Browsing by Author "Vilander, Allison, committee member"

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Embargo
A comprehensive analysis of rice bran as a functional food for global health
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Weber, Annika Marie, author; Weir, Tiffany L., advisor; Ryan, Elizabeth P., advisor; Bunning, Marisa, committee member; Vilander, Allison, committee member; Conant, Richard, committee member
Global nutrition security and public health improvement rely on diverse diets, with whole grains playing a key role in meeting these challenges. Rice, a staple grain for over half the world's population, is typically consumed in its refined form, which involves removing the bran layer. This bran layer, however, is a rich source of fiber, essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, which are key components that contribute to the health benefits of whole grains. The nutrient properties of rice bran and its demonstrated ability to protect against gastrointestinal diseases make it a promising addition to public health initiatives. To fully harness these benefits, a comprehensive analysis of rice bran's health potential and strategies for incorporation into global nutrition is necessary. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the role of rice bran in enhancing gut health, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention and malnutrition treatment, as well as provide considerations for food safety and an assessment of community preparedness for public health interventions. Here, the metabolism of rice bran by the gut microbiota and subsequent generation of metabolites related to CRC protection in a murine model and CRC survivors is evaluated. Additionally, methods to reduce arsenic levels in rice bran are explored, and an assessment is presented of community readiness for dietary interventions, which are challenges to overcome in preparing rice bran for public health. The use of rice bran to enhance nutrient density in malnutrition treatment foods is also explored, with a detailed protocol of the Solutions to Enhance Health using Alternative Treatments (SEHAT) clinical trial. Anthropometric outcomes from the SEHAT study are then analyzed to assess the impact of rice bran on childhood growth and malnutrition recovery. The diverse health benefits of rice bran, from cancer prevention to malnutrition treatment, are demonstrated here. In providing evidence for its safety, efficacy, and potential for global use, the research underscores the viability of rice bran as a functional food in clinical and public health guidelines. These studies contribute to the broader efforts of leveraging rice bran for improved global nutrition and community health.
Open Access
A tale of two viruses: the ability of New World mammals to host Old World viruses
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Lewis, Juliette, author; Schountz, Tony, advisor; Kading, Rebekah, committee member; Vilander, Allison, committee member; Stoner, Kathryn, committee member
To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.
Open Access
Effect of probiotic-based vaccination on lactate availability in immune inductive tissues
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Kiehl, Sophie, author; Kiehl, Paris M., author; Fletcher, McKenzie, author; Kinkel, Traci, committee member; Vilander, Allison, committee member; Dean, Gregg, advisor
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) colonize the gastrointestinal tract and generally confer immune benefits to their host. Because of this, they are emerging as viable vaccine vectors, particularly against mucosal pathogens. LAB secrete high quantities of lactate as a byproduct of their metabolism, and lactate has been increasingly recognized as an immunomodulator, often in an anti-inflammatory capacity. We are studying how lactate metabolism of LAB-based vaccines affects lactate availability in immune inductive sites using the bacterial platform Lactobacillus acidophilus. Using Mirasol® Pathogen Reduction Technology system, we inactivated a recombinant L. acidophilus expressing the model antigen ovalbumin. We first verified that inactivation inhibited bacterial growth and reduced lactate metabolism while preserving antigen expression. We then administered the live and inactivated vaccines orally to BALB/c mice and measured lactate concentrations in harvested immune inductive sites (Peyer's patches and ileal lumen contents) using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Lactate levels in the ileum and Peyer's patches were unchanged following administration with probiotic-based vaccines, suggesting their administration does not disrupt the metabolic equilibrium of these tissues that may trigger an anti-inflammatory state.
Embargo
Of microbes and mothers: evaluating the complex maternal-neonatal interaction and microbiome-immunity development with novel Lactobacillus vaccination
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Ecton, Kayl E., author; Abdo, Zaid, advisor; Dean, Gregg, advisor; Wrighton, Kelly, committee member; Vilander, Allison, committee member; Argueso, Lucas, committee member
The task of identifying an optimal vaccination strategy for neonates has been challenging scientists and physicians alike. Multiple factors contribute to the difficulty in establishing an optimal platform including the complexity of the maternal-fetal dyad, a neonatal Th2 skewed profile and the role of the parallel development of the immune system and the gut microbiome (8). Disease remains a main cause of infant morbidity and mortality, encouraging the discovery of novel infant vaccinations to be delivered during the first 28 days of life to provide protection (41). Passive protection from the maternal transfer of transplacental IgG and both IgG and IgA in breastmilk has a limited window of operation, leaving the maturing neonate at risk (128). Although exact mechanisms remain to be elucidated, here we examine the complex crosstalk between mother-fetus and maternal-neonate dyads, neonatal microbiome-immunity development, and optimal delivery strategies for neonatal vaccine development. In this dissertation we investigated the role of maternal infection prior to gestation, neonatal challenge after vaccination, and vaccine effectiveness after exposure to virus. We evaluated the use of a novel vaccine platform developed previously in the lab as an orally delivered mucosal targeting subunit vaccine in Lactobacillus acidophilus. We investigated the effectiveness of the recombinant vaccine with and without adjuvants in a neonatal experimental design model and discovered increased virus specific responses in neonates vaccinated with adjuvants when challenged with rotavirus. We show a significant impact of maternal influence on neonatal outcomes. Beyond the immunogenic strength of the novel Lactobacillus acidophilus vaccine platform in neonates, we identified induced shifts to the gut microbial communities that occurred with vaccination or infection. We saw a shift in the gut microbiome over the course of a 7-day rotavirus challenge in neonates that did not return to baseline during the observation period, even after no virus shedding was detected in fecal samples. We also evaluated the impact of different doses, 1x106 CFU/dose and 1x109 CFU/dose, on the immune response and the gut microbiome. We confirmed the role of fecal microbiome transplants in breeding does to normalize for the maternal microbiome prior to gestation. Our results indicate that there are modifications to the gut microbiome and changes in immune antibodies during vaccination and infection. While we did not pursue a specific mechanism crosslinking the maternal-neonatal interaction and the gut-immunity relationship, we do consider the presence of such a connection.
Open Access
upp-based counterselective genetic cloning to create rotavirus vaccine constructs using Lactobacillus acidophilus platform
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Kiehl, Paris, author; Kiehl, Sophie M., author; Swartzwelter, Benjamin J., author; Vilander, Allison, committee member; Kinkel, Traci, committee member; Fletcher, McKenzie, author; Dean, Gregg, advisor
Rotavirus is a major public health burden that causes severe gastroenteritis and kills more than 200,000 infants per year. Live attenuated vaccines have reduced effectiveness in low- and middle-income countries, which is correlated to gut microbiota composition. To combat this, we are developing an orally administered vaccine using the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus as a vector. Here, we used upp-based genetic cloning to create multiple strains of L. acidophilus that express rotavirus' VP7 glycoprotein behind the highly expressed metabolic enzyme enolase. This counterselective genetic cloning process uses a temperature-sensitive helper plasmid and recombination-directing vector plasmid to integrate target sequences into the bacterial genome and remove selectable markers. Vaccine constructs were evaluated for recombination using genetic analysis and immunoassays. The vaccines are being tested in murine and porcine models to evaluate their ability to protect hosts against rotavirus.