Research

Pulse-fruit aggregate ingredients with enhanced taste, functionality and health attributes for diversified food applications

In this 3 year plan of work, we A) Develop a scalable and environmentally-friendly processing route for high quality pulse-fruit aggregate ingredients, and demonstrate their health-relevant composition, physicochemical and functional attributes and digestibility in vitro; B) Scale-up the production of one prioritized pulse-fruit aggregate ingredient to formulate mainstream pulse shelf-stable ready-to-eat products in a convenient, appealing format and C) Evaluate the pulse-fruit food product (delivery vehicle for phytoactive content and fiber) in a human clinical trial for management of MetSyn and obesity risk factors.

Funded by: USDA ARS FY2021 Pulse Crop Health Initiative

$291,336 (July 2021-June 2024)

An Integrated Evidence-based Approach to Food Allergy Preparedness

Not only has the rate of food allergies more than doubled in the last 50 years (from 3% to 7% of the global population), but the range of foods that provoke an allergic reaction has also widened, as well as the incidence of severe reactions. In this initiative, we investigate how deliberate binding and concentration of natural plant-derived proanthocyanidin-rich extracts with the edible protein’s allergenic epitopes allow formulation of hypoallergenic food protein ingredients. Our tactics will define the mechanisms and potency of proanthocyanidin molecules (monomers, dimers, trimers and oligomers) for attenuating peanut protein allergenicity and determine how the strength of the peanut protein-proanthocyanidin binding (non-covalent, or covalent) mitigates the allergic response.

Funded by: USDA NIFA (prime); NC A&T (direct)
$600,000 (05/2023-04-2026)

Age-related Cognitive Changes: Effects of Combined Flavonoid
Intake and Physical Exertion Mediated by the Gut Microbiome

Age-related cognitive changes can be the first indication of the progression to dementias, such
as Alzheimer’s. These changes may be driven by a complex interaction of factors including diet,
activity levels, genetics, and environment. Recent in vivo experiments and human clinical trials
have shown that flavonoid-rich foods can inhibit neuroinflammation and enhance cognitive
performance. Improved cognition has also been correlated with a physically-active lifestyle, and
with the functionality, composition, and diversity of the gut microbiome. This NIH NIA-funded
RO1 project’s hypothesis is that the combination of flavonoid-rich diet and routine physical
activity may potentiate cognitive benefits and reduce cognitive decline in an aging population,
via mechanisms mediated by the gut microbiome. The overall result of this project will determine how dietary flavonoids (e.g. berries) and moderate physical exertion, as reasonable diet and lifestyle modifications, can impact cognitive change in the aging population via the gut microbiome.

Funded by: NIH NIA RO1

$3M

Moving American Elderberry into Mainstream Production and Processing

Prime: USDA SCRI
Direct: University of Missouri
Sub: North Carolina State University

$5.3M (1 October 2021-31 October 2025)

VacCAP: Leveraging genetic and genomic resources to enable development of blueberry and cranberry cultivars with improved fruit quality attributes

The Vaccinium (blueberry and cranberry) industries have identified development of cultivars with improved fruit quality (firmer texture, good flavor, appealing appearance) and longer shelf life as top research priorities critical to future success. This project aims to deliver empirical data to breeders and enhanced tools to select for high fruit quality.

Funded by USDA SCRI

$13M (1 October 2019-30 September 2024)

Skin resilience from the inside out: Cutaneous anti-aging benefits of dietary wild blueberries

In this initiative, we use a novel preclinical approach to demonstrate the benefits of dietary wild blueberries to skin resilience. Wild blueberry metabolites (derived either from endogenous fermentation e.g. gut-derived after catabolism at the microbiome level, or from exogenous fermentation by lactic acid bacteria) are delivered to co-cultures of human endothelial cells and abdominoplasty tissues. WBB metabolites are delivered to endothelial cells which, like human capillaries, deliver these metabolites to the surface of fully-vascularized skin explants. The physiological and biochemical responses of epidermal layers challenged by aging, radiation, or the ravages of aerial pollutants are monitored in real time, including evaluation of oxinflammatory markers.

Funded by WBANA Research Committee

$80,494 (November 2022-June 2024 with NCE)

Enzymatic modification of pulse proteins to improve technical and health functionalities for diversified food applications

While pulse proteins (lentil and pea) are excellent and sustainable protein sources, functionality in food products can be a challenge. In this project, proteins are enzymatically modified for incorporation into plant-based yogurt products. The Lilalab’s role in this endeavor includes phytochemical characterization of candidate protein gels, and bioactivity assessments on 2 model gel alternative products (hydrolyzed lentil and hydrolyzed pea).

Funded by USDA ARS FY2022 Pulse Crop Health Initiative

$299,340 (July 2022-June 2025)

Bioactives: Key Focus Area

Integrated research in metabolomics, genomics, biochemistry, phytochemistry, pharmacogenomics, breeding and epigenetics are aimed at development and promotion of fruits, vegetables and other edible plant material with enhanced health benefits, and introduction of new or underappreciated crops and products from various sites throughout the globe, allowing consumers to make proactive, responsible dietary choices that benefit their own, and their families’ health.

Sinnovatek

Analysis of blueberry wet pomace, pomace extract & Vitero

Food Matrix Functionality

Proteins of plant (chickpea, rice, pea) or animal (whey) origin are complexed with plant polyphenols in a green chemistry approach to create meso-scale chimeric particles that can dramatically enhance the physical structure functionality of food products. The complexation process is used to steer protein aggregation to produce functionally inert particles (ingredients), resulting in improved foaming characteristics and creep recovery. These particles, when incorporated into a food matrix (e.g. protein bars), effectively extend the availability/digestibility of health-protective polyphenols and proteins in foods as well as the shelf life and optimal texture.

Funded by: NASA

Back to the River: The Science behind Alaska’s Traditional Subsistence Lifestyle

This research project features a mobile discovery lab on a riverboat, using the sled dog as a sentinel for human health and nutrition, and traversing the length of the Yukon river, visiting AK Native fish camps and other sites.

Funded by USDA ANNH

$440,998 (08/01/18-07/31/23)

Retraining the Immune System: Mitigating Allergic Responses using Hypoallergenic Peanut Protein-Polyphenol Aggregates

Funded by USDA AFRI CBG

Clean, cost-effective technology to recover and stabilize phytoactive fruit compounds from waste streams

This Small Business Innovation Phase 2 Research Project features continuous microwave-assisted extraction, pasteurization and sterilization of pomace-derived polyphenols from small fruits, and incorporation into shelf-stable functional ingredients, and clinical trial using an intervention formulated with protein-polyphenol matrix.

Funded by USDA SBIR Phase II

Commercial partner: FruitSmart.

$649,853 (Sept 2021-August 2023)

Closing the Gap in Delivery of Fruit & Vegetable Benefits

Our overall goal is to develop strategies that close the gap between present consumption levels and the health benefits of fruits and vegetables through improvement of nutritional quality and delivery. The Central Hypothesis is that expansion of strategies to include identification of genetic factors that influence bioavailability of micronutrients and phytoactives can be synergized with emerging food production technologies to deliver more nutrition and health benefits within current consumer lifestyle and dietary habits. Translation of these strategies can bridge the gap between production and consumption through generation of more effective consumer produce and products.

Funded by: Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research. Challenge Area: Making ‘My Plate’ Your Plate.
$2,005,846 (1 July 2017-30 June 2021)

Development and Analysis of Hypoallergenic Polyphenol-Edible Protein Matrices using Translational Models

Neonatal pigs exhibit allergy symptoms comparable to humans

Functional Genomics and Functional Phenotyping of Blueberry Fruits

The main goals of this project are: i) to generate blueberry genomic resources to facilitate completion of the blueberry genome assembly and to construct genetic maps to assist molecular breeding; ii) to use systems level approaches to study blueberry fruit development; iii) to study biofunctions of blueberry phytochemical profiles using a comprehensive suite of phytochemical analyses and in vitro assays; and iv) to develop and distribute news releases and educational materials, including community outreach and educational programs with local schools, to advocate wider public understanding of how research conducted at PHHI impacts human health.

Seaweed

Six species of coastal Alaskan seaweed (Alaria marginata, Fucus distichus, Pyropia fallax, Saccharina groenlandica, Saccharina latissima, and Ulva lactuca) were evaluated in multiple in vitro assay systems for their potential to attenuate diabetes and obesity, and the underlying phytochemistry that might play a role in the observed bioactivity was investigated.

Evaluation of saffron (Crocus sativa L.) as high value culinary and medicinal niche crop

A USDA NIFA 1890 Capacity Building Grant (Kentucky State prime) explores the potential to repurpose Midwestern tobacco farmlands with a highly lucrative specialty spice crop.

Funded by USDA AFRI CBG

$599,965; 12/01/18-11/30/21

Malaria

Working with the Gates Foundation’s Medicines for Malaria Venture, the Lilalab worked in conjunction with Rutgers University as well as the University of Cape Town in order to uncover new candidates in the fight against malaria.

AK/ND Education

In this project, awarded from the USDA Higher Education Challenge (HEC), the Lilalab collaborates with education experts at North Carolina State University, Rutgers University, the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and United Tribes Technical College in North Dakota to develop a lab/lecture curriculum based upon hands-on investigation and bioassays of indigenous/endemic plants of historic importance to the Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Zambia

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Nutrasorb-Zambia Project developed and validated an innovative, portable and highly stable protein-rich food source (fortified with bioactive fruit constituents and comprised of locally-available produce) to enable year-round healthy growth and development of undernourished mothers and children in Zambia and to establish the scientific foundations, network, and infrastructure to support subsequent technology transfer to facilitate sustainable regional implementation of the program in partnership with universities, entrepreneurs and government in Zambia.

Influence of 2-weeks Ataulfo mango ingestion on inflammation resolution after vigorous exercise

Funded by: National Mango Board

$179,060 Prime: ASU; subcontracts UNC-G & NCSU

Plant Pathways Elucidation Project (P2EP)

Elucidation of the genomic and metabolomic strategies and pathways taken by plants to synthesize and accumulate phytoactive compounds. P2EP is a unique public-private partnership that links industry and academic principal investigators, PhD candidates, and undergraduate scholars in transdisciplinary investigative teams, and intensive summer internship programs. Funded by: UNC GA, Duke Energy Foundation, Dole Nutrition Institute, General Mills, and more.