Institute Update
Science and Governance
We are delighted that the review panel agrees with us that our core expertise
and capability provides a critical mass of researchers, and that our future
governance should be via partnerships with the university sector, which
further develops the coherence of this strategically important research
area.
We are also very pleased that the review panel confirms the movement
of three of the major research programmes from ‘High National’ to ‘International’ standard.
We are in the process of making a number of new appointments including senior
positions in immunology and nutrition, as recommended in the review.
Moving
forward, we are undertaking useful discussions with potential university
partners. We have a clear mandate to explore the scope for working even
more closely with the University of East Anglia. Clearly, this is a complex
process and our proposals will be considered at the July meeting of BBSRC
Council.
“The
closer integration of IFR with the University of East Anglia would appear to
be an obvious, though not the only, choice and helpful discussions are underway
with senior university staff and our Governing Body to progress the concept” comments
IFR Director, Professor David White.
“We are looking forward to the challenge
of the next two years and the intellectual opportunities that the recommendations
will bring”.
Top science and industry figures join IFR Governers
Stephan Strobel, Professor of Post-Graduate Clinical Education and Director
of the Peninsula Postgraduate Health Institute, Plymouth has published
extensively in the field of mucosal immunoregulation (oral tolerance) and
its application to children with immunodysregulatory and allergic disorders.
He is a member of many national and international committees, including
the Scientific Panel on Nutrition, Dietetics and Allergy of the European
Food Safety Authority and is chairing its Working Group on Food Allergies.
David Gregory has worked with Marks & Spencer
for 24 years and as Technical Director is responsible for ensuring Marks & Spencer’s
foods are technically innovative, safe and consistently meet high quality standards.
He is responsible for a team of over 70 technical specialists in fields as diverse
as animal welfare, pesticides, fish sourcing, nutrition and material science.
Mr Gregory is a Chartered Scientist, a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner
and a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology. David has served
on a number of Government bodies including DEFRA’s Research Priorities
Group, The Chemistry Leadership Council and is currently Chairman of DEFRA’s
Quality and Innovation Link Programme.
Mike Sternberg has joined the Governing
Body’s Scientific sub-committee to provide expertise in bioinformatics.
Professor Sternberg is Head of Imperial College London’s Centre for Bioinformatics
and of their Structural Bioinformatics Group. This year also marks the departure
from the GB of Professor John Mathers from the University of Newcastle and Dr
David Clark, CEO of DMV International Americas; we thank them both for their
very considerable service to IFR.
'Workhorse' MG1363
gives up its secrets
The MG1363 strain was developed to overcome problems of genetic instability
that thwarted early work on the genetics of Lactococcus.
The strain has been used as a cell factory to produce many different
proteins and peptides. It has a relatively simple metabolism that can be
rerouted to make useful metabolites such as vitamins and amino acids. It
has been used to develop novel antimicrobial compounds and as a GI-tract
delivery vehicle for bioactive compounds. For example, MG1363 was used
to pioneer the delivery of vaccine antigens and immune modulators in the
gut. The biotechnological techniques and tools developed in MG1363 have
been shown to be effective in other LAB as well as unrelated bacteria such
as Bacillus and Clostridium, which have important industrial
uses. MG1363 has also helped in the study of human pathogens such as Listeria.
Study of the genome has given insights into its evolution and fitness.
The present day genome contains elements that are essential for its growth
in milk, but it also carries a number of genes that allow it to metabolise
a variety of plant-derived sugars, suggesting its ancestor was more associated
with plants. Other LAB inhabit plant-based niches or derive nutrition from
plants.
|
Genome atlas of the chromosome
of L.lactis MG1363 |
Comparative genomics will provide information about how the various strains
of LAB have adapted to their environment, and how they use available nutrients.
The genome sequence will also facilitate current and future work that aims
to exploit MG1363 for a variety of medical and health maintenance applications.
Contact: Mike Gasson
Further reading: Wegmann et al. (2007) Complete genome sequence
of the prototype lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363.
Journal of Bacteriology 189 3256-3270
Collaboration: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre
and Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland; Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute; Center for Biotechnology,
Bioinformatics Resource Facility, Universität
Bielefeld
Funding: BBSRC Core Strategic Grant; Higher Education Authority and Science
Foundation Ireland (PRTLI Cycle 3, 04/BRB0647). EMBARK postdoctoral fellowship.
IOP Genomics grant IGE01018.
Allergy molecule identified
Scientists led by Claudio Nicoletti have found that a molecule called
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is absent during allergic responses. They suggest
that by delivering an allergen in the presence of IL-12, allergic reactions
could be brought back under control.
 |
Professor Claudio Nicoletti |
“A food protein can be perfectly harmless to one person and lethal
to another, said Prof. Nicoletti. “We have identified the missing
molecule that normally keeps immune responses under control and appropriate.”
Having a food allergy means that the immune system responds to a food
protein as if it was harmful. The immune system produces immunoglobulin
E (IgE) antibodies, which normally help the body fight parasites. In the
most severe cases individuals can suffer life-threatening reactions, including anaphylactic
shock.
In previous research, his team found that special types of white blood
cells called dendritic cells are important in helping the immune system
decide on how to respond to foreign molecules. In the latest research,
the team compared the activity of dendritic cells in the gut and in the
spleen of allergic and allergy-resistant mice, and found that in the gut
of susceptible mice dendritic cells have stopped producing IL-12.
“We have identified a molecule that is very important for the regulation
of immune response and for the first time clearly represents a potential
target for the therapy of allergy. This is currently under investigation”,
said Prof. Nicoletti.
Contact: Claudio Nicoletti
Further reading: Temblay, J. N., Bertelli, E.,
Arques, J. L., Regoli, M. & Nicoletti, C. (2007) Production of IL-12 by Peyer’s patch-dendritic
cells is critical for the resistance to food allergy. Journal of Allergy & Clinical
Immunology in press
Funding: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences
Research Council and intramural funds of the University of Siena
Botulism bug has few
genome wrinkles
C. botulinum normally lives either as a
dormant spore or as a scavenger of
decaying material in the soil.
Occasionally it grows and forms
neurotoxin in food, with consumption of
as little as 30ng of pre-formed
neurotoxin sufficient to lead to
foodborne botulism. C. botulinum can
also cause an infection by getting into a
living animal via contaminated food or an
open wound. Botulism is a serious and
sometimes fatal disease. There are
several groups of C. botulinum; although
described as variants of a single
species, they are really very different
organisms linked simply because they
produce the deadly toxin. For each type,
there is also a near-identical but
harmless relative that lacks the toxin. C.
sporogenes is the non-neurotoxigenic,
near twin of the organism sequenced.
Collaborative work to sequence the
genome, involving Mike Peck’s team at
IFR, has shown that although in the
same genera as Clostridium difficile –
the Cdiff superbug – C. botulinum is
remarkable because its genome is so
stable. Unlike Cdiff, in which many of
the genes have been recently acquired
from other bacteria, there is almost no
footprint of this in C. botulinum. Mike
Peck comments that “It is astonishing
that 43% of the predicted genes in the
C. botulinum genome are absent from
the other five sequenced clostridia, and
only 16% of the C. botulinum genes are
common to all five clostridia. Our
findings emphasise just how different
clostridia are from each other.” This
remarkable, stable genome demonstrates
the wide range of strategies used by
bacteria to enhance their chances of
survival. For the clostridia, these range
from the approach used by C. difficile –
long-term interaction with hosts, which
involves evading the immune system,
acquiring DNA, and countering antibiotics
– to the single-minded opportunistic
approach of C. botulinum.
More than 110 of its set of almost 3700
genes are used to control spore formation
and germination when the opportunity
arises. The genome contains many genes
that encode for enzymes to digest
proteins and other material in the soil.
Also found, for the first time in a
sequenced clostridia, is a series of genes
that allow it to digest the many insects
and other small creatures that live in the
soil. The ‘chitinases’ encoded for by these
genes can degrade the casing of insects
and small crustaceans.
Contact: Mike Peck
Further reading: Sebaihia M et al. (2007)
Genome sequence of a proteolytic (Group I) Clostridium botulinum strain
Hall A and comparative analysis of the clostridial genomes.
Genome Research 17 1082-1092
Participating Centres: Wellcome Trust Sanger
Institute, Cambridge; IFR; University of Nottingham;
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh; Bureau of Microbial
Hazards, Health Canada
Funding: Wellcome Trust, BBSRC Core Strategic
Grant, CRTI-IRTC Operating Grant
Innovation grant for
Coressence and IFR
DTI Innovation Grants are awarded on the basis of competitions in specific
technology
priority areas that are considered of critical importance to the UK economy.
Coressence is developing ingredients for the functional foods industry,
which contain
health giving nutrients from its own specially selected fruit varieties,
and has been working
with the IFR since 2004. The project will see the systematic testing and
commercial development of fruit phytonutrients. Building on previous work,
the project will focus on
the identification of new fruit varieties containing high concentrations
of polyphenols, now
known to provide cardiovascular, digestive health and cognitive health
benefits.
Coressence will also supply selected fruits to IFR scientist Paul Kroon,
which will be used
in human intervention trials in the EU-funded FLAVO project. Additionally,
the company is
providing industrial funding for a BBSRC CASE Studentship starting in October
2007.
Nitrogen testing to help
authenticate organic crops
The UK’s Food Standards Agency has
been funding research to compare the
nitrogen isotope profile of produce grown
organically and conventionally. Synthetic
nitrogen fertilisers can leave
a characteristic ‘nitrogen signature’ that
can be detected by mass spectrometry.
But IFR’s Simon Kelly comments that the
signature depends on the crop.
“The nitrogen isotope profiles of carrots
grown organically are similar to those of
carrots grown conventionally. This may be
because carrots have a lower nitrogen
requirement. Field growth, rather than
growth in a protected environment,
also exposes the carrots to
many other variables,
such as climate and soil
type.”
Conventionally
grown tomatoes are
often grown
hydroponically,
and receive a constant
stream of synthetic nitrogen
fertiliser. They are protected from the
influences of other nitrogen sources and
have a very different nitrogen isotope
profile to organically grown tomatoes.
Additional funding is required to develop
the test to improve the reliability across a
range of crops including the addition of
other elements, which are indicative of
conventional and organic agriculture.
When the test has been made more
reliable, we may get to the stage where
it can be used routinely in addition to
the organic certification system.
The researchers have pointed out that
fertilisers were only one small aspect of
organic farming and a nitrogen signature
cannot unequivocally rule on ‘organic’ or
‘non-organic’.
Contact: Simon Kelly
Further reading: Bateman, A. S., Kelly, S.
D.& Woolfe, M. (2007) Nitrogen isotope composition of
organically and conventionally grown crops. Journal
of Agricultural & Food Chemistry 55 2664-2670
Bateman, A. S., Kelly, S. D. & Jickells, T. D. (2005)
Nitrogen isotope relationships between crops and
fertilizer: implications for using Nitrogen isotope
analysis as an indicator of agricultural regime.
Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry 53 5760-
5765
Collaboration: University of East Anglia and Food
Standards Agency
British Bioalcohols Group launched
BBG aims to exploit agri-food-chain biomass such as wheat or oilseed
rape straw for the
production of second generation bioalcohols. Using waste or co-product
materials
maximises bioalcohol production whilst minimising competition with the
food industry.
It provides research in support of the new low carbon fuel
industry and seeks to help make the UK a leader in lowcarbon
transport. The BBG is a multidisciplinary
collaboration between scientists from the University of East
Anglia, IFR and John Innes Centre. The group works closely
with the Norwich Research Park-based company,
Renewables East, which fosters commercial development of
low-carbon technologies.
The group has experts in enzyme and microbial technologies,
biochemistry, fermentation, bio-materials, plant genomics and breeding,
biofuel technologies
and life cycle analysis required for second generation biofuel development.
www.britishbioalcoholsgroup.nrp.org.uk
Enzymes in Grain Processing
esEGP, launched in 1996, provides a forum for researchers and technologists
across
academia and industry to facilitate the exchange of ideas and shape future
directions for
the use of enzymes in grain processing. The 2008 Symposium (31 March -
2 April
http://www.ifr.ac.uk/esEGP5/) is being organised by IFR, in Norwich, with
a focus on the
use of enzymes in traditional (baking, brewing) and emerging (functional
foods, biofuels)
grain technologies, the use of “-omics” technologies, and the
development and regulation
of novel enzymatic biotoolsto process grains. Sponsorship opportunities
are available –
to find out more contact Craig Faulds and Nathalie Juge or the conference
secretariat at
e-mail esegp5@bbsrc.ac.uk.
Food & Health Network - Clusters
An Allergy Cluster Meeting on Standardisation of
allergen analysis and approaches to allergen management will be held on Tuesday 24 July at MRC
Headquarters, London.
NEW for 2007 - Conferences
Come and join us in London or Leeds to hear
from IFR scientists on: 101 Reasons why Salmonella & Campylobacter genomics
are important for the food industry
- 9 October Keyworth Centre, London
- 6 November Royal Armouries, Leeds
Conferences are open to
FHN Members (£50 + VAT)
Non-Members alike
(£150 + VAT)
and will take place from 2-5pm.
To reserve your place at an FHN event, please visit the FHN website and
complete the electronic registration form or contact Lesley
Swift - lesley.swift@bbsrc.ac.uk.
People and places
Science Funding
– You Decide
As part of IFR’s Outreach
programme, a public audience was recently invited to vote for the science
they would fund.
At a venue in Norwich called ‘The Garage’, and hosted by BBC
Radio 4 presenter Anna
Hill, four Institute of Food Research scientists ran the gauntlet after
a presentation by
Dr Mary Anderson (Head of Contracts) explaining how science funding works
in the UK.
 |
Jeff Temblay |
Prof. Jay Hinton, Caroline Furniss, Jeff Temblay and Dr Liz Lund each
had 10 minutes to
convince the audience to vote for their research proposal. Jay spoke about
a previously
unsuccessful grant proposal on Salmonella, supported by Edwina Currie.
Caroline,
supported by Dr Ian Gibson MP, talked about a funded research project investigating
the
anti-cancer properties of broccoli. Jeff (a third year PhD student) also
presented a
previously funded proposal looking at the effect of probiotics on the incidence
of asthma,
supported by Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital Consultant, Andrew
Wilson. Finally,
Dr Liz Lund invented a proposal on the effects of eating undercooked or
overcooked meat, endorsed by Norfolk celebrity chef, Galton Blackiston.
The voiceover endorsements were pre-recorded, and then played as part
of the presentations.
Jeff Temblay won, securing 51% of the votes cast.
IFR scientists Jack Dainty and Dr Gene Rowe are currently analysing the
results of the questionnaires, which asked the audience why they voted
the
way they did.
Recognition
Clare Mills has been promoted to Band 3 (Personal Merit Promotion)
with effect from 1 July 2007. Promotions to Band 3 are as a result of
application to BBSRC and have a rigorous process involving exclusively
external assessors of international standing. The letter from BBSRC
paid tribute to the outstanding work and leadership that Clare has
shown in the Institute and beyond.
Ian Johnson has received the JK Puri Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award
for his
work on glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, at the 12th International
Rapeseed Congress in Wuhan, China. During the 1980s, Ian Johnson
and Roger Fenwick launched a substantial programme of research on
phytochemicals at IFR. In 2004, Ian’s team published work that showed
that allyl isothiocyanate, the compound responsible for giving mustard
and horseradish its bitter taste, could kill cancerous cells in a way
similar to some anti-cancer drugs.
Colin Hanfrey recently chaired a
US Gordon Research
Conference Graduate
Research Seminar
on Polyamines.
David White recently chaired
‘Nutrients in our Food’ at the University of
Cambridge’s ‘Horizon’ conference on
‘Foodomics’.
Data Protection
Copyright & Data Protection www.ifr.ac.uk/copyright.html
Contact Us
Communications Team
Norwich BioSciences Institutes
Colney, Norwich NR4
7UA, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1603 255328
Fax: +44 (0)1603 255168
Media Enquiries to Zoe Dunford (Media Manager)
Tel +44 (0)1603 255111 or Andrew Chapple (Assistant Press Officer)
Tel +44 (0)1603 251490
General Enquiries to the Communications Team
email: ifr.communications@bbsrc.ac.uk
E-mail addresses are
forename.surname@bbsrc.ac.uk
At Spring Fling in
Norfolk, an annual
schools event, over 3000
children had the chance
to explore the theme of
“taste”. IFR scientists
explained the difference
between taste and
flavour and how smell
was related to taste, and volunteers from
the John Innes Centre tested people’s
sense of smell by asking them to recognise
ten everyday aromas and match them to
the plant they came from. 
IFR recently co-sponsored
the 2nd annual ‘Sense about
Science’ lecture given in
London by Raymond Tallis
FMedSci, Emeritus Professor of Geriatric
Medicine at University of Manchester on
‘Longer, healthier, happier? Human needs,
human values and science’.
An allergic
reaction occurs
when the body’s
immune system
overreacts to a
particular allergen.
Cytokine IL-12
has the potential
to beneficially modulate the immune
response but, although it can be
administered systemically, this route has
toxic effects in human and animals. If we
can express and deliver bioactive cytokine
IL-12 to the gut mucosa, we hope to
produce smart probiotics that can be
given orally without the toxic side effects.