Plasma Treated Chitosan Films, Shashi Pankaj, Carmen Bueno-Ferrer, Luke O'Neill, B.K. Tiwari, Paula Bourke, Patrick J. Cullen

Articles

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma is a novel non-thermal food decontamination technology. The effects of DBD plasma on the surface topography, chemical composition and crystal structure, film hydrophilicity, water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability of chitosan films have been examined. DBD plasma treatment increased the surface roughness of chitosan films with emergence of sharp protuberances. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra confirm a significant increase in the oxygen containing groups in the chitosan film after plasma treatment. Significant increase in the film hydrophilicity was observed after plasma treatment. X-ray diffraction results showed that DBD plasma treatment do …

Evaluation Of Plasma, High-Pressure And Ultrasound Processing On The Stability Of Fructooligosaccharides, Elenilson Alves Filho, Patrick J. Cullen, Jesus Maria Frias, Paula Bourke, Brijesh Tiwari, Edy Brito, Sueli Rodrigues, Fabiano Fernandes

Articles

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are among the main carbohydrates with prebiotic activity, and they are the most applied functional carbohydrate ingredient in the food industry. FOS are known to hydrolyse when subjected to thermal processing, thus partially losing its functional properties. In this study, we evaluate whether three nonthermal technologies are suitable for processing FOS regarding its stability after processing. FOS were subjected to ultrasound, high-pressure processing (HPP) and atmospheric cold plasma (ACP). The FOS solution, 70 g L−1, was set at a concentration recommended for human intake. The treatments were carried out at operating conditions usually used for microbial inactivation in …