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Revealing new leads for the impact of galacto-oligosaccharides on gut commensals and gut health benefits through text mining

In vitro fermentation of non-digestible oligosaccharides; a method to determine effects on “prebiotic index"

The “as eaten” method to measure the Total Dietary Fibre content and an in vitro fermentation with colon bacteria were successfully coupled to see if fibre fractions have a prebiotic effect. Similar growth pattern for modified starch, FOS and GOS were observed (Fig A). The qPCR results indicate a significant stimulation of the growth of gut bacteria by FOS and GOS and in lesser extent by the modified starch (Fig.C). Future experiments will compare the qPCR data with metagenomic analysis of in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Production of native-starch-degrading enzymes by a <i>Bacillus firmus/lentus </i>strain

A bacterium belonging to the Bacillus firmus/lentus-complex and capable of growth on native potato starch was isolated from sludge of a pilot plant unit for potato-starch production. Utilization of a crude enzyme preparation obtained from the culture fluid after growth of the microorganism on native starch, resulted in complete degradation of native starch granules from potato, maize and wheat at a temperature of 37°C. Glucose was found as a major product. Production of maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose was also observed. Native-starch-degrading activity (NSDA) could be selectively adsorbed on potato-starch granules, whereas soluble-starch-degrading activity (SSDA) remained mainly in solution. The use of such a starch-adsorbed enzyme preparation on native starch resulted in a completely changed product pattern. An increase in oligosaccharides concomitant with less glucose formation was observed. An increased conversion of soluble starch to maltopentaose was possible with this starch-adsorbed enzyme preparation. It is concluded that NSDA comes from α-amylase(s) and SSDA from glucoamylase(s) and/or α-glucosidase(s). Cultivation of B. firmus/lentus on glucose, maltose, or soluble starch resulted in substantially smaller quantities of (native) starch-degrading activity.

COTOPAXI, Andean Lupin European breeder success

Plant Breeders Rights were granted to Vandinter Semo BV on 29th December 2020 for the Andean Lupin variety COTOPAXI. COTOPAXI is result of cooperation between Vandinter Semo, Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the H2020 BBI-JU European research project LIBBIO. Andean Lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) has its origin in South America and is one of the four lupin species for human consumption. Andean Lupin is a sustainable alternative for soybean because of its comparable oil and protein content and its contribution to biodiversity and soil improvement. COTOPAXI is the first Andean Lupin variety in Europe that has been granted with Plant Breeder Rights. Andean lupin oil has excellent fatty acid composition and is therefore suited for food applications like margarines and mayonnaises and also for cosmetic applications, especially hair care products, lipsticks and nourishing anti-aging skin care products. Andean Lupin bean is also rich in proteins, oligosaccharides, alkaloids and bioactive components. Andean lupin proteins can be used as functional food ingredients and as animal feed. Oligosaccharides have functional food applications because of their fermentative (prebiotic) potential in the human large intestine. Alkaloids are of interest because of their medical potential as anti-cancer medicine and as biodegradable natural crop protection agents. Andean lupin bioactives are suited as ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics and in functional foods. Andean lupin contributes to the plant-based protein transition and to EU policy becoming more independent from foreign protein imports. Rob van Haren, Professor Transition Bioeconomy at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, says: “Andean Lupin is one of the “lost crops of the Incas” like quinoa and chia. Andean lupin grows in the same agro-ecozone as potato and has therefore a great areal potential. Andean lupin oil and protein contents are comparable with soybean and hence its business case has the same potential as well.” Rob van Haren together with other partners initiated in 2015 the H2020 research project LIBBIO for developing the Andean lupin supply chain and its biorefinery processing. This was made possible by an Andean lupin pre-breeding collection established by Kiemkracht, the innovation alliance from Product Board Arable Products and the Innovation Network of the Ministry of Agriculture. Bert-Jan van Dinter, director Vandinter Semo, says: “We have been active in plant breeding for more than a century, our company started in 1914. Our focus is to breed new varieties for soil improvement and soil health. We also breed for double-target crops for yield and soil improvement. We started our cooperation in 2008 first with Kiemkracht and later with Hanze UAS within the H2020 project LIBBIO. Obtaining Plant Breeder Rights in Europe within 5 years of research is unique. COTOPAXI is the first variety emerging from our new breeding program. In coming years we intend to breed for properties like sweetness (low alkaloids), earliness and crop yield”. The Andean lupin COTOPAXI contributes to farmer income, sustainable and circular agriculture, profitable processing and biorefinery and sustainable natural products for European consumers.

Dietary Supplementation with Nondigestible Oligosaccharides Reduces Allergic Symptoms and Supports Low Dose Oral Immunotherapy in a Peanut Allergy Mouse Model

Abstract 1 Scope A major downside of oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergy is the risk of severe side effects. Non‐digestible short‐ and long‐chain fructo‐oligosaccharides (scFOS/lcFOS) reduce allergy development in murine models. Therefore, it is hypothesized that scFOS/lcFOS can also support the efficacy of OIT in a peanut allergy model. 2 Methods and Results After sensitization to peanut extract (PE) using cholera toxin, C3H/HeOuJ mice are fed a 1% scFOS/lcFOS or control diet and receive OIT (1.5 or 15 mg PE). Hereafter, mice are exposed to PE via different routes to determine the safety and efficacy of treatment in clinical outcomes, PE‐specific antibody production, and numbers of various immune cells. scFOS/lcFOS increases short‐chain fatty acid levels in the caecum and reduce the acute allergic skin response and drop in body temperature after PE exposure. Interestingly, 15 mg and 1.5 mg OIT with scFOS/lcFOS induce protection against anaphylaxis, whereas 1.5 mg OIT alone does not. OIT, with or without scFOS/lcFOS, induces PE‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig) IgG and IgA levels and increases CD103+ dendritic cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes. 3 Conclusions scFOS/lcFOS and scFOS/lcFOS combined with low dose OIT are able to protect against a peanut‐allergic anaphylactic response.

Improved Efficacy of Oral Immunotherapy Using Non-Digestible Oligosaccharides in a Murine Cow's Milk Allergy Model

From teh UU repository: "Background: Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising therapeutic approach to treat food allergic patients. However, there are some concerns regarding its safety and long-term efficacy. The use of non-digestible oligosaccharides might improve OIT efficacy since they are known to directly modulate intestinal epithelial and immune cells in addition to acting as prebiotics. Aim: To investigate whether a diet supplemented with plant-derived fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) supports the efficacy of OIT in a murine cow's milk allergy model and to elucidate the potential mechanisms involved. Methods: After oral sensitization to the cow's milk protein whey, female C3H/HeOuJ mice were fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with FOS (1% w/w) and received OIT (10 mg whey) 5 days a week for 3 weeks by gavage. Intradermal (i.d.) and intragastric (i.g.) challenges were performed to measure acute allergic symptoms and mast cell degranulation. Blood and organs were collected to measure antibody levels and T cell and dendritic cell populations. Spleen-derived T cell fractions (whole spleen-and CD25-depleted) were transferred to naive recipient mice to confirm the involvement of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in allergy protection induced by OIT + FOS. Results: OIT + FOS decreased acute allergic symptoms and mast cell degranulation upon challenge and prevented the challenge-induced increase in whey-specific IgE as observed in sensitized mice. Early induction of Tregs in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of OIT + FOS mice coincided with reduced T cell responsiveness in splenocyte cultures. CD25 depletion in OIT + FOS-derived splenocyte suspensions prior to transfer abolished protection against signs of anaphylaxis in recipients. OIT + FOS increased serum galectin-9 levels. No differences in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in the cecum were observed between the treatment groups. Concisely, FOS supplementation significantly improved OIT in the acute allergic skin response, %Foxp3+ Tregs and %LAP+ Th3 cells in MLN, and serum galectin-9 levels. Conclusion: FOS supplementation improved the efficacy of OIT in cow's milk allergic mice. Increased levels of Tregs in the MLN and abolished protection against signs of anaphylaxis upon transfer of CD25-depleted cell fractions, suggest a role for Foxp3+ Tregs in the protective effect of OIT + FOS. "