CDRF’s most recent Nutrition and Health projects
The following CDRF projects seek to obtain more information about dairy components and probiotics. Eric Gershwin’s project looks at whether whey protein can enhance protection of the immune system in elderly patients against influenza virus. Dan O’Sullivan’s project uses a genomics approach to develop knowledge to maximize the survival and activity of probiotic cultures in dairy products during processing and distribution. James Steele’s project seeks to determine the advantages of fermented dairy products as a delivery vehicle to deliver the health benefits of probiotic cultures to consumers as compared to other methods such as dried cultures.
Dr. Eric Gershwin—06 Gee-01 NH
The Effect of Milk Component Supplementation on the Response to the Pneumonia Vaccine in Sr. Citizens: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled pilot study
5/15/2006–5/14/2007
Objective:
Test the ability of whey protein to improve the performance of the pneumonia vaccine in elderly patients by naturally enhancing their immune system through dietary components from milk.
Dr. Dan O’Sullivan—06 SUD-01 NH
Enhanced Stress Resistance of Bifidobacteria in Yogurt
5/1/2006–4/30/2008
Objectives:
1. Identify gene sets that are switched on over time when bifidobacteria are transferred from a neutral pH environment to a yogurt environment.
2. Identify an inducer or inducers that can switch on the different gene sets prior to transfer to yogurt.
3. Test the effectiveness of the pre-treatments on different bifidobacteria that are used as probiotics.
4. Identify genes important for probiotic functionality that are induced during yogurt manufacture and storage.
Dr. James Steele—06 STJ-01-NH Phase 1
Phase 1: Substantiating Advantages of Fermented Milks as Delivery Vehicles for Bifidobacterium
10/1/2005–12/1/2006
Objective:
1. Compare survival of B. lactis propagated in milk as monoculture and in combination with yogurt cultures vs those propagated in lab media when challenged with gastric and duodenal juices
2. Compare S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii as described above.
