Institut für Ernährungsmedizin

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hohpublica.uni-hohenheim.de/handle/123456789/80

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 70

Exploring Phaeodactylum tricornutum for nutraceuticals: cultivation techniques and neurotoxin risk assessment
(2025) Ebbing, Tobias; Kopp, Lena; Frick, Konstantin; Simon, Tabea; Würtz, Berit; Pfannstiel, Jens; Schmid-Staiger, Ulrike; Bischoff, Stephan C.; Tovar, Günter E. M.; Faraloni, Cecilia; Touloupakis, Eleftherios
This study investigates the potential of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT) as a sustainable and nutritionally valuable food source, focusing on its ability to produce bioactive compounds such as eicosapentaenoic acid, fucoxanthin, chrysolaminarin (CRY) and proteins. PT was cultivated in a flat-plate airlift photobioreactor (FPA-PBR) illuminated with LEDs from two sides. The study aimed to monitor and minimize β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) levels to address safety concerns. The data showed that the selected FPA-PBR setup was superior in biomass and EPA productivity, and CRY production was reduced. No BMAA was detected in any biomass sample during cultivation. By adjusting the cultivation conditions, PT biomass with different compositional profiles could be produced, enabling various applications in the food and health industries. Biomass from nutrient-repleted conditions is rich in EPA and Fx, with nutritional and health benefits. Biomass from nutrient-depleted conditions accumulated CRY, which can be used as dietary fiber. These results highlight the potential of PT as a versatile ingredient for human consumption and the effectiveness of FPA-PBRs with artificial lighting in producing high-quality biomass. This study also provides the basis for future research to optimize photobioreactor conditions to increase production efficiency and to tailor the biomass profiles of PT for targeted health-promoting applications.
Detection of HHV-5 HHV-6a HHV-6b and HHV-7 in the urine: potential use as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for immune profiling
(2024) Govind, Shelia; Lang, Pierre Olivier; Bürkle, Alexander; Moreno-Villanueva, María; Franceschi, Claudio; Capri, Miriam; Bernard, Jurgen; Weinberger, Birgit; Grubeck-Loebenstein, Beatrix; Fiegl, Simone; Gonos, Efstathios S.; Sikora, Ewa; Jansen, Eugène; Dollé, Martijn E. T.; Grune, Tilman; Breusing, Nicolle; Aspinall, Richard
Decline in immune function with age has been studied extensively, but approaches to immune restoration have been hampered by the lack of simple methods of identifying individuals whose immune system is in decline. Our approach has been to identify individuals whose immune decline has led to a loss of control of common latent viral infections and their consequent reactivation. Viruses excreted in urine were detected and quantified and we believe this approach could provide a 'surrogate marker' for identifying immune compromised individuals. Here we report the detection of human herpes virus (HHV) 5, 6a, 6b and 7 in the urine of healthy individuals over a wide age range and their correlation with T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) data. The results did not show a clear correlation between TREC values and the detection of individual specific viruses or viral load values when measured singly. However, a correlation was found between low TREC values and the detection of several different human herpes viruses in the urine in males. We present evidence suggesting that for males, the detection of three or more different human herpes viruses in the urine could identify individuals with declining immune function as evidenced by their significantly lower TREC levels.
Dietary supplement use among lactating mothers following different dietary patterns – an online survey
(2024) Delgas, Franziska; Bitsch, Lisa; König, Laura Maria; Beitze, Damaris Elisabeth; Scherbaum, Veronika; Podszun, Maren C.
Background: Breastfeeding is important for the healthy growth and development of newborns, and the nutrient composition of human milk can be affected by maternal nutrition and supplementation. In Germany, iodine supplementation is recommended for all lactating mothers, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation is recommended for mothers with inadequate or no fish intake. Vitamin B12 supplementation is required for strict vegans during lactation, and other nutrient supplementation may be necessary depending on the individual's nutritional status. To address the lack of data on dietary supplements used by lactating mothers following a vegetarian or vegan diet, an online survey was conducted in Germany, with a focus on iodine, DHA, and vitamin B12. Methods: Study participants were asked to report whether they followed specific dietary patterns (omnivorous [OM], vegetarian [VT], vegan [VN]) as well as their use of dietary supplements. Relationships between diets and supplement use were analyzed using chi-square tests. Results: 2054 lactating women were included (1240 OM, 410 VT, and 404 VN) in this analysis. Within OM, VT and VN, at least one dietary supplement was taken by 67.3%, 84.9% and 98.0% respectively ( p < 0.001). Overall, 53.2% OM, 66.8% VT, 88.4% VN reported taking at least one supplement containing iodine ( p < 0.001). 54.6% OM, 61.7% VT and 58.2% VN reported supplements containing vitamin B12, while 34.1% OM, 40.2% VT and 38.6% VN mentioned supplements containing DHA ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: More than half of the participants reported the use of supplements during lactation with the highest proportion in vegans. However, over one third of the mothers did not report supplementing with iodine, regardless of their dietary pattern and most participants also did not report DHA supplements. It is worrisome that a high number of vegans did not report vitamin B12 supplementation, but this could be partly due to issues with reporting. It is crucial to provide further education to breastfeeding mothers about the importance of taking micronutrient supplements, especially for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet. This will help ensure that mothers and their breastfed infants receive optimal nutrition for a healthy development.
Estimating family shopping behavior: a multi‐perspective approach to understanding grocery shopping
(2024) Hummel, Gerrit; Nützel, Annalena; Eder, Cora; Strubich, Patrick Thomas; Stroebele‐Benschop, Nanette
This study examines weekly shopping trips of young families using a multi‐perspective approach that considers psychological personality traits, situational influences, and socio‐demographic factors to explain food purchases. Over a period of 4 weeks, the data of 60 shoppers and their families as well as 217 purchases were recorded using questionnaires and receipts. Analysis showed that personality traits and socio‐demographic data are good predictors of food purchases. The study provides insights into the complexity of shopping behavior, shows the need for multi‐perspective approaches, and enables the derivation of strategies to optimize healthy shopping behavior for young families.
Sucrose reduction with maintained sweetness level lowers glycemic fluctuations and energy intake in healthy males
(2025) Gaider, Marlies; Kimmeswenger, Isabella; Schmidt, Jana; Thines, Cynthia; Wu, Anni; Stoffl, Teresa K.; Rust, Petra; Ley, Jakob P.; Krammer, Gerhard E.; Somoza, Veronika; Lieder, Barbara; Gaider, Marlies; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Taste Research, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Kimmeswenger, Isabella; Vienna Doctoral School of Chemistry (DoSChem), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Schmidt, Jana; Department Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Clinical Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Thines, Cynthia; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Taste Research, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Wu, Anni; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Taste Research, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Stoffl, Teresa K.; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Taste Research, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Rust, Petra; Department of Nutrional Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Ley, Jakob P.; Symrise AG, Holzminden, Germany; Krammer, Gerhard E.; Symrise AG, Holzminden, Germany; Somoza, Veronika; Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Introduction: The sole perception of sweet taste is discussed to interfere with postprandial blood glucose regulation and leading to enhanced cravings for sweet foods. This raises the question whether preserving sweetness while reducing sugar in a test solution can sustain beneficial effects on blood glucose regulation and subsequently decrease postprandial energy intake. Specifically, we hypothesized that reducing the caloric load of a sucrose solution while maintaining the perceived sweetness intensity by adding hesperetin as a taste modifier attenuates large fluctuations in postprandial blood glucose concentrations with beneficial effects on appetite and cravings for sweet foods. Methods: In a randomized crossover study with 32 healthy male participants, the effect of a 10% sucrose solution on blood glucose regulation and energy intake was compared to an equi-sweet 7% sucrose solution with 50 mg/L hesperetin. Data was analyzed using paired Student’s t-tests or Repeated-measures ANOVA. The study was approved by the ethical committee of the University of Vienna (approval number 00903) and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05705596). Results: The results show that the decline in blood glucose concentrations was less pronounced after consumption of the 7% sucrose solution with hesperetin than after the isosweet 10% sucrose solution. Additionally, participants reported less desire for a sweet snack and had on average a 10 ± 7% (p < 0.05) lower energy intake after consumption of the 7% sucrose hesperetin-spiked solution. Conclusion: In conclusion, our results argue for a pronounced role of the carbohydrate content in postprandial appetite regulation.
The role of the circadian clock, the microbiome and time-restricted feeding on the development and treatment of colitis
(2025) Haasis, Eva Annett Kristin; Lorentz, Axel
Mammals possess an internal circadian clock in almost all tissues that regulates biochemical and physiological processes over the course of 24 hours. In detail, transcription-translation feedback loops regulate the oscillation of genes over 24 hours. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are chronic immune activations and inflammations in the gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of IBD is not completely understood, but is associated with a disrupted circadian clock, e.g. shift work is an increased risk factor for the development of IBD. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the relationship between circadian clock and IBD. Altered light/dark cycles, consisting of four hours of light and four hours of darkness, were used to disrupt the circadian rhythm in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model and an IL-10 knockout (IL-10-/-) mouse model. Food intake is an important Zeitgeber for the circadian clock. Therefore, the potential of time-restricted feeding (TRF) to restore disturbed circadian rhythms and as a therapy for IBD should be investigated. Since fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could also be a possible therapy against colitis by improving the composition of the gut microbiota, the transferability of inflammatory and healthy phenotypes by fecal transplantation should be investigated. As bacterial supplementation, both a bacterium that prevents colitis and a bacterium that potentially promotes colitis were used. DSS treatment over eight days only led to early signs of inflammation and was slightly influenced by external light disruption with alternating 4 hours of light and 4 hours of darkness. The protocol for DSS treatment may not have been well suited. The same light disruption led to different results in IL-10-/- mice in two experiments. While in the first experiment an external light disruption led to an increased incidence of colitis and higher inflammation levels, these results were no longer present in the second experiment. The external light disruption led neither to an increased incidence of colitis nor to increased inflammation values. A further experiment, in which samples were taken every six hours, showed that the external light disruption had an effect in wild type (WT) animals and led to a disruption of circadian gene expression. In IL-10-/- mice, the expression of circadian genes was already disrupted at a normal light/dark rhythm of 12 hours/12 hours and further disruption by external light conditions was not possible, which could be an explanation for the different results regarding the occurrence of colitis in IL-10-/- mice with a disrupted light/dark rhythm. Eight-hour restricted feeding of IL-10-/- mice resulted in reduced incidence of colitis, low levels of inflammation and improved circadian clock expression independent of external circadian clock disruption, suggesting that TRF is an effective and useful therapeutic approach for colitis. This observation should be further tested in human studies. Administration of the fecal microbiota of mice with an inflammatory phenotype only led to increased inflammation levels, while an influence of the litter affiliation of the mice was also found in histologic scores and intestinal clock gene expression. Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) was given as a colitis-promoting bacterium and led to increased gene expression of inflammatory markers and tight junction proteins, while Lactobacillus taiwanensis (L. taiwanensis), as a potentially colitis-preventing bacterium, improved the expression of the intestinal circadian clock. Neither FMT nor bacterial supplementation had any influence on the occurrence of colitis. The transfer of different phenotypes by FMT was only possible to a limited extent and does not appear to be an effective treatment option for colitis. A. muciniphila can be regarded as an inflammation-promoting bacterium, while a probiotic effect of L. taiwanensis could not be confirmed. In summary, this thesis has shown that a disrupted circadian clock is associated with intestinal inflammation and that TRF reduces inflammation and delays the onset of colitis, suggesting that TRF may be an effective therapy for intestinal inflammation.
High physical activity is associated with decreased fungiform papillae area and number, elevated sucrose recognition thresholds, and increased IL-6 levels: an observational human study
(2025) Kimmeswenger, Isabella; Gaider, Marlies; Doppelmayer, Kevin; Ley, Jakob P.; Lieder, Barbara
Background: Disease-related inflammation affects chemosensory signaling, but knowledge on the impact of exercise-induced low-grade inflammation on taste function remains scarce. Here we hypothesized that intense habitual physical activity modifies sweet taste perception via increased cytokine release. Methods: In an observational human study we compared participants (m/f) engaging in high (n = 34) and low (n = 31) levels of habitual physical activity. Salivary IL-6 and urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α levels, body composition, sucrose recognition threshold, preference and consumption of sweet foods, size and area of fungiform papillae as well as selected hormones regulating food intake were recorded. Statistical analysis was conducted using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) followed by Student’s t-tests and multiple regression models. Results: The PCA summarized the main outcome variables to two principal components (PC). PC1 was primarily influenced by body composition and fungiform papillae markers, while sucrose recognition thresholds, sweet food consumption, and IL-6 levels strongly contributed to PC2. Compared to the low activity group, the high activity group showed on average an increased sucrose recognition threshold (+ 35.8 ± 12.8%), increased IL-6 concentrations (+ 25.6 ± 10.9%), higher consumptions of sweet foods (+ 18.8 ± 4.9%) and decreased number (24.8 ± 4.9%) and area (-29.8 ± 6.4%) of fungiform papillae. Conclusions: The association between modified sweet taste function markers and increased IL-6 levels suggests that inflammatory processes may contribute to exercise-related changes in chemosensory perception.
Impaired metal perception and regulation of associated human foliate papillae tongue transcriptome in long-COVID-19
(2024) Danzer, Barbara; Jukic, Mateo; Dunkel, Andreas; Andersen, Gaby; Lieder, Barbara; Schaudy, Erika; Stadlmayr, Sarah; Lietard, Jory; Michel, Timm; Krautwurst, Dietmar; Haller, Bernhard; Knolle, Percy; Somoza, Mark; Lingor, Paul; Somoza, Veronika
Chemosensory impairment is an outstanding symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infections. We hypothesized that measured sensory impairments are accompanied by transcriptomic changes in the foliate papillae area of the tongue. Hospital personnel with known SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) status completed questionnaires on sensory perception ( n = 158). A subcohort of n = 141 participated in forced choice taste tests, and n = 43 participants consented to donate tongue swabs of the foliate papillae area for whole transcriptome analysis. The study included four groups of participants differing in IgG levels (≥ 10 AU/mL = IgG + ; < 10 AU/mL = IgG - ) and self-reported sensory impairment (SSI ± ). IgG + subjects not detecting metallic taste had higher IgG + levels than IgG + participants detecting iron gluconate ( p = 0.03). Smell perception was the most impaired biological process in the transcriptome data from IgG + /SSI + participants subjected to gene ontology enrichment. IgG + /SSI + subjects demonstrated lower expression levels of 166 olfactory receptors (OR) and 9 taste associated receptors (TAS) of which OR1A2, OR2J2, OR1A1, OR5K1 and OR1G1, as well as TAS2R7 are linked to metallic perception. The question raised by this study is whether odorant receptors on the tongue (i) might play a role in metal sensation, and (ii) are potential targets for virus-initiated sensory impairments, which needs to be investigated in future functional studies.
Market potential for organic dairy and meat products from “calf-friendly” dairy farms across different consumer segments
(2025) Herrler, Mareike; Chagunda, Mizeck G. G.; Stroebele-Benschop, Nanette
As public criticism of the management of surplus dairy calves increases, new approaches are required to improve calf welfare to maintain the dairy industry’s license to produce. Little is known about consumers’ willingness to buy (WTB) organic dairy and meat products from farms that aim to improve the welfare of surplus dairy calves. This study aims to address this research gap by identifying potential target groups for assessing the market potential of these products in south-west Germany. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted among 922 participants in this region. Participants were presented with one of three scenarios describing different rearing systems for dairy calves that hold the potential to provide enhanced calf welfare in comparison to current dairy farming practices: Cow-calf contact, the use of dual-purpose breeds and on-farm slaughter. Factor and cluster analyses were performed to identify potential target groups for organic dairy and meat products from these “calf-friendly” rearing systems. The four clusters Conscious organic shoppers, Moderate sustainability advocates, The indifferent consumers and the Interested organic refusers were identified. The findings indicate that organic consumers who care about calf welfare and prioritize product quality and sustainability when buying food are a promising target group for products from “calf-friendly” organic dairy farms. Consumers’ WTB seems to depend more on their general attitudes and financial means than on the presented scenarios. By identifying a potential target group for these products, this study fills a research gap and may contribute to more effective and targeted marketing.
Capsaicin attenuates the effect of inflammatory cytokines in a HaCaT cell model for basal keratinocytes
(2024) Cervantes Recalde, Maria Fernanda; Schmidt, Jana; Girardi, Cristina; Massironi, Marco; Rechl, Markus Leo; Hans, Joachim; Stuhlmann, Dominik; Somoza, Veronika; Lieder, Barbara
Introduction: The resolution of the skin’s inflammatory response is only possible if its barrier function is restored. TRPV1 channel activation plays an important role during inflammation but the effect of this activation on the skin barrier under inflammatory conditions has not been clarified. We hypothesize that it could potentially aid the keratinocyte barrier by reducing inflammatory cytokine release and promoting tight junction development. Methods: To explore the role of TRPV1 activation in inflammation, we designed and optimized an in vitro model of keratinocytes with basal epidermal layer characteristics using HaCaT cells and TNFα to induce inflammation. Results: TNFα increased the gene expression of tight junction protein claudin 1 (CLDN1) by at least 2.60 ± 0.16-fold, in a concentration-dependent manner, over a 48 h period. The administration of a capsaicin pre-treatment reduced the CLDN1 expression to 1.51 ± 0.16-fold during the first 6 h after TNFα induction, whereas IL-8 cytokine release was reduced 0.64 ± 0.17-fold. After 48 h, CLDN1 protein levels increased by a factor of 6.57 ± 1.39 compared to cells only treated with TNFα. Discussion: These results suggest that activation of TRPV1 by capsaicin can potentiate the increase in CLDN1 expression and CLDN1 protein synthesis induced by TNFα in cultured keratinocytes, while reducing the release of IL-8.
Role of homovanillic acid esters in the regulation of skin inflammatory pathways and their effect on tight junction protein expression
(2025) Cervantes Recalde, Maria Fernanda; Bogensperger, Elena Zoe; Hans, Joachim; Stuhlmann, Dominik; Somoza, Veronika; Lieder, Barbara
In the context of epidermal inflammation, the inflammatory response not only involves the release of inflammatory cytokines like interleukin 8 (IL-8), but also modulation of tight junction protein expression levels. Previous studies showed that the tight junction protein claudin 1 (CLDN1) is upregulated during tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced inflammation by capsaicin in keratinocytes in a transient receptor potential channel vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)-dependent manner. However, the caveat with TRPV1 ligands is the undesired pain response elicited by the activation of neuronal TRPV1 channels. In this study, we hypothesized that also less or non-pungent homovanillic acid esters as structural analogs of capsaicin target CLDN1 upregulation during inflammation. Methods: We aimed to identify beneficial structural characteristics by selecting homovanillic acid esters with different aliphatic tail structures and screening them for CLDN1 upregulation at early stages of TNFα-induced inflammation in basal keratinocytes. Results: CLDN1 expression was upregulated independently of TRPV1 by compounds with a tail of 5 or 6 C-atoms, regardless of the presence of ramifications and double bonds with a maximum fold change of 2.05 ± 0.22 against control. The induction of CLDN1 expression was accompanied by increased expression of the differentiation marker involucrin (IVL). Discussion: The results suggest that the homovanillic ester-induced CLDN1 upregulation is a result of increased differentiation of the basal keratinocytes towards the keratinocyte morphology present in the stratum granulosum (SG), where tight junctions are formed. In conclusion, homovanillic acid esters with a 5 or 6 C-atom long aliphatic chain induced CLDN1 expression, thereby stimulating keratinocyte differentiation, independent from TRPV1 activation.
Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 supernatant improves markers of gut barrier function and inflammatory response in small intestinal organoids
(2025) Filipe Rosa, Louisa; Gonda, Steffen; Roese, Nadine; Bischoff, Stephan C.; Lachowicz-Wiśniewska, Sabina
Objectives: Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745, a probiotic yeast, is effectively used for the treatment of acute diarrhea as well as for the prevention and treatment of traveller‘s diarrhea and diarrhea under tube feeding. The underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Both antitoxic and regulatory effects on the intestinal barrier, mediated either by the yeast or yeast-derived substrates, have been discussed. Methods: To examine the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii released substrates (S.b.S) on gastrointestinal (GI) barrier function, a murine small intestinal organoid cell model under stress was used. Stress was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure or withdrawal of growth factors from cell culture medium (GFRed). Stressed organoids were treated with S.b.S (200 µg/mL), and markers of GI barrier and inflammatory response were assessed. Results: GFRed-induced stress was characterized by disturbances in selected tight junction (TJ) (p < 0.05), adherent junction (AJ) (p < 0.001), and mucin (Muc) formation (p < 0.01), measured by gene expressions, whereby additional S.b.S treatment was found to reverse these effects by increasing Muc2 (from 0.22 to 0.97-fold change, p < 0.05), Occludin (Ocln) (from 0.37 to 3.5-fold change, p < 0.0001), and Claudin (Cldn)7 expression (from 0.13 ± 0.066-fold change, p < 0.05) and by decreasing Muc1, Cldn2, Cldn5, and junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A) expression (all p < 0.01). Further, S.b.S normalized expression of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (Nod)2- (from 44.5 to 0.51, p < 0.0001) and matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp)7-dependent activation (from 28.3 to 0.02875 ± 0.0044 ** p < 0.01) of antimicrobial peptide defense and reduced the expression of several inflammatory markers, such as myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (Myd88) (p < 0.01), tumor necrosis factor α (Tnfα) (p < 0.01), interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.01), and IL-1β (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our data provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745-derived secretome attenuates inflammatory responses and restores GI barrier function in small intestinal organoids.
A high sucrose detection threshold is associated with increased energy intake and improved post-prandial glucose response independent of the sweetness intensity of isocaloric sucrose solutions
(2024) Preinfalk, Verena; Schweiger, Kerstin; Hüller, Leonie; Dunkel, Andreas; Kimmeswenger, Isabella; Deck, Corinna M.; Rust, Petra; Somoza, Veronika; Krammer, Gerhard E.; Ley, Jakob P.; Lieder, Barbara
Several studies proposed a role for the sweet taste receptor in energy intake and blood glucose regulation, but little is yet known about the impact of the individual sweet taste perception. Here, we found in a cross-over human intervention study with 29 male participants that modulating the sweetness of an isocaloric sucrose solution did not influence postprandial plasma concentrations of blood glucose and associated hormones over 120 min and 2 h post-load energy intake. Independent of the sweetness of the test solution, tests persons with a higher sucrose detection threshold had an average of 402 ± 78.8 kcal (39 ± 21%) higher energy intake and a higher glucose/insulin ratio, combined with a higher liking for sweet tasting food, than the test persons of the low threshold group. The body composition suggested a higher fat-free mass in the high threshold group that may have influenced energy intake and post-prandial glucose responses.
Flavor-boosting of Phaeodactylum tricornutum by fermentation with edible mushrooms
(2024) Rigling, Marina; Liang, Jiaqi; Entenmann, Isa; Frick, Konstantin; Schmid-Staiger, Ulrike; Xiang, Can; Kopp, Lena; Bischoff, Stephan C.; Zhang, Yanyan
Microalgae are a promising and sustainable source of nutritious food, especially for use in alternatives to fish and seafood. Among them, Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT) stands out for its potential to revolutionize future diets with its rich nutrient profile and eco-friendly cultivation methods. However, its typically fishy and “brackish water” off-odor has been a significant deterrent. Using 13 basidiomycetes as starter cultures, the dynamic changes in the aroma were studied. To better understand the aroma development during fermentation, odor-active compounds were identified using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–olfactometry. By submerged fermentation lasting 39 and 51 hours with Pleurotus citrinopileatus (PCI) and Pleurotus eryngii (PER), respectively, the unpalatable odor of PT was transformed into savory and seafood-like aromas, while retaining most of the valuable carotenoids (fucoxanthin and β-carotene were retained at 75 % and 90 %) and fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were preserved at 80 % of their initial concentrations). Throughout the fermentation process, key odorants responsible for the algae's initial green, grassy, and unpleasant odor were reduced, while compounds responsible for savory and seafood-like fragrances increased. A series of sulfur compounds, such as dimethyl disulfide, were found to be major contributors to the post-fermentation aroma.
Editorial: Methods in molecular innate immunity: 2022
(2025) Fritz, Jörg H.; Kufer, Thomas A.
A sensitive bioassay to measure NOD1/2 ligands in human serum reveals differential postprandial NOD2 activation
(2025) Biber, Lucy; Schart, Nadine; Bosy-Westphal, Anja; Kufer, Thomas A.
Food intake is associated with the occurrence of components and metabolites from the gut microbiota in the bloodstream. Using a widely utilised cell-based assay to measure bacterial peptidoglycan via pattern-recognition receptor activation, we found that the performance of this assay is significantly influenced by the presence of other serum components. To address this challenge, an alternative luciferase-based reporter assay protocol was established to accurately measure NOD1 and NOD2 activation by serum samples with high sensitivity. Utilising postprandial human serum samples, we tested this assay and showed that the concentration of NOD2-activating ligands differed in the postprandial phase. Together, we provide a protocol to measure NOD1/2 activation by human serum samples and highlight a role for NOD2 in the postprandial response.
Tannic acid and ethacridine lactate attenuate markers of stress-induced intestinal barrier dysfunctions in murine small intestinal organoids
(2025) Filipe Rosa, Louisa; Gonda, Steffen; Roese, Nadine; Bischoff, Stephan C.; Kwok, Hang Fai (Henry); Alaimo, Alessandro
(1) Background: Tannacomp® is a drug consisting of tannin albuminate, a complex of tannic acid (TA) and ethacridine lactate (Eta) used for treating acute and traveler’s diarrhea. TA is thought to modulate gastrointestinal barrier function, but the underlying mechanisms and whether Eta has similar effects remains unclear. (2) Methods: to investigate the effects of TA and Eta on the intestinal barrier, stress responses were induced in murine intestinal organoids by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure or withdrawal of growth factors from cell culture medium (GFRed). Further, organoids were exposed to either TA (0.01 mg/mL) or Eta (0.002 mg/mL) and markers of inflammatory response and gut barrier function were assessed. (3) Results: TA and Eta reduced several inflammatory markers such as interleukin 6, interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 in stressed organoids. In addition, TA and Eta attenuated LPS- and GFRed-mediated gut barrier dysfunctions, with normalization of tight junction, adherent junction and mucin gene expression and reduction of Nod2- and matrix metalloproteinase 7-dependent activation of antimicrobial peptides. (4) Conclusions: our data show that TA and Eta modulate markers of inflammation and the intestinal barrier and suggest novel mechanisms of action of this drug that could broaden its treatment indications.
Multidisciplinary study of the health and nutritional status of persons living in households at risk of poverty with children in Germany (MEGA_kids): study design and methods
(2024) Simmet, Anja; Ehret, Janine; Schleicher, Romy; Teut, Michael; Hummel, Gerrit; Bschaden, Andreas; Stroebele-Benschop, Nanette
Background: In Germany, the nutritional situation of adults and children living in households at risk of poverty has been insufficiently studied so far. Aim: The aim of the mixed-methods study MEGA_kids is to gain a deeper understanding of the nutritional situation including socioeconomic, behavioral, and attitudinal factors and health characteristics among persons living in families at risk of poverty. Method: MEGA_kids is a mixed-methods cross-sectional study consisting of four modules combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The first module (A) applies self-administered questionnaires to assess the individual's diet, household food insecurity, and several other factors among adults and children of 500 households. Cash receipts are used to assess household's food expenses. For the second module (B), a semistructured interview guide is used to identify factors influencing food security and nutritional quality from the perspective of a subsample of module A (n = 20). The third module (C) applies the participatory World Café technique to explore experiences and generate ideas for tailored support measures for a healthy diet from the perspective of 40 parents participating in module A. Finally, the fourth module (D) investigates the knowledge and usage of existing nutrition-related preventive measures among 200 parents at risk of poverty by using an online questionnaire. Conclusion: By providing a comprehensive picture of nutritional aspects of families living at risk of poverty, MEGA_kids will guide officials to target and prioritize public health nutrition measures, inform policy makers to implement and improve healthy policies and, finally, identify research gaps to be prioritized.
Predictors of cardiopulmonary fitness in cancer-affected and -unaffected women with a pathogenic germline variant in the genes BRCA1/2 (LIBRE-1)
(2022) Berling-Ernst, Anika; Yahiaoui-Doktor, Maryam; Kiechle, Marion; Engel, Christoph; Lammert, Jacqueline; Grill, Sabine; Dukatz, R.; Rhiem, Kerstin; Baumann, F. T.; Bischoff, Stephan C.; Erickson, N.; Schmidt, Thorsten; Niederberger, Uwe; Siniatchkin, M.; Halle, Martin
Physical activity (PA) helps prevention and aftercare of sporadic breast cancer (BC), cardiopulmonary fitness (CPF) being an age-independent predictor of tumor-specific mortality. Therefore, we wanted to identify predictors of CPF (represented by peak oxygen uptake: VO2peak) in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers whose risk of developing BC is high. We used cross-sectional data from 68 BRCA1/2 germline mutation carrying women participating in the randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study LIBRE-1. Assessments included cardiopulmonary exercise testing, medical and lifestyle history plus socioeconomic status. Additionally, the participants completed a psychological questionnaire regarding their attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control and intention towards PA. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify predictors for participants reaching their age- and sex-adjusted VO2peak reference values. 22 participants (median age: 40 years, interquartile range (IQR) 33–46) were cancer-unaffected and 46 cancer-affected (median age: 44 years, IQR 35–50). The strongest predictor for reaching the reference VO2peak value was attitude towards PA (Odds Ratio 3.0; 95% Confidence Interval 1.3–8.4; p = 0.021). None of the other predictors showed a significant association. A positive attitude towards PA seems to be associated with VO2peak, which should be considered in developing therapeutic and preventive strategies.Trial registrations: NCT02087592; DRKS00005736.
Consumption of yeast-fermented wheat and rye breads increases colitis and mortality in a mouse model of colitis
(2022) Zimmermann, Julia; De Fazio, Luigia; Kaden-Volynets, Valentina; Hitzmann, Bernd; Bischoff, Stephan C.
Background: Cereals are known to trigger for wheat allergy, celiac disease and non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS). Inflammatory processes and intestinal barrier impairment are suspected to be involved in NCWS, although the molecular triggers are unclear. Aims: We were interested if different bread types influence inflammatory processes and intestinal barrier function in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Epithelial caspase-8 gene knockout (Casp8 ΔIEC ) and control (Casp8 fl ) mice were randomized to eight groups, respectively. The groups received different diets for 28 days (gluten-free diet, gluten-rich diet 5 g%, or different types of bread at 50 g%). Breads varied regarding grain, milling and fermentation. All diets were isocaloric. Results: Regardless of the diet, Casp8 ΔIEC mice showed pronounced inflammation in colon compared to ileum, whereas Casp8 fl mice were hardly inflamed. Casp8 fl mice could tolerate all bread types. Especially yeast fermented rye and wheat bread from superfine flour but not pure gluten challenge increased colitis and mortality in Casp8 ΔIEC mice. Hepatic expression of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and colonic expression of tumor necrosis factor-α genes were inversely related to survival. The bread diets, but not the gluten-rich diet, also decreased colonic tight junction expression to variable degrees, without clear association to survival and inflammation. Conclusions: Bread components, especially those from yeast-fermented breads from wheat and rye, increase colitis and mortality in Casp8 ΔIEC mice highly susceptible to intestinal inflammation, whereas control mice can tolerate all types of bread without inflammation. Yet unidentified bread components other than gluten seem to play the major role.

Browse

Recent Submissions