Development of new nutraceuticals for improved digestive health

The Nutraceutical Development Group is headed by Associate Professor Gordon Howarth and is situated in Room GO7 of the JS Davies building at the Roseworthy Campus. A/Prof Howarth is a Cancer Council SA Research Fellow. Associate Professor Howarth is also the Affiliate Head of the Gastrointestinal Inflammation Laboratory, located in the Gastroenterology Department of the Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service (Women’s and Children’s Hospital).

Research Staff

Sarah Pain (Lecturer A)
Kerry Lymn (Senior Technical Officer) Dr Chris Smyl (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Roger Yazbeck (Senior Research Officer)

PhD Students

Jane Fauser (Pork CRC top-up)
Roger Yazbeck (Flinders University)
Gabbrielle Brooke (Murdoch Univ)
Barbara Konsak (CSIRO, Geelong)
Luca Prisciandaro (Queen Elizabeth Hospital Scholarship)
Amy Cheah

Honours Students

Ruth Lindsay (mid-year)
Suzanne Mashtoub (Queen Elizabeth Hospital Scholarship)
Thomas Acott

Goals

We seek to identify novel bioactive factors and formulations (‘nutraceuticals’) capable of improving the health and welfare of humans and animals through dietary supplementation.

Major Research Themes

Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics

• To understand the role of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics in the maintenance of bowel health in humans and animals in health and disease.
• To identify candidate probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics that are capable of preventing or treating diseases and disorders of the digestive system*

Bioactive Factors and Formulations

• To develop other new bioactive factors (eg plant, animal or marine-sourced) for their potential to prevent or treat diseases and disorders of the digestive system in humans and animals utilizing proven pre-clinical animal model systems*

Research Projects

Identification of new probiotics

Aim: To identify probiotic bacteria capable of improving intestinal health and function. Utilizing animal model systems of chemotherapy-induced mucositis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) we have identified new probiotic bacteria for these conditions (Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 and lactobacillus reuteri BR11, respectively). The mechanisms of action of these new probiotic bacteria are now being pursued to facilitate further development of more effective probiotics in pre-clinical studies. These mechanisms include effects on intestinal stem cell expression and DNA methylation status.

Collaborators
Associate Professor Ross Butler, Gastroenterology Dept, Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service
Associate Professor Phil Giffard, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
Dr Mark Turner, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
Dr Adrian Cummins, Gastroenterology Dept, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Dr Mark Geier, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Dr Guy Sander, Gastroenterology Dept, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Dr Oliver Schmitz, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany

Identification of new prebiotics

Aim: There is an international strategy to restrict the use of antibiotics in the animal production industry. Antibiotic use in the European poultry industry has been eliminated and similar pathways are underway in the pig production arena. This project seeks to identify new prebiotics (usually non-digestible polysaccharides) capable of shifting the intestinal microflora balance toward a more favourable population, reducing the opportunity for pathogenic colonization. The project further seeks to determine intestinal gene expression changes in response to prebiotic administration.

Collaborators
Associate Professor Ross Butler, Gastroenterology Dept, Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service
Dr Bob Hughes, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Dr Mark Geier, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Dr Rob Moore, CSIRO (Geelong)
Dr Roger Campbell, Pork Cooperative Research Centre
Professor Bob Gibson, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

Identification of new bioactives

Aim: Utilizing small animal model systems this project seeks to determine the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of action of a broad range of bioactive factors (eg zinc, dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors, fatty acids of differing chain length), and extracts (eg animal, herbal, marine-sourced, molluscan and wine polyphenols). The in vivo studies are augmented by in vitro studies in which effects on normal and transformed cell lines can be ascertained.

Collaborators
Associate Professor Ross Butler, Gastroenterology Dept, Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service
Dr Cuong Tran, Gastroenterology Dept, Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service
Dr Catherine Abbott, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University
Dr Kirsten Benkendorff, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University Dr Sharon Byers, Genetic Medicine, Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service
Associate Professor Christine Feinle-Bisset, Dept of Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital
Dr Colin Jenner, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
Dr Geoffrey Matthews, Peter MacCallum Cancer Research Institute

Novel, non-invasive tests of gut function

Aim: Utilizing non-radioactive isotope technology it is possible to assess a number of different functions of the gastrointestinal system by analysing samples of expired breath. These tests (which include digestive function and gastric emptying) can be applied to animals and humans. This project seeks to expand applicability of this technology to other species in addition to developing tests of other functions of the digestive system.

Collaborators
Associate Professor Ross Butler, Gastroenterology Dept, Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service
Dr Bob Hughes, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Dr Mark Geier, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Dr Roger Campbell, Pork Cooperative Research Centre
Ms Sarah Pain, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

Animal Models of Gastrointestinal Disease

Animal models of a broad range of gastrointestinal disorders are available to other researchers and organizations wishing to undertake pre-clinical efficacy or mechanistic studies. These animal models include:

• Oral mucositis (chemotherapy-induced)
• Gastric ulceration (NSAID-induced)
• Gastritis (Helicobacter pylori-induced)
• Intestinal mucositis (chemotherapy-induced)
• Radiation enteritis (radiotherapy-induced)
• Crohn’s disease
• NSAID-enteropathy
• Infective enteritis/necrotic enteritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Colon cancer
• Mammary adenocarcinoma
  

For information about studying in this field please visit our Student Services page.