Overview of research projects

Funding: Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung , 58.000 EUR

Project Details:
Die Haltbarmachung von Lebensmitteln mit chemischen oder physikalischen Verfahren dient dazu, die mikrobielle Kontamination von Lebensmitteln zu reduzieren, die Haltbarkeit der Produkte zu verlängern und besonders die Gesundheitsgefahr für den Verbraucher zu minimieren. In Untersuchungen am Institut für Lebensmittelqualität und -sicherheit wurden in abgeschlossenen und laufenden Projekten die keimreduzierenden Effekte von Peroxyessigsäure (PES), Lauroyl-Ethyl-Arginat (LAE), kaltem Plasma, Silber-Nonopartikeln, Hochdruck, antibakteriell beschichteten Meat Pads oder UV-Strahlen untersucht. Allerdings sind kaum Studien verfügbar, die den Einfluss einer Kombination der verschiedenen Haltbarmachungsverfahren auf die mikrobiologische Kontamination sowie auf die chemischen und sensorischen Qualitätsmerkmale der behandelten Produkte überprüft haben. Aus diesem Grund sollen in der vorliegenden Studie Schlachttierkörper von Geflügel und Fleisch von Schwein und Hähnchen, teilweise nach Inokulation mit definierten Mikroorganismen, einzeln mit PES, kaltem Plasma und UV-Strahlen sowie mit Kombinationen dieser Verfahren behandelt werden, um die Effekte einer kombinierten Behandlung im Vergleich zur unbehandelten Kontrollprobe und zur Einzelbehandlung darzustellen. Dabei werden nicht nur die kurzfristigen Effekte direkt nach der Behandlung, sondern auch die langfristigen Auswirkungen während der Lagerung der Produkte bis zum üblichen Mindesthaltbarkeits- bzw. Verbrauchsdatum untersucht.

Results:

Koller V., D. Seinige, J. Saathoff, C. Kehrenberg, C. Krischek* (2021):

Impact of a Combination of UV-C Irradiation and Peracetic Acid Spray Treatment on Brochothrix thermosphacta and Yersinia enterocolitica Contaminated Pork.

Foods, 10, 204, https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/2/204

Funding: Brigitte und Wolfram Gedek Stiftung, Ismaning, 30.000 EUR

Project Details:
Im Rahmen dieses Projektes werden Futtermittel (Gräser, Heu) auf ein Vorkommen tremorgener Mykotoxine sowie ein möglicher Übergang in Lebensmittel tierischen Ursprungs untersucht.

Funding: Brigitte und Wolfram Gedek-Stiftung, Ismaning, 20.000 EUR

Project Details:
Im Rahmen dieses Projektes werden sowohl Kakao, als auch daraus hergestellte Produkte auf ein mögliches Vorkommen von Mykotoxinen mittels enzymimmunologischer Verfahren untersucht. Das Ziel ist eine orientierende Risikoabschätzung in Bezug auf den Verzehr dieser Lebensmittelgruppe.

Project Details:
Die Behandlung von Lebensmitteln mit UV-C-Strahlen ist ein schon seit einiger Zeit in verschiedenen Ländern durchgeführtes nicht-thermisches Verfahren, um die mikrobielle Kontamination an der Oberfläche von Lebensmitteln zu reduzieren und damit die Haltbarkeit der Produkte zu verlängern. In vielen Untersuchungen konnten diese keimreduzierenden Effekte gezeigt werden, allerdings sind keine Studien verfügbar, die die Effekte einer UV-Laser-Behandlung auf die Qualitätsmerkmale der bestrahlten Produkte untersucht haben. In der Arbeit wurde deswegen die Reduktion von Mikroorganismen auf Hähnchenfleisch und die Veränderung verschiedener anderer Qualitätsmerkmale des Fleisches nach Einsatz von UV-Hochleistungs-LEDs evaluiert. Hierzu wurden die Hähnchenbrustmuskeln mit den pathogenen Bakterien Salmonella Typhimurium und Brochothrix thermosphacta inokuliert, anschließend mit UV-C-Hochleistungs-LEDs (270 nm) mit jeweils einer Dosis von 375 mJ/cm2 und 1890 mJ/cm2 bestrahlt und nach der UV-C-Laser-Behandlung bei 4 °C für 14 Tage unter Schutzgas gelagert. Ziel der Untersuchung war es, den Einfluss eines starken UV-C-Lichtes auf die mikrobiologische Belastung des Hähnchenfleisches und auf deren physikochemische Parameter nicht nur direkt nach der Behandlung, sondern auch während der anschließenden Lagerung unter Schutzgas zu evaluieren.

Cooperation Partners:

PD Dr. Merve Wollweber, Laserzentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)

Funding: Industry (Feed manifacturing) , 13.595 EUR

Project Details:
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Funding: Industry (Feed manifacturing) , 20.178 EUR

Project Details:
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Funding: Umweltbundesamt (UBA) über AquaEcology GmbH & Co. KG FKZ 3717252250, 196.752 EUR

Project Details:
For implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) information on the current status and the establishment of feasable monitoring schemes are urgently needed. To achieve a good environmental status, the MSFD claims that marine debris should not cause any harm to the marine environment (Descriptor 10). This also includes small particles, such as microplastics (MPs). A trophic transfer MPs was already proven between mussels (Mytilus edulis) and crabs (Carcinus maenas). However, information on the occurence of microplastics in top predator species of German waters are lacking. Due to their position within the foodchain all three species [harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus)] are most likely accumulating uptaken particles. Carcasses stranded along the coastline of Schleswig-Holstein are transported to the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover. Necropsies are then conducted, if the state of decay allows for further inspections. Furthermore, the health status and cause of death are noted if possible. In the course of this project, faeces samples of top predator species are analysed for the presents of micro plastic particles, which are then judged quantitatively and qualitatively.

Since 2014 faeces samples are collected for further analysis during these necropsies. Within the scope of this project 15 faeces samples are analysed for the presents of micro plastic particles (5 samples of each species). Therefore, samples of the hindgut, including faeces, are cleaned up and filtered. The filter is then stained with nile-red and then checked for microplastic particles under the fluorescence microscope. After that, isolated particles from the filter are then qualitatively analysed with the help of RAMAN-Spectroscopy.

Results:

Philipp C, Unger B, Ehlers SM, Koop JHE and Siebert U (2021) First Evidence of Retrospective Findings of Microplastics in Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) From German Waters. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:682532. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.682532

 

Philipp, C.; Unger, B.; Siebert, U. Occurrence of Microplastics in Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina) and Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) from German Waters. Animals 2022, 12, 551

http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.682532

Cooperation Partners:

Koordination: AquaEcology, Marie-Curie-Straße 1, 26129 Oldenburg

weitere Informationen:

http://www.aquaecology.de/site/index.php?title=aquaecology_references_de#wissenschaftliche

Funding: Volkswagen Stiftung, 59.900 EUR

Project Details:
Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) are the three native marine mammal species in the North and Baltic Seas. All three species are increasingly under pressure in these waters, harbour porpoises and harbour seals are especially endangered in the Baltic Sea. Although they are apex predators in the marine ecosystem, are at the top of the food web and have almost no natural enemies in their habitat, they are affected by several factors like pollution, overfishing, global warming and the increasing anthropogenic impact on the ecosystem, such as shipping traffic as well as the construction and operation of offshore wind farms. Museum samples from several decades are analysed for bone density and comparison of bone structure in the cooperation project "Marine Mammals in a Changing Environment", which is already funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. Furthermore, bone and fur are examined for trace elements and heavy metals, like mercury, lead and selenium. Moreover, changes in the food spectrum shall be analysed and stress markers shall be identified in order to investigate if environmental conditions and population health have changed over time. Additionally, the samples shall be examined for infectious agents, such as parasites. Actions for the different target groups shall be developed in the intended supplement project "Volkswagen Science Transfer" to communicate the results and strategies acquired within the "Marine Mammals in a Changing Environment" project to the public. Schools are important contact points for science communication. Pupils shall be introduced to research projects and results in order to inspire them for research and sensitise them for environmental topics in the educational system. For this purpose, materials shall be developed, which are supposed to be available for schools in a sustained manner and can be used by teachers as distinct education modules. Furthermore, pupils shall be taught how to present research projects and to inform the public about research themselves. In addition, film material shall be produced to show the research project´s process steps, which will be provided for junior scientists and established scientists.

Results:

The mobile research boxes are ready to be borrowed! Teachers can use the teaching concepts to provide pupils with insights into the world of science and research and to convey the contents of the research project.

https://www.tiho-hannover.de/forschungskisten

Cooperation Partners:

Zoologische Institut Universität Hamburg

Zoologische Museum der Universität Hamburg

Deutsches Meeresmuseum in Stralsund

Zoologisches Institut und Museum der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Universität Hildesheim

Natural History Museum in Dänemark

Swedish Museum of Natural History

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, 210.551 EUR

Project Details:
The project aims to clarify who is actually responsible for the realization of 'animal welfare' in food production. To this end, 'responsibility' in the sense of philosophical theory is to be determined for the area of livestock farming. Classical ethical theories of responsibility will be considered as well as approaches from economic and business ethics, consumer ethics and food ethics. The aim is to cover all actors involved in the livestock farming process chain. A comprehensive 'map' of the actors involved with their mechanisms of action and dependencies is intended to show responsibilities within the 'livestock farming system'.
On the basis of such a map, actors can be identified who can significantly influence or change the system towards greater animal welfare in line with requirements. This should help to identify effective measures and addressees of measures in order to achieve 'more' animal welfare in the future.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Results:

The final report on the project gives a precise definition of "responsibility" and a systematic exposi-tion of the term. "Responsibility" means that agents (who have the necessary means) act according to their value preferences and cause consequences; in this respect, one must keep in mind that "animal welfare" (as based on altruistic reasoning) is not always given overriding priority when it comes to decision-making. This result becomes more plausible when analysing a concrete example, namely how to find possible alternatives the surgical castration of piglets (without anaesthesia).

The report establishes a characteristic pattern that re-occurs in many discussions on problems in farm animal husbandry: There is an enormous gap between partakers ascribing responsibility to them-selves or unto others. The report in contrast uses and extends well established morals and principles to build up matrix that makes it possible to tell more precisely, who is in fact responsible and why. The report also offers a detailed and very extensive map of agents and stakeholders in animal hus-bandry based on the criteria based on the matrix. The project also developed a database tool in order to locate players in regards to certain characteristics, especially those who may be called "Big Play-ers" in the game at hand. This will lead to a much more distinguished judgement on "responsibilities". The report finally offers an explanation on how responsibility and reliability are interconnected: It is much easier to stick to one?s own responsibilities if other players reliably stick to theirs. In turn, confi-dence in the system and its elements can be boosted whenever agents evidentially take up their re-sponsibility and do "their jobs" accordingly

Funding: QS-Wissenschaftsfonds, 25.000 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of this study is to collect scientific data on the use of elevated platforms by nursery pigs. Additionally, barn climate and pen soiling are analysed. Finally, the suitability of this housing system for nursery pigs is evaluated.

Results:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731120300021