What we do

• We specialize in Foodomics, specifically in bioactive compounds isolation and characterization, glycoprotein chemistry purification and characterization, Glycomics, Peptidomics. We work with food  and biological samples (e.g. derived from simulated GI digestion or clinical studies).
• We enjoy collaborating with industrial/academic partners for rapid translation of research

Our thematic areas of research

1. Analytical discovery of small bioactive compounds (glycans, peptides) in foods, food streams and biological samples
2. Pilot-scale engineering to separate newly discovered bioactive compounds to produce unique food ingredients
3. In vitro and in vivo studies in collaboration with local experts to establish safety and elucidate the health benefits of the isolated compounds.

Accomplishments

• Our research demonstrates how novel ‘omics combined with advances in separation science make discoveries of bioactive food components possible.
• Using a combination of Proteomics, Glycomics and Peptidomics in a cheese whey model system, our work captured previously unavailable bioactive milk components (oligosaccharides and peptides) that can be rapidly adapted into novel functional foods while adding value to a waste stream.
• With successful separation of milk components and verification of their similarity to human milk, these serve as the basis for improved infant formulas and other therapeutic applications.
• Based on this foundation, we recently assembled a structural bioinformatic library for bovine milk oligosaccharides as well as the most comprehensive oligosaccharide database, MilkOligoDB, revealing common structural motifs and extensive diversity across mammals (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36866-y)
• Our ultimate goal is to make significant contributions to the development of novel processes that reduce agricultural/industrial waste with the aim of recovering from those side-streams important bioactive components that can be used to improve health.

Our cutting edge technologies (see the tab "Analytical Platform)

• Nano LC MicroChip Quadrupole ToF (Time of Flight)
• MALDI ToF -Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight
• HPAEC-PAD - High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection
• QQQ LC-MS - Triple Quadrupole Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer
• The combined use of these 4 analytical instruments provides a platform of technologies upon which we can investigate relatively untapped organic “waste” streams for valuable, healthful components, with concomitant mitigation of environmental pollution.

Current Projects

Plant-based research:

• Leveraging the sustainability of Macrocystis pyrifera as a feedstock to produce ingredients for food, animal, and industrial applications (Bigelow Laboratory)

• Development of new bioactive and bioavailable ingredients from microalgae (Ministerio De Ciencia E Innovación, Gobierno de Espana)

• Bovine milk and non-dairy alternatives: characterization of oligosaccharides structures, abundance and functions (California Dairy Research Foundation)

• Conversion of almond and walnuts shells to prebiotic oligosaccharides and gluconic acid (California Department of Food and Agriculture)

• A multi-centre peptidomics investigation of food digesta focused on peptidomics (INFOGEST https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996923004325 )

• Effects of extraction methods on lentil and dry beans extract composition and structural modifications: from extraction efficiency, functional and biological properties to fouling of industrial UHT equipment (USDA)

• Health Promoting Roles of Food Bio-Active Phenolic Compounds on Obesity-Altered Metabolic Functions and Physiology, sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA, ARS)
• Discovery and characterization of Oligosaccharides in Chardonnay marc (Sonomaceuticals, LLC)
• Tailoring Processing Strategies to Produce the New Generation of Chickpea Proteins and Prebiotic Oligosaccharides (USDA Pulse Crop Health Initiative)
• RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS:
• Improving Functional and Biological Properties of Almond Proteins with Protease- and Glycosidase- Processing (California Department of Food and Agriculture)
• "Glycomics of Winery Antimicrobial Yeast" (European Commission, Horizon, Marie Skłodowska-Curie, Fellowship awarded to Dr. Oswaldo Hernadez)
• Advanced strategies for production and characterization of novel prebiotic oligosaccharides from coffee and coffee spent grounds
• Fiber Analysis for the Gut Microbiome of People and Pets (Mars, Inc.)

Dairy-Related Projects:

• Whey Phospholipid Concentrate as a Source of Bioactive Compounds that Improve Human Health (Dairy Management Incorporated)
• Discovering the bioactivity of milk fat globules from dairy streams (California Dairy Research Foundation)

• Investigating the effect of homogenization on the structure and activity of milk fat globules in dairy products (American Dairy Products Institute)

• The " MILK MOLECULES INITIATIVE": building a digital ecosystem and platform for milk compounds (Dairy Management Inc.)

• Production of KetoMilk - a feasibillty study (Barnstorm Foundry L.P.)

• Milk oligosaccharide composition in native Northern Finncattle breeds (Natural Resources Institute Finland, Finnish Cultural Foundation)

• RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS:
• Integrating Biology, Psychology, and Ecology to Mitigate Antibiotic Resistance in Food Animal Production Systems (USDA)
• Second Generation of Human Milk Oligosaccharides: Beyond Infant Nutrition (BASF)
• Investigating the Structures and Activities of Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides Extracted from Dairy Streams, Sponsored by ARLA AFI
• Pilot study on the tolerability of feeding different doses of bovine milk oligosaccharides for modifying gastrointestinal function in healthy humans (Dairy Management Inc.)
• Revealing the Function of Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides in the Human Gut Using Metatranscriptomics (company sponsor)

Please contact us if you have any questions.