Food Science Commons^™

Microbiota, Oral Microbiome, And Pancreatic Cancer, Dominique S. Michaud, Jacques Izard

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Only 30% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive one year post-diagnosis. Progress in understanding the causes of pancreatic cancer has been made, including solidifying the associations with obesity and diabetes, and a proportion of cases should be preventable through lifestyle modifications. Unfortunately, identifying reliable biomarkers of early pancreatic cancer has been extremely challenging, and no effective screening modality is currently available for this devastating form of cancer. Recent data suggest the microbiota may play a role in the disease process, but many questions remain. Future studies focusing on the human microbiome, both etiologically and as a marker of disease …

In-Package Atmospheric Pressure Cold Plasma Treatment Of Cherry Tomatoes, N. Misra, Kevin Keener, Paula Bourke, J Mosnier, Patrick J. Cullen

Articles

Cold plasma is increasingly under research for decontamination of foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. The effect of cold plasma on food quality, however, remains under researched. This study investigates the effects of cold plasma generated within a sealed package from a dielectric barrier discharge on the physical quality parameters and respiration rates of cherry tomatoes. Respiration rates and weight loss were monitored continuously, while other parameters are reported at the end of storage period. Differences among weight loss, pH and firmness for control and treated cherry tomatoes were insignificant towards the end of storage life. Changes in respiration rates …

Molecular Evolution Of Glycoside Hydrolase Genes In The Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera), Seong-Il Eyun, Haichuan Wang, Yannick Pauchet, Richard H. Ffrench-Constant, Andrew K. Benson, Arnubio Valencia-Jimenez, Etsuko N. Moriyama, Blair Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Cellulose is an important nutritional resource for a number of insect herbivores. Digestion of cellulose and other polysaccharides in plant-based diets requires several types of enzymes including a number of glycoside hydrolase (GH) families. In a previous study, we showed that a single GH45 gene is present in the midgut tissue of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). However, the presence of multiple enzymes was also suggested by the lack of a significant biological response when the expression of the gene was silenced by RNA interference. In order to clarify the repertoire of cellulose-degrading enzymes and related …

Dietary Antiaging Phytochemicals And Mechanisms Associated With Prolonged Survival, Hongwei Si, Dongmin Liu

Human Sciences Faculty Research

Aging is well-known an inevitable process that is influenced by genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the aging process are not well understood. Increasing evidence shows that aging is highly associated with chronic increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), accumulation of a low-grade proinflammatory phenotype and reduction in age-related autophagy, suggesting that these factors may play important roles in promoting aging. Indeed, reduction of ROS and low-grade inflammation and promotion of autophagy by calorie restriction or other dietary manipulation can extend lifespan in a wide spectrum of model organisms. Interestingly, recent studies show that some food-derived …

In-Package Atmospheric Pressure Cold Plasma Treatment Of Strawberries, N. Misra, Paula Bourke, Patrick J. Cullen, Sonal Patil

Articles

The ability to generate low temperature plasma at atmospheric pressure offers new opportunities to decontaminate biological materials, including fresh foods. In this study, strawberries were treated with atmospheric cold plasma (ACP), generated with a 60 kV dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) pulsed at 50 Hz, across a 40 mm electrode gap, generated inside a sealed package containing ambient air (42% relative humidity). The current-voltage characteristics revealed that the plasma operated in the filamentary regime. The background microflora (aerobic mesophillic bacteria, yeast and mould) of strawberries treated for 5 min was reduced by 2 log 10 within 24 h of post-ACP treatment. …

Transcriptome Analysis Of Listeria Monocytogenes Exposed To Biocide Stress Reveals A Multi-System Response Involving Cell Wall Synthesis, Sugar Uptake, And Motility, Aidan Casey, Edward M. Fox, Stephan Schmitz-Esser, Aidan Coffey, Olivia Mcauliffe, Kieran Jordan

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Listeria monocytogenes is a virulent food-borne pathogen most often associated with the consumption of “ready-to-eat” foods. The organism is a common contaminant of food processing plants where it may persist for extended periods of time. A commonly used approach for the control of Listeria monocytogenes in the processing environment is the application of biocides such as quaternary ammonium compounds. In this study, the transcriptomic response of a persistent strain of L. monocytogenes (strain 6179) on exposure to a sub-lethal concentration of the quaternary ammonium compound benzethonium chloride (BZT) was assessed. Using RNA-Seq, gene expression levels were quantified by sequencing …

The Relationship Of Nd1 Mtdna Gene Polymorphisms To Energy Metabolism And Risk Of Obesity Among Peruvian Native Americans, Karen K. Thomas, Dr. Mark J. Rowe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mitochondria are involved in the conversion of energy in the cell. Metabolic energy from the food we eat is converted in mitochondria to ATP by the electron transport system (ETS) and oxidative phosphorylation. The enzyme complexes involved in the ETS contain thirteen subunits which are encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Non-silent polymorphisms (sites in the DNA where the nucleotide differs between individuals) in mtDNA will affect these enzymes and may thereby alter metabolic efficiency and therefore metabolic rate. A lower metabolic rate is a risk factor for weight gain and a higher body mass index (BMI, a measure of obesity) …

In-Package Nonthermal Plasma Degradation Of Pesticides On Fresh Produce, N. Misra, Shashi Pankaj, Tony Walsh, Finbarr O'Regan, Paula Bourke, Patrick J. Cullen

Articles

In-package nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology is a novel technology for the decontamination of foods and biological materials. This study presents the first report on the potential of the technology for the degradation of pesticide residues. A cocktail of pesticides, namely Azoxystrobin, Cyprodinil, Fludioxonil and Pyriproxyfen was tested on strawberries. The concentrations of these pesticides were monitored in priori and post- plasma treatment using GC-MS/MS. An applied voltage and time dependent degradation of the pesticides was observed for treatment voltages of 60, 70 and 80 kV and treatment durations ranging from 1 to 5 min, followed by 24 h in-pack storage. …

Enzymatic Extraction Of High-Value Ingredients From Food Waste, Amit Jaiswal, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

Conference papers

Food waste presents significant concerns with respect to economical, environmental and food security issues. Roughly, one-third of global food production equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes per annum is wasted. EPA estimates that over 1 million tonnes of food waste is produced annually in Ireland. Common applications of food waste has been either direct disposal in landfill or as an animal feeds. In addition to the regulatory pressure of disposing food waste, there are significant opportunities for recovering a range of valuable compounds from food waste that could find valuable applications in the functional food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Numerous methods have …

Optimized Production Of Vanillin From Green Vanilla Pods By Enzyme-Assisted Extraction Combined With Pre-Freezing And Thawing, Yanjun Zhang, Limei Mo, Feng Chen, Minquan Lu, Wenjiang Dong, Qinghuang Wang, Fei Xu, Fenglin Gu

Publications

Production of vanillin from natural green vanilla pods was carried out by enzyme-assisted extraction combined with pre-freezing and thawing. In the first step the green vanilla pods were pre-frozen and then thawed to destroy cellular compartmentation. In the second step pectinase from Aspergillus niger was used to hydrolyze the pectin between the glucovanillin substrate and β-glucosidase. Four main variables, including enzyme amount, reaction temperature, time and pH, which were of significance for the vanillin content were studied and a central composite design (CCD) based on the results of a single-factor tests was used. Response surface methodology based on CCD was …

A Systems Approach To Designing Next Generation Vaccines: Combining A-Galactose Modified Antigens With Nanoparticle Platforms, Yashdeep Phanse, Brenda R. Carrillo-Conde, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Scott Broderick, Chang Sun Kong, Krishna Rajan, Ramon Flick, Robert B. Mandell, Balaji Narasimhan, Michael J. Wannemeuhler

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Innovative vaccine platforms are needed to develop effective countermeasures against emerging and re-emerging diseases. These platforms should direct antigen internalization by antigen presenting cells and promote immunogenic responses. This work describes an innovative systems approach combining two novel platforms, aGalactose (aGal)-modification of antigens and amphiphilic polyanhydride nanoparticles as vaccine delivery vehicles, to rationally design vaccine formulations. Regimens comprising soluble aGal-modified antigen and nanoparticle-encapsulated unmodified antigen induced a high titer, high avidity antibody response with broader epitope recognition of antigenic peptides than other regimen. Proliferation of antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells was also enhanced compared to a traditional adjuvant. Combining the …

Phages Of Non-Diary Lactococci: Isolation And Characterization Of Phi L47, A Phage Infecting The Grass Isolate Lactococcus Lactis Ssp Cremoris Dpc6860, Daniel Cavanagh, Caitríona M. Guinane, Horst Neve, Aidan Coffey, R. Paul Ross, Gerald F. Fitzgerald, Olivia Mcauliffe

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Lactococci isolated from non-dairy sources have been found to possess enhanced metabolic activity when compared to dairy strains. These capabilities may be harnessed through the use of these strains as starter or adjunct cultures to produce more diverse flavor profiles in cheese and other dairy products. To understand the interactions between these organisms and the phages that infect them, a number of phages were isolated against lactococcal strains of non-dairy origin. One such phage, ΦL47, was isolated from a sewage sample using the grass isolate L. lactis ssp. cremoris DPC6860 as a host. Visualization of phage virions by transmission electron …

Ara H 6 Complements Ara H 2 As An Important Marker For Ige Reactivity To Peanut, Audrey E. Koid, Martin D. Chapman, Robert G. Hamilton, Ronald Van Ree, Serge A. Versteeg, Stephen C. Dreskin, Stef J. Koppelman, Sabina Wünschmann

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The similarities of two major peanut allergens, Ara h 2 and Ara h 6, in molecular size, amino acid sequence, and structure have made it difficult to obtain natural Ara h 6 free of Ara h 2. The objectives of this study were to purify natural Ara h 6 that is essentially free of Ara h 2 and to compare its IgE reactivity and potency in histamine release assays to Ara h 2. SDS-PAGE of the highly purified allergen (<0.01% Ara h 2) revealed a single 14.5kD band and the identity of Ara h 6 was confirmed by LC-MS/MS. Ara h 6 showed a higher seroprevalence in chimeric-IgE ELISA (n=54), but a weaker biological activity in basophil histamine release assays than Ara h 2. Purified Ara h 6 will be useful for diagnostic IgE antibody assays, as well as molecular and cellular studies to investigate the immunological mechanisms of peanut allergy.

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2014), College Of Agriculture &. Biological Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

This issue contains the 2013 SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station Annual Report

[Page] 2 The World’s First: Collaborative Effort Produces Multi-Hybrid Planter To Advance Precision Ag
[Page] 4 70 Years Of Data: Ranchers Benefit From Long-Term Grazing Studies
[Page] 6 Better Beef: Fetal Programming Study Analyzes Effects Of Cow Nutrition On Meat Quality
[Page] 7 Winter College News
[Page] 8 Consumer Sciences, Animal Health, Livestock Marketing: Important Research Continues In These Areas
[Page] 10 Improving Human Health: Role Of Nondigestible Fiber, Antioxidants Studied To Prevent Disease
[Page] 11 Food Safety Focus: Targeting Heat-Resistant Microbes To Improve Dairy Products
[Page] 12 Engineering …

Ua66/5 Department Of Agriculture 2014 Newsletter, Department Of Agriculture And Food Science

Agriculture Department Publications

Sections include:

Alumni

In Memory of Dr. David M. Coffey

Outstanding Agriculture Students

J Dominique Gumirakiza– Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics

Students from the Department of Agriculture Study Developmental Issues in Andean Agriculture in Ecuador

Viticulture News

Turfgrass Management News

Internships at the Baker Arboretum

Southern Forages Authors Visit WKU

Agricultural Ambassadors

Agricultural Education News

Agriculture Students Striving for Effective Tomorrows (ASSET) Conference

WKU Dairy Challenge Team participates in 8th Annual Southern Regional Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge® Contest

WKU Dairy Challenge Team participates in 8th Annual Southern Regional Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge® Contest

Student Research– Assessment of Stress in Therapy Horses

Agronomy …

Letter From The Dean, Michael Vayda

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

No abstract provided.

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences - Volume 15 2014, Several Authors

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

No abstract provided.

Development Of Active Packaging With Antimicrobial Activity, Xiuxiu Sun

Wayne State University Dissertations

Microbial safety of fresh fruits and vegetables is an increasing concern with any possible recall or outbreaks negatively affecting the entire industry. The interest in the development of active packaging has recently been steadily increasing due to significant concerns about environmental pollution caused by non-biodegradable packaging materials and consumer demand for high quality food products. Newly developed packaging materials and methods often have additional functional properties, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

In our study, the chitosan-gallic acid edible films and chitosan-essential oil coatings with antimicrobial activity, as well as active packaging with chlorine dioxide sachet were developed. The results …

Landscape And Garden Plants Sample Submission To The Plant And Pest Diagnostic Clinic, Kevin Korus, Tamra Jackson-Ziems, James A. Kalisch, Lowell Sandell, Terri James

Nebraska Cooperative Extension: Faculty and Staff Publications

Diagnoses are made easier and turnaround time is improved when the quality of plant samples is maintained. This NebGuide discusses the proper guidelines for submitting landscape and garden plants, turf, and tree samples to UNL’s Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic.

There are several important things to consider when collecting, packaging, and sending plant or insect samples for diagnosis in a plant diagnostic laboratory. Collect an adequate amount of plant material. When feasible, the sample should include the entire plant — roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Whole plants are needed to properly evaluate the sample. If the whole plant is …

Planting The Landscape, Kim Todd, Elizabeth Killinger, Terri James

Nebraska Cooperative Extension: Faculty and Staff Publications

A landscape is an investment of time and money that can be a beautiful, functional, and satisfying living space. Gardeners and landscape managers implementing integrated pest management strategies through good judgment in plant selection, site preparation, and planting practices will reduce insect, disease, and wildlife damage and will help ensure the growth and longevity of the investment.

Proper plant selection, site preparation, and planting practices are aspects of integrated pest management. Continued integration of correct cultural practices is important through proper mulching, watering, fertilizing, and other management practices to reduce pests.