RESEARCH PROJECTS

The staff of the Centre is now involved in the implementation of the following research topics and projects:

1) DB research project 857 P - Biological disinfection and preventing the formation of biofilms. - Head of research: Nadiya Boyko. Timeline: start - 01.01.2015, end - 31/12/2016.

Staff: Sarvash A.V., Bati V.V., Lyashyna K.V. Petrov V.A., Felbaba-Klushyna L.M., Sukharev S.M., Symochko L. Y., Votkalchuk K.A., Levchuk O.B.

Project description – new antibiofilm products based on selected extracts of edible plants and berries rich in biologically active substances, with proven antibiofilm, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and harmless to commensal microbiota of human mucous membranes.

2) International project COST Action FA1202

A European Network for Mitigating Bacterial Colonisation and Persistence On Foods and Food Processing Environments": www.cost.eu/domains_actions/fa/Actions/FA1202, BacFoodNet -  http://www.bacfoodnet.org/EN/Main/) - from 2013 to 2016;

3) Project description: The objective of this Action is to enable the development/promotion of targeted solutions for controlling risks associated with persistent bacteria and biofilms in the food industry. It involves a multidisciplinary network which will expand our knowledge on colonization and persistence, and validate/identify appropriate methods for monitoring colonization patterns. The knowledge obtained will be promoted to the relevant food industries and the scientific community.

The project includes four workgroups, each with a specific set of tasks:

Workgroup 1: Harmonization of tools for the analysis of colonization patterns.

Workgroup 2: Mechanisms of bacterial attachment/detachment, survival and biofilm formation on surfaces.

Workgroup 3: Stress responses vs. Resistance development and persistence.

Workgroup 4: Ways of prevention and intervention.

3) The Center is working on the project UNTC 5979 within the frameworks of an agreement between the Zabolotnyy Institute of Microbiology and Virology, NASU and Uzhhorod National University on the joint research titled "Development of lacto- and bifidobacteria based probiotics with antibacterial and immuno-modulatory properties" funded by the UNTC, 2014-2015.

The aim of the project is to develop technologies for advanced biotech drugs - probiotics based on pre-selected and characterized strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and/or bifidobacteria, which have antibacterial properties and high ability to balance the immune response in infectious and inflammatory diseases of bacterial, viral and fungal origins by induction of cytokines of different nature. This project will be achieved through research specific activity of new combinations of probiotic strains, selection of compositions with the maximum level of induction of cytokines (interleukin (IL) -4, -10, interferon (IFN) -α), capable of reducing the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines and aligning an imbalance between Th1/Th2 immune response due to infectious diseases, pre-clinical and partly clinical studies of the effectiveness of selected compounds accompanied with the recommendations for their use.

4) In cooperation with Cassovia Life Sciences, the Center participates in the European project ODiN “Food-based solutions for Optimal vitamin D Nutrition and health through the life cycle”.

Vitamin D deficiency has serious health consequences affecting the normal growth and bone integrity. Lack of knowledge in this area is an obstacle to the realization of a safe and effective strategy for the development of public health to prevent deficiency of vitamin D. Project ODiN will help preventing vitamin D deficiency in Europe and improve the nutrition and health of the population via the use of food products. Using the existing food databases based on national surveys, ODiN will delineate the effect of UV exposure and dietary sources of vitamin D. Dietary modeling will be developed using innovative food bases, to increase vitamin D in food through a combination biofortification of meat, fish, eggs, mushrooms and yeast. The project will monitor the effectiveness and safety of these foods.

The project focusses on regression analysis for the integration of standardized data on the status of vitamin D, the study of the correlation of vitamin D and the positive and negative impact on human health during pregnancy, bone growth and structure of the body in children, allergic and cardiovascular diseases and mortality in adults.

On the basis of the Center, the following research projects and coordination themes were also made:

1. International project "BaSeFood" (FP7 - scientific cooperation) on "Bioactive components in traditional foods" (from 01.04.2009 to 30.03.2012, extended until October 2012): http://www.basefood- fp7.eu.

Project description: Contest KBBE-2008-2-2-02: Biologically active substances in traditional foods: FP7-KBBE-2008-2B (food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology). Objective: Establish a European knowledge-based bio-economy society by combining science, industry and other stakeholders to use new and emerging research and capabilities to address social, environmental and economic challenges: increasing demand for more secure and healthy food, higher quality food and for sustainable production and use of available traditional and new biological resources. "BaSeFood" will contribute to the research of bioactive food components of the Black Sea region, through analytical and biological tests in the context of unification of methodology and data collection, taking into account the characteristics of the vast array of traditional foods and possible problems of consumers in order to provide information useful for health receptive context to be properly understood and used by people from interested parties.

2. State budget funded 785P research project: Determinant food and bacterial antigens in preventing diseases caused by immune disorders and metabolic processes of human body (from 01.01.2011 to 31.12.2012). Theme code: 2201040 - applied research; Section 15. Biology, biotechnology, food.

Project description: Goal: to estimate potential use in medicine and food industry of herbal food antigens (dietary tolerogenes), normal microflora species of the mucous membranes of the body (transient and commensal), and conditionally pathogenic bacteria and their derivatives as structural components of the composite mono and poly-component products (functional foods) to prevent diseases caused by human immune-metabolic disorders.

3. State budget funded828 Presearch project - Composite biological products from microorganisms, plants and nanocompounds - SECTION 15 biology, biotechnology, food. Head of research: Nadiya Boyko. State registration number of the research: 0113U002369. Timeline: beginning - 01.01.2013, end - 31.12.2014. Staff: Bati V.V., Markush N.V., Schubelko K.N., Hablo T.P., Ocheretna K.V., Baksha G.P.

Project description - creation of experimental models of plant-microbial food and medical biological products for the prevention and treatment of nutritional diseases and non-infectious human pathologies caused by metabolic disorders. Objects of research: composite ingredients of biological products and functional foods of plant origin with the associated microorganisms. Objective: to develop and offer innovative biological products and composite foods with the preset physiological effects on human health for the implementation in Ukraine and abroad. Creating composite products. Establish compatibility and  synergistic factor of all selected components of each composition of medicines and foodstuffs separately. Selection and determining the appropriateness and effectiveness of certain natural herbal nanocompounds as possible carriers, matrices and capsules for microorganisms in the medicine/food product. Completion of preclinical and limited clinical tests of both finished bioproducts, and their principal components.

4. International project CAPINFOOD (within South European Partnership): Improving the enabling environment and public awareness for innovation in the South-East-European food sector through transnational collaboration - coordinating the project (from 01.03.2011 to 28.08.2014 year): http://www.capinfood.eu

ID project: SEE/B/0027/1.3/X

Project description: The main objective of CAPINFOOD project is to improve the enabling environment for food innovation by capacity building of the supporting institutional framework and by promotion of public awareness on benefits of innovation in the food sector through transnational collaborationof national food technology platforms and related institutions. Although the food industry is crucial for SEE economies, the level of innovation in this field is unsatisfactory, partly because of unfavorable environment and the lack of public support. Barriers to innovation will be eliminated by special workgroups in 9 countries. To support institutions tools will be developed to improve management (national innovation strategies, industry expert groups on innovation, practical guides, ICT solutions) and means of improving public awareness (information campaigns, virtual forums). For the management, training courses on management of the food chain will be held, using ICT solutions in the food sector and knowledge transfer. Study visits will be organized for countries that are not EU members. SEE forum will be created for the transnational cooperation, scheduled to start after the project completion. Transnational cooperation aims to improve the level of innovation in SEE countries through transfer of experience and knowledge union.

OUR  ACHIEVEMENTS

The Center has developed and kick-started manufacture of the following bioproducts:

 Probiotic feed additive "Enteronormin"

This probiotic food additive is used in feeding livestock and poultry. Enteronormin is a nanocomposite is with synergetic effect, which includes selection strains of bacteria genus Enterococcus spp. ((109 CFU), Lactobacillus spp. and Bacillus spp. (1-5 108 CFU), plus water-soluble chitosan and enzymatic peptone. Enteronormin is used for rapid and directed formation of normal (commensal microbiota) in the intestines of animals and fowl, and stimulation of local immune response. The application Enteronormin helps normalizing metabolism and hence the growth of productivity of livestock and poultry by increasing appetite, improving absorption of vitamins and nutrients in food while decreasing production cost per unit of growth.

Synbiotic "Enteronormin-Detox"

Enteronormin - Detox is a symbiotic drug based on probiotic composite Enteronormin by adding to it autolysate of yeast (cell wall derived from live cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisae), extracts of white mustard, garlic, cinnamon and kaolin, aluminosilicate in the form of a matrix carrier of all components biological product. This drug is designed to prevent and relieve stress in conditions of intensive breeding of animals and poultry at industrial-scale animal and poultry farms. The probiotic component of Enteronormin here is represented by selected strains of bacteria of the genus Enterococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp. and Bacillus spp. (not less than 10 7 CFU) and provides prevention of the most common infectious diseases in farm animals and fowl.

Monosporyn PC

Monosporyn PC (anti-klebsiellic) is a monocomponent veterinary biological product of selective action with probiotic and immunomodulatory properties. It is characterized by high antagonistic activity against opportunistic pathogens of intestinal infections, both Gram-negative - of the genera Klebsiella spp., Enteropathogenic Escherichia spp., Salmonella spp. and Gram-positive - Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Streptococcus Group B (GBS) - Streptococcus agalactiae. Monosporyn PCs was designed based on industrial security Bacillus subtilis strain 090, isolated from the digestive tract of healthy calves.

Feed additive Batsel

This feed additive is an enzyme probiotic prepraration composed of strains of microorganisms Ruminococcus albus, Lactobacillus spp., Bacillus subtilis 8130, the availability of viable cells of at least 1·108 CFU/g. Batsell is effective through the stimulation of cellulolytic Ruminococcus albus, and the isolation by the strain of Bacillus subtilis endoglucanase enzyme 8130 that depolymerizes cellulose at the initial stages of digestion and destroys the tissue and walls of plant cells, subsequently releasing high-calorie carbohydrates, proteins and fats out of them. This feed additive helps mitigating the negative factors on food, improves their digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and fowl.

The Center maintains active cooperation with businesses. In particular, in 2015 was founded the association "Health and Wealth" whose members are: LLC "Tekhspetsbud", LLC "Temo-Group", LLC "Adverio RNK", LLC "Mantis-Fresh", LLC "Enna Ltd", LLC "Biznesforvard Ukraine Consulting Company". The creation and activity of the Association is aimed to coordinate the economic activities of its members for the sake of promotion and development of national scientific and educational system in the fields of medicine, food, technology transfer, agriculture, rural development, to improve the level of education and science of the principles of a healthy society, welfare, cultural development and represent the interests of Association members in government bodies, as well as Ukrainian and international companies and organizations. The Center cooperates with international networks EuroFIR, Food Cluster Initiative (FCI), IFR - Food & Health Network, EPMA, ETP.CommNet.

The Center an active member of the European Technology Platform 'Food for Life’ (http://etp.fooddrinkeurope.eu/asp/index.asp). The concept of ETP 'Food for Life' is that effective integration of strategically-oriented, international, collaborative research food and consumer interests, and managing food chain shall create innovative, new and improved food products for national, regional and global markets to meet the needs and expectations of consumers. This platform uses the "farm to table" approach i.e. the research, development and innovation guided by consumer demand. The idea of ​​European Technology Platform "Food for Life" is that the innovative production technology aimed at providing consumers with high quality, new or modified products with improved taste and characteristics enhance the competitiveness of European food sector and contribute to the welfare and well-being of European consumers. The significant and continuous investment are needed to support global and competitive agri-food sector, increasing the market share of high-quality European products and strengthening the leadership position by achieving surplus trade balance and creating new jobs.