Center for Crops Utilization Research

Information Home About News Research Facilities BioCentury Research Farm Services Industry Assistance Faculty & Staff Roster Sponsors Resources Employment Got a question? Contact us at (515) 294-0160 or ccur@iastate.edu .	High Throughput Natural Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Discovery Lab Contact Aubrey Mendonca, Professor-in-Charge 2312 Food Sciences Building (515) 294-2950 amendon@iastate.edu Bill Colonna, Assistant Scientist 634 Food Sciences Building (515) 294-0643 wcolonna@iastate.edu About The mission of the Discovery Lab is to accelerate the discovery and characterization of bioactive compounds from naturally occurring sources. The lab currently operates two “Growth Curve” units capable of evaluating and incubating 400 samples continuously via four microtiter well plates. These units enable researchers to test various plant and animal sources to determine whether they have antimicrobial or prebiotic properties. Antimicrobial compounds can be used to destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, such as those that cause foodborne illnesses. Prebiotic compounds aid in the survival and growth of probiotics in the gut. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in a food product such as yogurt, can be used to combat pathogenic microorganisms and the diseases they cause. After determining whether a plant or animal extract has antimicrobial or prebiotic properties, researchers at the Discovery Lab will then be able to breakdown the initial source into its component parts using a Preparative High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph, capable of accepting one to two gram samples, and to test each compound separately to determine exactly which compounds have the greatest antimicrobial or prebiotic effect. The goal is to identify the smallest amount of a compound or combination of compounds that can be added to food that will be effective in killing pathogens or preventing them from growing. Equipment Preparative High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph Analytical High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph Anaerobic Chamber Two Bioscreen C MBR Units (One unit is in the Anaerobic Chamber) Thermo UV-visible Spectrophotometer Mini Organic Solvent Spray Dryer Electric Sterilizer (1.8 cubic foot) Two Bioguard Hoods Refrigerator Ultra-low (-80˚ C) Freezer Three Incubators	Discovery Lab scientist Bill Colonna explains data on a Bioscreen Growth Curve unit. Fee Schedule Interested in using the Discovery Lab's Bioscreen unit? Download the fee schedule [PDF] Fact Sheets Download information about the Discovery Lab and the Bioscreen Growth Curve Units Discovery Lab Flyer [PDF] Bioscreen Flyer [PDF]
		The Discovery Lab is one of the first high throughput discovery labs to focus on bioactive molecule discovery for food systems.