Location: Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory
2025 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Determine the impact of species and roasting on composition of coffee and determine potential effects of coffee composition on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and bacteria-induced intestinal infection. [NP107, C3, PS3B, C4, PS4A].
Sub-Objective 1.A: To determine the impact of species and roasting on the composition of coffee.
Sub-Objective 1.B: To investigate the potential effects of coffee compounds and composition differences on bacteria-induced intestinal infection.
Sub-Objective 1.C: To investigate the potential effects of coffee with different compound compositions on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Objective 2. Determine the impact of genetics and growing conditions on composition of microgreens and whether the difference in microgreen composition affects NAFLD and bacteria-induced intestinal infection. [NP107, C3, PS3B, C4, PS4A].
Sub-Objective 2.A. To determine the effect of different species of microgreens on NAFLD and bacteria-induced intestinal infection.
Sub-Objective 2.B. To determine the effects of microgreens grown in different growing conditions on intestinal infection and development of NAFLD.
Approach
We propose to use coffee and Brassica microgreens as food models to address the Objectives. The hypotheses related to health end points will be tested using a rodent Cr infection model and a high-fat diet-induced None Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) to assess 1) whether differences in profiles of bioactive compounds arise from the impact of species/genetics and growing/processing conditions and 2) whether these differences lead to differential effects on intestinal infection and development of NAFLD. Molecular and pathological markers for infection, inflammation, lipid metabolism and NAFLD will be determined to assess the effcts of treatments. Metagenomics analysis will be used to elucidate the effects of diet on the gut micrbiome and correlation with health endpoints. Addtionally, trascriptomics, proteomics and metabolomicds analysis of tissues, plasma will be performed to elcucidate bioavailaility of specific nutrients and to provide in-depth detail of mechnisms of action exterted by coffee and microgreens.
Progress Report
The project utilized coffee and microgreens as model food/ beverage to elucidate the effects of genetics, growing conditions on bioactive components and the impact of changes in components on health.
In support of Objective 1, high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) methods were developed to investigate the composition and differential changes of alkaloids, amino acids, javamide-II, phenolics, and related bioactive compounds in light, medium, and dark roast Arabica beans. Using principal component analysis (PCA) statistical analysis, distinct differences in compositions between light, medium, and dark roast beans were observed. Furthermore, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed that many alkaloids, amino acids, javamide-II, phenolics, and related bioactive compounds were altered by the roasting process. The differences in these compounds in each coffee sample were reduced by the roasting process. During roasting, well-known antioxidant compounds (e.g., 3-, 4- and 5-CQA, 5-FQA, N-caffeoyltyrosine, javamide-II) were reduced, but some neuroactive compounds (e.g., dopa, methyldopa, norharman, acetyl-beta-carboline, 4-methoxy-2(1H)-quinolinone) were significantly increased. Data support that roasting may have significant impacts on many bioactive compounds related to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroactive activities, and may impact different biological pathways in the host when ingested.
In support of Objective 1, research continues on the investigation of bioavailability of various coffee compounds, including amino acids, dipeptides, and javamide-I/-II derivatives, using cell culture models. The peptide transporter 2 (Pept2) was identified as a candidate protein involved in the transport of coffee compounds and dipeptides, including tryptophan dipeptide. Importantly, the esterification of the dipeptides was found to enhance the transport of tryptophan and inhibit inflammatory cytokines in monocyte/macrophage-like cells.
In support of Objective 2, research continued testing the hypothesis that light conditions may influence the growth of microgreens. The effects of light conditions on microgreens' growth were assessed in collaboration with researchers at Beltsville, Maryland. Broccoli, kale, and red cabbage microgreens were grown in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) conditions with light as the variable. The light conditions assessed were 100% white light, 40% white light plus 60% blue light, or 60% far-red light. Microgreens were grown under different light conditions and harvested 11 days after seeding. Fresh mass, stem length, leaf length, and width, as well as leaf number, were determined to elucidate the effects of different light conditions. Interestingly, different microgreens as well as the growth parameters appeared to respond to light conditions differently. Broccoli and kale fresh mass were more sensitive to far-red light than red cabbage. In contrast, red cabbage yields most fresh mass under 100% white light conditions. Broccoli and red cabbage microgreens’ stem length was significantly higher (2X) under far-red growing conditions than white or blue light, while kale was less responsive. Blue light exposure appeared to be the least optimal growing condition compared to other light conditions. All growth parameters assessed for blue light growing conditions were significantly lower in broccoli, kale, and red cabbage microgreens when compared to other light conditions. Overall, the results provide specific light and species information for growing microgreens under CEA conditions. Additional work on light conditions’ impact on various nutrient levels is ongoing.
In addition to Objectives 1 and 2, researchers at Beltsville, Maryland, collaboratively identified protein regions that contributed to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) pathogenesis. Antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus contribute to ~$2 billion in health care costs annually in the United States, identifying alternatives to overcome antibiotics resistance requires an in-depth understanding of the mechanism by which bacteria act. The collaboration utilized molecular biology to create mutants of the protein- Staphylococcus aureus protein serine rich adhesin for platelets (SraP) to elucidate the mechanism. The SraP L-lectin module region was identified to be critical contributor of S. aureus elicited macrophage immune responses. This work provides mechanistic information for specific proteins that contribute to S. aureus infection and provides science-based information to allow for development of non-antibiotic inhibitors specifically targeting this region to prevent antibiotic-resistant S. aureus infection.
Accomplishments
1. Effects of growing stages on health-promoting bioactive components in kale were identified. Kale at different growth stages is commercially available, but the influence of growing stages on bioactive components may influence their health-promoting potential. Researchers in Beltsville, Maryland, compared the amounts of bioactive components in kale from different stages of growth. This work highlights that growing stages can influence the quantity, variety of bioactive components, which may impact the efficacy of kale. Basic and translation scientists in the field of nutrition and medicine will benefit from the information. This also benefits consumers by providing science-based information for consumers to make food choices based on selected bioactive components.
Review Publications
Park, J.B., Peters, R.C. 2025. Transport of tryptophan dipeptide derivatives and impact on inflammatory cytokines in monocyte/macrophage-like cells. Heliyon. 11(5). Article e43000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e43000.
He, S., Li, R.W., Wang, T.T., Ding, L. 2025. The ligand binding domain of the cell wall protein SraP modulates macrophage apoptosis and inflammatory responses in staphylococcus aureus infections. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 30(5). Article 1168. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30051168.
Liu, Z., Chen, P., Wang, T.T., Pham, Q., Yu, L., Luo, Y., Zhu, X., Yang, T., Sun, J. 2024. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis of phytochemical profiles of kale (brassica oleracea var. sabellica) harvested at different stages of development. ACS Food Science and Technology. 4(11):2752-2761. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00708.
Huang, H., Pham, Q., Yu, L., Boue, S.M., Wang, T.T. 2024. Differential preventative effect of soy-derived phytochemical glyceollins on prostate cancer in-vitro and in mouse tumor xenograft model. Journal of Functional Foods. 122. Article 106460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106460.