Healthy food, Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization;
Purification and characterization of extracellular vesicles:
A novel approach for valorisation of fruit and vegetable wastes
A well-balanced diet consisting of healthy food provides all the energy you need to keep active throughout the day. It will provide nutrients you need for growth and repair, helping you to stay strong and healthy and help to prevent diet-related illnesses. Food is the basis of health and animals and humans depend on a healthy diet to live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, insulin resistance and certain cancers. Healthy eating can help people and animals with chronic diseases manage these conditions and avoid complications. A fundamental aspect of comparative medicine is to learn from the effects of different components of the diet in different animals and humans and utilize this knowledge to improve health in different species. Furthermore, with recent developments in industries and technology, circular bioeconomy has become a buzz word in Europe with the attention towards more sustainable economic developments using biological sources. In this approach, some non-conventional technologies are being attempted to extract/ produce more valuable products from agriculture and other biological waste and by-products which will fetch high value while helping the re-circulating bioresources effectively. Plant extracellular vesicles/ vesicles have been found to contain various bioactive properties and extracting and characterizing them from various fruits and vegetable waste and by-products is a key area of research.
Fruit and vegetable wastes/ by-products obtained from the processing industries mainly contain the skin or the peel portions, seeds, and the pomace and these are excellent sources of bioactive compounds such as peptides, proteins, polysaccharides, polyphenols, antioxidants, and natural pigments as well as antimicrobial compounds. Accordingly, the afore mentioned reason makes the plant by-products a potential source for isolating EVs. Rather than using mammalian cell cells based EVs, the usage of plant EVs in large scale applications related to therapeutic, cosmetic, and food industries could be more advantageous considering their relative higher uptake efficiency on mammalian cells. Therefore, in this project we will investigate the potential of agricultural wastes and by products of different fruits and vegetables as sources of Extracellular vesicles and the EVs enriched from these sources will be characterized up to a proteomic level to understand some of the plant EV molecular cargo components (protein, RNA, metabolite and lipid).
Furthermore, studies will be conducted to determine the recovery of these Plant EVs in animal cells and their impact on mammalian tissue and cell function as therapeutics, cosmetics as well as potential source of food additives while encompassing agri-waste and their by-products valorization approach.
Fruit and vegetable wastes/ by-products obtained from the processing industries mainly contain the skin or the peel portions, seeds, and the pomace and these are excellent sources of bioactive compounds such as peptides, proteins, polysaccharides, polyphenols, antioxidants, and natural pigments as well as antimicrobial compounds. Accordingly, the afore mentioned reason makes the plant by-products a potential source for isolating EVs. Rather than using mammalian cell cells based EVs, the usage of plant EVs in large scale applications related to therapeutic, cosmetic, and food industries could be more advantageous considering their relative higher uptake efficiency on mammalian cells. Therefore, in this project we will investigate the potential of agricultural wastes and by products of different fruits and vegetables as sources of Extracellular vesicles and the EVs enriched from these sources will be characterized up to a proteomic level to understand some of the plant EV molecular cargo components (protein, RNA, metabolite and lipid).
Furthermore, studies will be conducted to determine the recovery of these Plant EVs in animal cells and their impact on mammalian tissue and cell function as therapeutics, cosmetics as well as potential source of food additives while encompassing agri-waste and their by-products valorization approach.
Project background
The field of cell biology has moved forward in the past decades, recognizing the beneficial properties of cellular structures. One such field that attracted growing attention in the past two decades are EVs, which were originally defined as “cell rubbish bags” due to the misinterpretation of their function as a waste disposal system. However, recent findings indicate that particularly in mammalian cells, EVs mediate intercellular communication by delivering biomolecules including protein cargoes, bioactive lipids, and miRNA to target recipient cells through extracellular space. As a result, incorporating this ability, it is said to be participating in many physiological and physio-pathological processes, such as signal transduction, cell cycle, immune response, inflammation, neurological disease and tumorigenesis. Although several types of EVs have been identified that can play a crucial role in mammalian cell-to-cell communication, the possible existence of EVs in plants has been a doubtful scenario, mainly due to the presence of the plant cell wall. Even though the first records of small EVs from plant apoplast (the plant extracellular fluid) runs back to as early as 1960s, the field of study has remained largely ignored until the last decade. However, with the help of advanced molecular, cellular, and proteomic techniques researchers have managed to collect a plethora of evidence to prove that plants produce EVs that are involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses and metabolism regulations. In addition, this includes defense against pathogens, transport of mRNAs, miRNAs, bioactive lipids, and proteins into animal cells, as therapeutics, conquering cross-kingdom communication. As a very recently introduced field of study, plant EVs have a critical necessity for a proper set of guidelines in their nomenclature, standard methods of isolation, characterization, concepts and pathways of origin as well as their components. The mentioned reasons open up numerous opportunities for the scientific community to conduct more and more thorough research on plant derived EVs.
To date, plant EV isolation, and characterization, derived from different plant parts such as roots, leaves, sap or juice, flesh, and seeds, which were originally taken from fruits and vegetables, as well as plant cell and tissue cultures have been used as a potential source material. But in this proposed study, the major focus is on finding possibilities of extracting plant EVs from fruits and vegetable by-products or waste which are been released out of industrial-scale manufacturing processes as well as waste lost as a result of malpractices taken place at the postharvest level which causes a negative impact on environment, economy as well as on society at different levels. Fruit and vegetable wastes/ by-products obtained from the processing industries mainly contain the skin or the peel portions, seeds, and the pomace. According to studies, these are excellent sources of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, antioxidants, and natural pigments as well as antimicrobial compounds. In addition, they are being recorded as proteins, peptides, and polysaccharides. Accordingly, the aforementioned reason makes the plant by-products a potential source for isolating EVs. Rather than using mammalian cell cultures for EV extraction, the usage of plant EVs in large scale applications related to therapeutic, cosmetic, and food industries could be more advantageous considering their relative higher uptake efficiency on mammalian cells, less cytotoxic effects, less/no detected immune reactions, biocompatibility, and biodegradability as well as cost-effectivity.
There are many potential sources of acquiring fruits and vegetable waste in Europe including the Baltic region, some of these includes wasted leaves, peels, pomace, seeds of fruits such as berries, strawberries, apples, plums, cherries and vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, rhubarb, pumpkin, tomatoes, and carrots. The seeds of olive fruits and shells/ hulls of seeds such as rapeseeds, sunflower and olive seeds are also of interest.
The proposed study will investigate the potential of agricultural waste and by products of different fruits and vegetables as sources of EVs and the EVs enriched from these sources will be characterized up to a proteomic level to understand some of the plant EV molecular cargo components (protein, RNA, metabolite and lipid). Furthermore, studies will be conducted to determine the recovery of these Plant EVs in animal cells and their impact on mammalian tissue and cell function as therapeutics, cosmetics as well as potential source of food additives. Ultimately, the findings of the study on tapping the potential of agri-food wastes and by-products as a cost-effective source for mass production of EVs will direct towards the sustainable use of renewable bioresources into high value-added functional products or the concept of “valorization”. In addition, it will identify food components that will allow improving health of animals and Human. This is a valuable knowledge in the contest of comparative medicine (Figure 6).
The field of cell biology has moved forward in the past decades, recognizing the beneficial properties of cellular structures. One such field that attracted growing attention in the past two decades are EVs, which were originally defined as “cell rubbish bags” due to the misinterpretation of their function as a waste disposal system. However, recent findings indicate that particularly in mammalian cells, EVs mediate intercellular communication by delivering biomolecules including protein cargoes, bioactive lipids, and miRNA to target recipient cells through extracellular space. As a result, incorporating this ability, it is said to be participating in many physiological and physio-pathological processes, such as signal transduction, cell cycle, immune response, inflammation, neurological disease and tumorigenesis. Although several types of EVs have been identified that can play a crucial role in mammalian cell-to-cell communication, the possible existence of EVs in plants has been a doubtful scenario, mainly due to the presence of the plant cell wall. Even though the first records of small EVs from plant apoplast (the plant extracellular fluid) runs back to as early as 1960s, the field of study has remained largely ignored until the last decade. However, with the help of advanced molecular, cellular, and proteomic techniques researchers have managed to collect a plethora of evidence to prove that plants produce EVs that are involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses and metabolism regulations. In addition, this includes defense against pathogens, transport of mRNAs, miRNAs, bioactive lipids, and proteins into animal cells, as therapeutics, conquering cross-kingdom communication. As a very recently introduced field of study, plant EVs have a critical necessity for a proper set of guidelines in their nomenclature, standard methods of isolation, characterization, concepts and pathways of origin as well as their components. The mentioned reasons open up numerous opportunities for the scientific community to conduct more and more thorough research on plant derived EVs.
To date, plant EV isolation, and characterization, derived from different plant parts such as roots, leaves, sap or juice, flesh, and seeds, which were originally taken from fruits and vegetables, as well as plant cell and tissue cultures have been used as a potential source material. But in this proposed study, the major focus is on finding possibilities of extracting plant EVs from fruits and vegetable by-products or waste which are been released out of industrial-scale manufacturing processes as well as waste lost as a result of malpractices taken place at the postharvest level which causes a negative impact on environment, economy as well as on society at different levels. Fruit and vegetable wastes/ by-products obtained from the processing industries mainly contain the skin or the peel portions, seeds, and the pomace. According to studies, these are excellent sources of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, antioxidants, and natural pigments as well as antimicrobial compounds. In addition, they are being recorded as proteins, peptides, and polysaccharides. Accordingly, the aforementioned reason makes the plant by-products a potential source for isolating EVs. Rather than using mammalian cell cultures for EV extraction, the usage of plant EVs in large scale applications related to therapeutic, cosmetic, and food industries could be more advantageous considering their relative higher uptake efficiency on mammalian cells, less cytotoxic effects, less/no detected immune reactions, biocompatibility, and biodegradability as well as cost-effectivity.
There are many potential sources of acquiring fruits and vegetable waste in Europe including the Baltic region, some of these includes wasted leaves, peels, pomace, seeds of fruits such as berries, strawberries, apples, plums, cherries and vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, rhubarb, pumpkin, tomatoes, and carrots. The seeds of olive fruits and shells/ hulls of seeds such as rapeseeds, sunflower and olive seeds are also of interest.
The proposed study will investigate the potential of agricultural waste and by products of different fruits and vegetables as sources of EVs and the EVs enriched from these sources will be characterized up to a proteomic level to understand some of the plant EV molecular cargo components (protein, RNA, metabolite and lipid). Furthermore, studies will be conducted to determine the recovery of these Plant EVs in animal cells and their impact on mammalian tissue and cell function as therapeutics, cosmetics as well as potential source of food additives. Ultimately, the findings of the study on tapping the potential of agri-food wastes and by-products as a cost-effective source for mass production of EVs will direct towards the sustainable use of renewable bioresources into high value-added functional products or the concept of “valorization”. In addition, it will identify food components that will allow improving health of animals and Human. This is a valuable knowledge in the contest of comparative medicine (Figure 6).
Figure 6. A graphical summary of the project along with the main process and beneficial outcomes and its relationship to the concept of valorization and circular bio-economy, where Agri waste products and their byproducts are used in a sustainable manner.
Project objectives
To identify and develop fruit and vegetable waste as a potential sources of plant derived EVs as a novel approach for utilization in comparative medicine for strengthening the health of an individual.
To identify and develop fruit and vegetable waste as a potential sources of plant derived EVs as a novel approach for utilization in comparative medicine for strengthening the health of an individual.
- Develop and adapt current methodologies to enrich and characterize plant derived EVs from fruit and vegetable wastes.
- Identify the best source of locally generated agriculture wastes/ by products for production of plant-based EVs.
- Investigate the bio-activities of plant-based EVs using cell based assays that can lead them beneficial as potential food additives, cosmetics or pharmaceutical applications
Integration with EMU expertise, research strategy and development
Healthy food, Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization, research theme is well integrated and supported by different chairs and programmes currently running in EMU. There are several research expertise within EMU that this research theme can take advantage of it. At the same time development and further results and technological advances gained within this research team can strengthen and further develop the overall research strategy and development of EMU research base.
EMU through the chair of Food Science and Technology is responsible for teaching and research in the areas of food chemistry and physics, food microbiology, food processing technologies and underlying processes, product development, food quality, food sensorics, and quality assurance. This particular Chair is committed to developing, enhancing, and promoting teaching and research in different areas of food technology, food chemistry, and applied microbiology to ensure sustainable development of these priority areas, and maintain the competitiveness of relevant popular study programs.
ERA Chair for Food (By) Products Valorisation Technologies (VALORTECH), an inter-unit entity that brings together know-how and technological base from Institute´s of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, is directly involved in Healthy food, Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization. The ERA Chair of the valortech is a member of the team and is directly involved with the progress of this project. This particular project is an example of two ERA Chair research projects funded by EU to work together and further enhance EMU expertise, research strategy and development in a very strategic and cross disciplinary research area.
Healthy food, Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization, research theme is well integrated and supported by different chairs and programmes currently running in EMU. There are several research expertise within EMU that this research theme can take advantage of it. At the same time development and further results and technological advances gained within this research team can strengthen and further develop the overall research strategy and development of EMU research base.
EMU through the chair of Food Science and Technology is responsible for teaching and research in the areas of food chemistry and physics, food microbiology, food processing technologies and underlying processes, product development, food quality, food sensorics, and quality assurance. This particular Chair is committed to developing, enhancing, and promoting teaching and research in different areas of food technology, food chemistry, and applied microbiology to ensure sustainable development of these priority areas, and maintain the competitiveness of relevant popular study programs.
ERA Chair for Food (By) Products Valorisation Technologies (VALORTECH), an inter-unit entity that brings together know-how and technological base from Institute´s of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, is directly involved in Healthy food, Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization. The ERA Chair of the valortech is a member of the team and is directly involved with the progress of this project. This particular project is an example of two ERA Chair research projects funded by EU to work together and further enhance EMU expertise, research strategy and development in a very strategic and cross disciplinary research area.
Project team
|
Gayandi Chulendra Manike Ekanayake Ekanayake Mudiyanselage
Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences Student |
Alireza Fazeli
Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences Supervisor |
|
Getnet Midekessa
Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences Investigator |
Kasun Godakumara
Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences Investigator |
|
Suranga Kodithuwakku
Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences Supervisor |
Rajeev Bhat
Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences Supervisor |
