The potential use of bioactive peptides from food and waste as anti-cariogenic agents

Project description

Project Summary

Bioactive peptides derived from plant protein sources have not yet been fully investigated with respect to their role in the prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease, two of the most common diseases in Man. This study is innovative in that it will identify bioactive peptides from plant waste material which will enable the development of cost-effective functional foods that can be used for the prevention of dental caries in a variety of settings. The work could then be further expanded to investigate other conditions such as periodontal disease.

Bioactive peptides produced from oil seed press cake will have anticariogenic effects and can be used to produce functional foods which will have a role in the prevention of dental caries.

Project Summary

The aim of this study is to determine the potential use of oil seed press cake food waste as a source of proteins for the production of bioactive peptides which can then be used as antimicrobial/anticariogenic agents.

The objectives for the study are: 

• Buy commercially, be gifted or produce oil seed press cakes
• To purify proteins from the press cakes to enrich the source
• To produce bioactive peptides by hydrolysis of press cake proteins
• To identify and characterise the peptides
• To determine the antimicrobial effects of the proteins on bacteria associated with causing dental caries
• To analyse structural characteristics of the peptides

Entry requirements

Please contact our staff for further details about entry requirements.

How to apply (email)

fmhgrad@leeds.ac.uk

How to apply (phone)

+44 (0)113 343 7497