Category Archives: Agriculture & Food Processing

Dairy, farm equipment, pest management, plant biology, etc.

Omega Munch

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Omega Munch, a naturally gluten free – organic fruit and seed snack is perfect for any time of day. Omega Munch combines organic flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and quinoa with delicious raisins, all in a shape convenient for snacking on the go! A low-calorie food, Omega Munch is an excellent source of fiber and provides real fruit, protein, and heart-healthy omega-3s (without that fish oil aftertaste).

Omega Munch doesn’t just provide great nutrition—it also tastes great! Unlike other seed snacks, Omega Munch has a chewy yet crunchy texture and a nutty, fruity flavor. The final formulation for Omega Munch was optimized by a team of Ohio State University food science students.   The team was recently a finalist in the Product Development Competition at the 2011 meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists.

Nutritional Information

A serving size of Omega Munch (5 pieces) contains 120 calories, 8 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 4 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugar, 3 g protein, and 5 mg sodium.

Ingredients

Organic Thompson Raisins, Organic Brown Flax Seeds, Organic Sesame Seeds (Roasted), Organic Sunflower Seeds (Roasted), Organic Red Quinoa, Water, Cornstarch, Blueberry Fiber, Organic Cayenne Pepper, Organic Ancho Chili Pepper, Organic Garlic Powder, Organic Chipotle Pepper, Sea Salt and Organic Black Pepper.

Sensory Testing

Sensory testing was performed to optimize the level of spiciness or for the product and to evaluate the attributes of the final product.

Shelf Life

Shelf life study revealed that Omega Munch maintains microbiological and oxidative stability for a long period of time. Pathogen testing of the production facilities and the product will still be conducted periodically. Based upon initial observations and the product  is shelf stable.  No noticeable changes in flavor were perceived after more than 30 days of storage.

*Additional nutritional information, sensory testing data, cost analyses, packaging, storage, and processing information are available upon request.  *

Insecticidal Crystal Proteins with Enhanced Toxicity

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Summary:

Researchers at The Ohio State University developed a way to modify Bt Cry4Ba proteins, or mutant toxins, which have toxicity-enhancing sequence modifications at one or more positions within the amino acid sequence of the protein. The invention generally relates to modified Bt insecticidal crystal proteins, also referred to as mutant toxins, with enhanced toxicity against a variety of insect genera, particularly mosquitoes. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding modified Cry4Ba and proteins. Another capability of this invention is the insecticidal compositions comprising mutant toxins with a new or broadened insecticidal spectrum, and insecticidal compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding the modified Cry4Ba proteins. The use of protein engineering and site-directed mutagenesis has generated several-fold improvement of insecticidal crystal protein from Bacillus Thuringiensis. Moreover, since this family of proteins is expressed from a natural enemy of insects, they serve as excellent biological insecticides.

Potential Applications:

  • Biological insecticide development
  • Human disease management
  • Insect genetics

Advantages:

  • Efficient control of mosquito vectors carrying the west Nile Virus and malaria.
  • Improvement of the insecticidal crystal protein from Bacillus Thuringiensis.
  • Toxicity-enhancing sequence modfications at one or more positions within the amino acid sequence of protein.
  • Insecticidal compositions comprising mutant toxins with a new insecticidal spectrum.
  • Polynucleotides encoding modified Cry4Ba and proteins

Oligonucleotide Primer and Probe for Specific Detecting of Alicyclobacillus spp. Using Real-time PCR

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Summary:

Researchers at the Ohio State University have developed a real-time PCR-based rapid detection system for Alicyclobacillus spp.; the microbe responsible for about 10% of our food supplies lost every year due to food spoilage. Recently this group of bacteria is receiving great attention from food industry, because of its association with spoilage in processed acid foods such as juices and purees. The first probe-and-primer set for PCR is specific for the genus Alicyclobacillus. Using the above method, the presence of less than 100 cells has been detected in a juice system within hours. Rapid detection system for a major foodborne pathogen is also available.

Potential Applications:

Detecting infestations of Alicyclobacillus spp. to prevent food spoilage and food loss.

Advantages:

Fast and reliable method for detecting the presence of contaminating bacteria.

Separation Techniques for Produce Processing

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Summary:

Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed revolutionary methods for applicable one-step skin removal to a variety of fruits and vegetables. Our methods employ ohmic fields to clearly lyse and separate the skin from the flesh. Unlike other methods that degrade a percentage of the flesh along with the skin and/or require post processing effluent treatment, the OSU methods require significantly less acid for processing, which can be recycled back into the process. Bench-scale prototype has produced successful small scale results.

Potential Applications:

Commercial use for companies in produce processing industry

Advantages:

  • Factor of 10 reduction in lye use
  • Maintains integrity of produce peeled
  • Peel recovered for use in other products
  • Reduction in operator hazards and caustic biowaste
  • Requires minimum factory retooling and up-front capital

Phragmoplastin and methods of examining cell plate development

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Summary:

The cell plate is a disc-like structure that is present only in dividing plant cells. Since cell plates are found only in plant cells, it is hoped that herbicides which directly and specifically block or interfere with cell plate development will be specific to plants and less hazardous to animals that may be exposed to such herbicides. Unfortunately, identifying such herbicides is hampered by a scarcity of tools and methods for rapidly and easily monitoring the effect of such herbicides on cell plate development.

Currently cell plate development is examined using phase contrast microscopy. However, some of the early stages of cell plate formation are difficult to examine using this tool. Cell plate development is also monitored by microscopic techniques in which the cells are first fixed and then incubated with aniline blue to stain the callose polysaccharide, which is a component of the cell wall. However, because callose is not deposited on the cell plate until the later stages of cell plate development, this technique also is not useful to monitor the early stages of cell plate formation and development.

The present invention provides new tools and methods for identifying herbicides and potential herbicides which affect cell plate formation and development. A new protein, phragmoplastin, has been discovered which is associated with cell plate membrane vesicles during cytokinesis. By visualizing the phragmoplastin, one is able to examine the development of the cell plate particularly in response to herbicides or potential herbicides. One method of visualizing phragmoplastin employs immunocytochemical techniques with anti-phragmoplastin antibodies. Another method of visualizing phragmoplastin employs cells which are transformed with a DNA molecule which encodes a chimeric phragmoplastin protein comprised of phragmoplastin and a luminescent tag or protein, fused to the phragmoplastin protein. The phragmoplastin in such cells is visualized by examining the cells under conditions which cause the marker to become visible such as by fluorescent microscopy.

Potential Applications:

Development of herbicides.

Advantages:

Herbicides that attack the cell plate will be less hazardous to humans and animals.

Modified Serial Analysis of Ribosomal Sequence Tags (mSARST)

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Summary:

Knowledge of bacterial diversity is a critical step in understanding and manipulating microbial communities and processes, ranging from environmental bioremediation to improving human health. Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a diagnostic tool for identifying diverse bacterial profiles from a wide variety of samples. The method provides both quantitative and qualitative information in a high throughput format. Unlike the current method, the OSU method is easily adaptable to high throughput kit format and can be used to design micro-arrays.

Potential Applications:

  • Characterization of any type of microbial community irrespective of the level of complexity.
  • Comprehensive studies of human gastrointestinal microbiology in support of the prediction and diagnosis of illness and disease.
  • Comprehensive analysis and monitoring of the temporal or spatial changes in microbial diversity in complex natural and managed microbial communities, for quality control and quality assurance purposes.
  • Fundamental studies of microbial ecology.

Advantages:

  • Provides more detailed, rapid and cost effective analysis of bacterial diversity and community structure
  • Offers up to 20-fold increase in throughput

    • Bias and chimera formation associated with PCR-based analysis is minimized.

  • RSTs can be used to design microarrays for further analysis.
  • Procedure can be packaged into a commercial reagent kit.

New Antibiotic Discovered from Novel Bacterial Strain

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Summary:

There is an urgent need for new antibiotics as resistance to currently available drugs is growing. Researchers at The Ohio State University have identified a novel antimicrobial agent, paenibacillin, from a newly identified bacterial strain. The newly identified compound has potential for use against drug resistant pathogens. The compound was isolated from Paenibacillus polymyxa and identified as a novel member of the lantibiotic class of antibiotics. Lantiotics have been known and used for many years in food production; their instability at higher physiological pH has historically made them unsuitable for medical use. Over 50 years of use in the food industry has not developed known drug resistance. The newly discovered compound contains a much more highly modified peptide than other lantibiotics and has shown increased thermal and alkaline stability and excellent water solubility that may make it suitable for medical therapeutic use. Paenibacillin has been shown to have considerable antimicrobial potency against numerous Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including food-borne and antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Potential Applications:

  • Pharmaceutical use against drug resistant bacteria
  • Food industry
  • Animal Feed

Separation Techniques for Produce Processing

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Summary:

Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed revolutionary methods for applicable one-step skin removal to a variety of fruits and vegetables. Our methods employ ohmic fields to clearly lyse and separate the skin from the flesh. Unlike other methods that degrade a percentage of the flesh along with the skin and/or require post processing effluent treatment, the OSU methods require significantly less acid for processing, which can be recycled back into the process. Bench-scale prototype has produced successful small scale results.

Potential Applications:

Food processing and consumer applications

Advantages:

  • Factor of 10 reduction in lye use
  • Maintains integrity of produce peeled
  • Peel recovered for use in other products
  • Reduction in operator hazards and caustic biowaste
  • Requires minimum factory retooling and up-front capital

A real-time method & device for detecting the movements of animals

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Summary:

Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed revolutionary methods in tracking animal movements in real-time. This wireless detection device can be continuously worn by the animal, and measures the animals movements when the animal is standing still, walking or lying down. The compatible software interprets the animal’s movements to give a measurement of health for evaluation by the animal caregiver. Unlike current methods that only measure a subset of animal movements and require a lot of human interpretation, the OSU software produces real-time results. This device was designed for use in the dairy cattle industry, but has a broad range of applications, especially in the post-surgery veterinary field where the device can be used to monitor recovery activities of animals.

Potential Applications:

  • veterinary surgery & recovery
  • equine industry
  • Applications in feedlots

Advantages:

  • Distinguishes between standing still, walking and laying down
  • PC based software for wireless device interpretation
  • Water proof, rugged and durable to be used with animals
  • Data back-up for one week
  • Minimal cost to end user

Methods for Inducing Production of Isoflavone Levels in Plants Using Nuclear Receptor Ligands

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Summary:

Currently, a serious problem affecting modern agriculture crop production is the prevalence of plant diseases caused by infectious agents. The most common strategy involves application of chemical or biological agents to the surface of plants. Although such agents can be effective, their effectiveness in adverse weather conditions can be significantly diminished. A second strategy involves genetically-engineering plants to produce substances toxic to plant pathogens. Genetically modifying these plants has been publicly scrutinized and hampers the popularity of this method.

Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a method for inducing production of isoflavone levels in plants using nuclear receptor ligands. Isoflavones have been proven to be beneficial to both human and plant health. The method comprises applying a formulation having a phytologically acceptable carrier and an effective amount of a compound as a “loader” to the plant. The loader is actually a nuclear receptor ligand. This approach eliminates the use of the traditional methods that have been scrutinized in the past for negative environmental impacts.

Potential Applications:

  • Crop Production
  • Plant Disease control

Advantages:

  • Alternative to pesticides
  • Alternative to genetically modifying plants