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Microbiology workshops with Food Educators

The use of yeast in the food industry, learning about and testing methods for examining milk, counting bacteria, preparing microscope slides – the laboratories of the Division of Food Science of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences opened their doors to secondary school students from Olsztyn.

How do you get young people interested in food to help them shape informed consumer attitudes, develop critical thinking, and present exciting career opportunities in the agri-food sector that will lead to an active transformation of the food system in the future? Preferably from the practical side, as secondary school students found out during the Microbiology workshops with Food Educators.

The meeting started with an introduction to microbiology and the yeast 'strongmen’. Marzena Lenkiewicz from the Microbiology Laboratory of the IAR&FR PAS talked about these remarkable microorganisms and their use in the food industry. After the theoretical part, students continued in the laboratories, where they learnt about food safety and milk testing methods, conducted tests on their own, prepared microscope slides and counted bacteria.

– We are happy to show young people the world of science. Perhaps they will choose a career in science (…) Thank you very much for the opportunity to show the whole institute and for the workshop – concludes Ewa Stanisławska-Lepko, a teacher from the Wisława Szymborska Group of Catering and Food Schools in Olsztyn.

Food Educators is a programme of the European Knowledge and Education Community for Food (EIT Food), which creates and disseminates the materials essential to teach young people about healthy and sustainable eating habits. It enables the youngest consumers to make choices that are good for both them and the environment. Food Educators is also about promoting interesting career paths throughout the food supply chain and encouraging adepts to enter the agri-food sector. Join the international network at www.foodeducators.eu
















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Meatless Monday with Food Educators

Spaghetti bolognese, burgers, scrambled eggs, smoothies – these are dishes that are quite popular in a teenager’s diet. Is it possible to prepare them in such a way that they are delicious, easy to prepare, healthy and 100% plant-based? The Institute’s experts in the EIT Food 'Food Educators’ project have shown that it is!

Meatless Monday is a worldwide campaign encouraging consumers to reduce their meat consumption – for their own health and for care of the planet. The name of the campaign suggests that the challenge to reduce meat and zoonotic products should start by eliminating meat from our diet for at least one day a week.

While information campaigns outline the topic, a more effective method of supporting a change in consumer habits, especially for young people, is practical action. The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, as part of the 'Food Educators’ project, organised a cooking workshop for secondary school students from Olsztyn.

During the event, students learnt about the idea of Meatless Monday, explored conscious consumer attitudes with experts, including dealing with food labels and food packaging, and then stepped into the workshop kitchen, where they learnt about plant-based alternatives to their favourite dishes under the guidance of a chef. The event culminated with a shared meal and space to share their experiences.

– Meatless Monday is a great action that can be successfully incorporated into school canteens. Importantly, the students respond to the idea very enthusiastically! – the organisers conclude.

Food Educators is a programme of the European Knowledge and Education Community for Food (EIT Food), which creates and disseminates the materials essential to teach young people about healthy and sustainable eating habits. It enables the youngest consumers to make choices that are good for both them and the environment. Food Educators is also about promoting interesting career paths throughout the food supply chain and encouraging adepts to enter the agri-food sector. Join the international network at www.foodeducators.eu














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New idea for research demonstrating effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation

A new idea for research demonstrating the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation has been developed by researchers from the ERA Chair WELCOME2 nutrigenomics team. They propose to divide patients into three groups according to the degree of response of the body to vitamin D, based on measuring the expression (response) of specific genes to the vitamin.

– Measuring vitamin D levels in the body alone is not an effective way to determine whether we have enough vitamin D. It is crucial to take into account the individual level of the body’s response to this vitamin by measuring the expression of specific genes. Only such an approach will give a reliable result as to whether vitamin D supplementation has the intended effect – explains Dr Emilia Gospodarska of the Nutrigenomics team of the IAR&FR PAS in Olsztyn.

Publication on this topic has just been published in the journal „Nutrients”.

Changing the approach

Emilia Gospodarska explains that current blood tests to determine the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation are not well designed.

– These tests are designed along the lines of therapeutic drug tests, not a nutritional compound such as vitamin D. Measuring the difference between a level of zero, that is, without administration of the drug, and then after a time when the drug has been taken, does not work for vitamin D. One reason for this is that, after all, everyone already has a certain level of this vitamin; it is never zero. Furthermore, people differ in their response to vitamin D. Our doubts have been confirmed by recent long-term studies (RCTs – randomised controlled trials) on a large scale (up to 25,000 participants) to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in preventing the development of a number of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer, which did not provide any statistically significant results – the researcher emphasises.

A team of nutrigenomics experts from Olsztyn (nutrigenomics is the science that studies the effect of nutrients on the expression of genes, among others, responsible for health) has therefore proposed a paradigm shift.

The core of their idea is to move away from measuring vitamin D levels alone to studying the body’s response to the vitamin – based on the expression levels of specific genes, which are markers, or determinants, of this action.

Currently, scientists are looking for the best ones to study from a wide range of genes – potential markers. Bioinformaticians are involved in the work.

Crucial to this new approach described is the division of the population into three groups – in terms of their level of response to vitamin D: high responders, medium responders and low responders.

– This classification was proposed by our team leader Professor Carsten Carlberg, based on his research on the Finnish and Saudi Arabian populations. Based on this classification, we know, for example, that people with a high vitamin D response (i.e. when the body is able to maximise the effects of vitamin D) will need less vitamin D than those with low levels. Let me give an example to illustrate: the standard established vitamin D dose for an adult is 2000 units per day. However, it turns out that people in the low-response group need more of it. How much exactly – this will be determined on the basis of the studies we are developing – points out Emilia Gospodarska.

The research conducted by scientists from Olsztyn is basic level research. However, Emilia Gospodarska is convinced that the solution has a chance of commercialisation.

– Our proposal will make it possible not only to demonstrate the actual effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation, but also to personalise the therapy by determining the exact dose needed for a given patient – concludes the scientist.

Vitamin D – essential for our health

Vitamin D affects the functioning of the entire body. Its most well-known action is to maintain adequate calcium levels in the body to maintain proper bone structure. Vitamin D is also important for 'training’ our immune system so that it works effectively in the case of microbial infections, but also does not overreact in the case of possible autoimmune reactions.

Long-term vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone diseases – rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. It also causes a malfunction of the immune system, leading to, among other things, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases or autoimmune diseases.

For more information visit: https://welcome2.pan.olsztyn.pl/

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A step closer to understanding the mechanisms that influence pregnancy success

In an early stage of pregnancy, the dialogue between the developing embryo and mother is one of the key factors determining the success of the embryo implantation process in the uterus. Scientists from the Molecular Biology Laboratory of IARFR PAS have discovered another relationship that helps to understand this complicated process.

The results of their research indicate the key role of extracellular vesicles, i.e. unique molecular cargo carriers, secreted by both the embryo and mother.

DIALOGUE – A WAY TO SUCCESS

The mechanisms determining the proper maintenance of pregnancy in various species of mammals and the process of communication between the embryo with the mother (how it takes place and with what factors) are the topics of the scientific interests of Prof. Monika Kaczmarek, who heads the Molecular Biology Laboratory at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn.

– In early pregnancy, when the embryo reaches the uterus, intense communication begins between the embryo and the uterus. The exchange of signals is one of the factors determining the successful implantation (nesting) of the embryo in the uterine wall. How does this dialogue go? The embryo sends the signal: „I am here” and the uterus „responds” with a readiness to accept the embryo and providing the factors and nutrients necessary for its further development. It is known that hundreds of particles are involved in this dialogue, but despite the identification of many of them, the full understanding of the complexity of this mechanism still remains a mystery – says Prof. Monika Kaczmarek.

Understanding the communication process between the embryo and mother will allow researchers to answer questions about the causes of pregnancy failure, which may depend, among others. from genetic defects of the embryos, lack of readiness of the uterus to accept the embryo (i.e. uterine receptivity) or disorders of the mentioned dialogue.

USEFUL VESICLES

Research by the team of Prof. Monika Kaczmarek has shown that the early stages of embryo implantation are regulated by the replacement of extracellular follicles between the embryo and the endometrial (mucosa lining the uterine cavity). 

– Extracellular vesicles (EVS) are nanoparticles covered with a membrane, secreted by all types of cells in living organisms. Recently, they have gained recognition as an important element of intercellular communication. What’s more, over the past decade, their role has become particularly important in the area of mammal reproduction biology, attracting the attention of many scientific teams and researchers around the world – describes the researcher.

The conducted works used a model of a home pig (Sus Scrofa), which has an extended preimplantation period, which facilitates investigating the dialogue between the embryo and the mother. Scientists isolated extracellular bubbles from uterine fluid taken in various days of pregnancy, and then confirmed their participation in maintaining this key communication.

– We have shown that during early pregnancy, uterine light abounds in extracellular vesicles, which transfer many molecules of miRNA capable of expression (a process, during which specific genetic information is decoded and transferred to „protein production”) of genes involved in the development of the embryo and the organism. Vesicles, after delivering trophoblast to primary cells, affect genes regulating development, as well as signaling and interactions between cells, as a consequence affecting proliferation (cell ability to multiply), migration and invasive abilities of trophoblast cells – explains Prof. Monika Kaczmarek.

On this basis, scientists conclude that the replacement of the unique population of extracellular follicles and their molecular load between the embryo and mother is the key to the success of the implantation of the embryo and the success of pregnancy.

The results of the above research were published in The FASEB Journal. They constitute an important element of Dr. Joanna Szuszkiewicz’s doctoral thesis.

RESEARCH CONTINUED

The extracellular vesicles are also the subject of subsequent scientific publications of the team of researchers from IARFR PAS  in Olsztyn, which have just appeared in the magazines: Cell Communication and Signaling and The FASEB Journal. They are part of the doctoral thesis of Maria Guzewska.

– We have shown that the synthesis of extracellular vesicles in the uterus is dependent on embryonic signals. In addition, we have shown that the miRNA embryo present in cells regulates the expression of genes that determine the formation of a specific EVs population secreted by the embryo. This groundbreaking discovery indicates the key role of the embryo and its signals in defining subsequent stages of pregnancy involving extracellular vesicles – emphasizes prof. Monika Kaczmarek

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InformPack during „Meatless Monday” culinary workshops

The “Meatless Monday” aims to encourage each of us to swap meat products for delicious plant-based products one day a week.

As part of the EIT Food „FoodEducators” project, high school students and their teachers took part in culinary workshops and prepared plant-based meals – beetroot burgers, tofu soup, power smoothie and zucchini spaghetti in tomato sauce. The meeting was also an opportunity to talk to young people about responsible consumer attitudes, including: in the context of conscious shopping behaviours, recycling food packaging and reducing food waste. Everyone took part in the InformPack „Recycle Hero” quiz and tested knowledge of how to handle food packaging in a sustainable way.






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Post-doc in Department of Team of Reproductive Pathology and Translational Medicine

Director of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Science in Olsztyn announces an open call for the position:

Post-doc in Department of Team of Reproductive Pathology and Translational Medicine

within the realization of the project financed by the National Science Centre, Reg. No: 2018/29/B/NZ9/00391, entitled: “Biological study and mathematical modeling to describe and predict new processes controlling the development, function and atresia of ovarian follicles in cows” led by prof. Dariusz Jan Skarżyński.

Scientific research and other tasks in which the Candidate would participate:

  • research related to: (1) investigation of the effects and mechanisms of growth factors on follicular growth, steroidogenesis, maturation and ovulation in cattle; and (2) developing mathematical models that will describe mechanisms controlling above functions of bovine follicles,
  • execution of experiments,
  • participation in in vitro experiments (cell separation and culture),
  • participation in molecular biology analysis,
  • perform data analysis and presentation, create high quality figures,
  • collaborate with mathematicians, biologists and veterinarians,
  • draft manuscripts for publication, present/publish the results in scientific conferences.

Candidate qualification requirements:

  • Ph.D. in veterinary or animal sciences, biology, biotechnology, mathematical biology or bio-informatics;
  • experience in one or more of the following fields is desirable: reproductive biology, cell physiology, hormonal regulations, mechanisms of growth factors actions, cell dead mechanisms,  mathematical modelling of hormonal dynamical systems;
  • active participation in scientific conferences;
  • laboratory experience desirable: ideally in cell culture, ELISA, molecular biology techniques;
  • fluency in English in speaking and writing;
  • good writing and presentation skills of scientific papers and work, oral and  written communication skills: English essential, Polish desirable.

Expectations:

  • communicativeness and good organization of work,
  • ability to work in a team, create research teams.

The Institute offers:

  • basic salary: 7900 PLN
  • assistance in accommodation during the initial period near the Department location,
  • academic work without the need to conduct classes with students,
  • technical, administrative and organizational support,
  • participation in research conferences, courses, scientific trainings and conscious academic mentoring.

Application documents required from candidates:

  • Curriculum Vitae including:  education history, details on the PhD thesis (title, name of the supervisor, institution awarding the title, date of issuing the diploma), scientific record (scientific articles, conference presentations, book chapters, monographs, books, etc.), awards and other achievements (scholarships, internships, training schools, participation in research projects, etc.);
  • copy of PhD diploma;
  • at least one recommendation letter signed by a recognized researcher.

Employment duration – 6 months: since December 1, 2023 until May 31, 2024

Application documents should be sent to e-mail address: k.lukasik@pan.olsztyn.pl.

Mrs. Karolina Łukasik
Department of Team of Reproductive Pathology and Translational Medicine,
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of PAS
Olsztyn, Poland

Kindly note that only online applications will be accepted.

The deadline for sending the documents is October 27, 2023; 12.00. a.m.

Results of the call will be announced within 7 days since the application deadline (may be extended until suitable Candidate who fulfills all requirements is found).

Please include in your application the following, signed statement:

“I agree to the processing of personal data provided in this document for realizing the recruitment process pursuant to the Personal Data Protection Act of 10 May 2018 (Journal of Laws 2018, item 1000) and in agreement with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation)”.

Information clause:

According to Art. 12 Para. 1 and 2 of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation- hereinafter referred to as GDPR), we would like to inform you that:

  1. The administrator of your personal data is the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10 Tuwima Str., 10-748 Olsztyn, NIP 739-05-04-515, REGON 001289340, phone: +48 89 523 46 86, e-mail: instytut@pan.olsztyn.pl.
  2. You can contact our Data Protection Officer by e-mail: iodo@pan.olsztyn.pl.
  3. Your personal data will be processed on the basis of art. 6 par. 1 lit. a general regulation on data protection and the Labor Code – Act of June 26, 1974 (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 108) for recruitment to work at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn .
  4. Personal data will be kept during the recruitment period.
  5. You have the right to request the administrator to access your personal data, the right to rectify it, delete or limit the processing and the right to withdraw consent to its processing.
  6. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory body, the President of the Office for Personal Data Protection.
  7. Providing personal data is a statutory requirement and is mandatory due to the provisions of labor law, and is voluntary in the remaining scope.
  8. Your data will not be processed in an automated way.
  9. The provision of your personal data is voluntary, but the refusal to provide such data may result in the inability to attend the recruitment process.

The results of the competition will be available on the website.

The recruitment rules for research positions are available here.

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Olsztyn Science and Arts Days – Workshop „Giving food packaging a second life”

We are very happy that you were with us on 22 September during the #21 Olsztyn Science and Arts Days. The workshop took place at the University of Warmia and Mazury Library, 12 B Oczapowskiego Street, where we prepared a stand of the EIT InformPack project.

Each participant was able to take part in an interactive game that helped to test how you manage to correctly segregate food packaging materials. Together, we tested how you could decipher the symbols on food packaging. We also encouraged you to share your opinion on how you would like information on the purchase, management and disposal of food packaging to be communicated to you. Your opinion is very valuable to us, as it will help researchers and food producers to develop 'tailor-made’ educational campaigns to support the development of environmental awareness.








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21st Olsztyn Science and Art Days – summary

Cosmic food and the secrets of freeze-drying, testing the quality of milk, fermentation as a natural method of food preservation, the pyramid of healthy lifestyle and nutrition, food safety and food storage in the fridge, pro-health antioxidants in popular drinks, tips on handling food packaging with the EIT Food InformPack project – these were the topics we brought to the participants of the 21st Olsztyn Science and Art Days.

– We chose activities that would interest both younger and older schoolchildren. We wanted to show that food research is about the laboratory and food chemistry, but also about a broader context, i.e. food-related phenomena that affect us all – from food storage, through conscious consumer attitudes and drawing attention to the scale of food waste, to handling food packaging – sums up Iwona Kieda, the initiator of the idea of joining this year’s Olsztyn Science and Art Days celebrations and the coordinator on behalf of Inobiotek Ltd.

On 21 and 22 September, scientists welcomed both organised groups and individual visitors who wanted to broaden their knowledge of food or get the youngest members of their families interested in the subject.

















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Invitation

We cordially invite PhD students, scientific supervisors and all Institute’s employees to the Oath of the PhD students of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral School of Agricultural Sciences.

The inauguration of the academic year of will be honoured with the lecture of Dr. Bartosz Fotschki: „Super Raspberries – the hero that supports staying healthy”.

The event will take place October 2, 2023 at 9:00 am in the seminar room of IARFR PAS at Tuwima 10.

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Ketogenic diet and health. Research by Dr. Natalia Drabińska

The increased popularity of the ketogenic diet is not followed by scientific knowledge on the safety of its use, points out Dr Natalia Drabińska from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, who studies the effects of the ketogenic diet on metabolism, inflammation, selected nutritional parameters and oxidative stress in overweight and obese women.

The ketogenic diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate diet that involves putting the body into a state of ketosis. – It is quite a demanding diet, but one that gives quick results and allows you to lose unwanted kilograms in a short period of time. This is why it has become so popular in recent years – emphasises Dr Natalia Drabińska from the Department of Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food at the IAR&FR PAS in Olsztyn.

However, this does not mean that the ketogenic diet is scientifically well understood; there is still a lot of information published on the internet about the effects of this diet on the human body that is not supported by scientific research. – Although the available scientific literature indicates that the use of the ketogenic diet may be beneficial in reducing body weight, comprehensive studies guaranteeing the safety of its use are not available – she adds.

Seeking to fill this gap, the researcher, as part of an NCN-funded project, is investigating how the ketogenic diet affects metabolism, inflammation, selected nutritional parameters and oxidative stress in overweight and obese women.

The first correlation studied is the effect of the ketogenic diet on metabolism, i.e. the total biochemical processes in the body that process the energy of nutrients from food.

The next step will be to investigate the effect of the ketogenic diet on inflammation – whether and how it can reduce it.

In the effects of the ketogenic diet on selected nutritional parameters, the researcher will examine the levels of fat-soluble vitamins, namely vitamins A, D, E and K; determine the amino acid profile and the fatty acid profile.

The effect of the ketogenic diet on oxidative stress, on the other hand, will be determined by the level of antioxidant activity – what from the diet increases it and how the body responds to it; the level of enzymes involved in neutralising free radicals; and the level of lipid and nucleic acid peroxidation products. – My previous animal research showed that the ketogenic diet, even in a fairly extreme form, did not induce oxidative stress, and in fact lowered it – says the researcher.

– We have now carried out most of the research and have begun to analyse the results. Thanks to them, we will be able to answer questions asked by many people struggling with obesity and overweight, wondering whether the ketogenic diet is a safe and effective way to lose extra kilograms – emphasises Natalia Drabińska.

The cohort included 80 women (72 completed) – healthy, slightly overweight (with a BMI of 25.5-35), with an average age of 35-40 years; they were volunteers from Olsztyn and the surrounding area. For 8 weeks, women received daily balanced meals, provided by a diet catering service, and attended regular check-ups. – All the ladies are satisfied with the results of this diet, as they have shed a total of 380 kg! – indicated the researcher, who also went on a diet.

THE KETOGENIC DIET – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

The ketogenic diet involves balancing meals in such way that the main part of the calories comes from fats and the consumption of carbohydrates is maximally limited. Interestingly, the ketogenic diet was originally used to treat patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

After four to six weeks of adaptation to such a diet, a state of ketosis occurs in the body, i.e. the body 'switches’ so that it derives energy from ketone bodies (i.e. fat accumulated in the tissues) and not – as before – from sugars (glucose).

– Before this happens, however, you need patience and determination, because the ketogenic diet can make you feel worse in the first few weeks. This is because when your body runs out of glucose and is not yet able to use ketone bodies, you will lose strength and may experience flu-like symptoms. This is when it is especially important to remember to drink plenty of water and to keep an eye on electrolyte levels. As a start, I also recommend supplementation with MCT oil – this is an oil containing medium chain acids that go directly to the liver (without passing through the pancreas) and are converted into ketone bodies there, says the researcher.

The scientist reminds us that in following any diet, it is important to proceed with caution and awareness. – In some situations, it is necessary to consult a doctor, as a high-fat diet should not be followed by people with kidney or liver problems, for example. We must remember that it is a diet based mainly on fat, which is metabolised by the liver. Therefore, loading it with a high-fat diet in people who are ill can be dangerous to their health. It is therefore worth doing a liver panel (ALT, AST, GGTP) before starting the diet, as well as checking kidney parameters such as uric acid, the level of which increases especially at the beginning of a ketogenic diet – she points out.

The ketogenic diet is an elimination diet, so it is important to ensure that it is varied and balanced. – The ketogenic diet is not about meat dripping with fat, but, above all, about healthy fat from, for example, eggs, avocados, nuts, olive oil or selected fruit and vegetables,” emphasises Natalia Drabińska.

As the researcher points out, according to current scientific knowledge, there are no contraindications to prolonged/longed use of the ketogenic diet.

Dr Natalia Drabińska’s research is being conducted as part of a project entitled 'KETO-MINOX: Effects of an isocaloric, reducing ketogenic diet on metabolism, inflammation, selected nutritional parameters and oxidative stress in overweight and obese women’, funded by the National Science Centre (NCN). The project will last until 2025.

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