Progress 05/01/19 to 04/12/22
Outputs
Target Audience:During the entirety of the project, my efforts for this project and training reached the following target audiences: Training four undergraduate students in molecular/biochemical nutrition who have been accepted to medical school or PhD programs in the country USDA Outlook Forum attendees as my research was shared as a recipient of the USDA Future Leaders in Agriculture Graduate Finalist Sharing research with first generation Nebraskan undergraduates at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Presenting my USDA Predoctoral Research to the Nebraska Food for Health seminar which included the University of Nebraska-Medical Center clinicians, UNL researchers, students, and collaborators Disseminated two completed manuscripts through peer reviewed journals Presented abstracts at the American Society for Nutrition Conference Nutrition Live Online 2020 and 2021 - of which was chosen as an oral presentation for the Nutritional Microbiology section Conducted outreach and talked about my research with incoming college students at the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy by video Presented my overall USDA predoctoral fellowship research during my dissertation defense Shared project findings for the Nebraska Food for Health Center's Agriculture and Health Summit which was held virtually and internationally Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The overall project has provided the PD with numerous training and professional development opportunities - as reported in previous USDA annual reports. In her first year, she was selected as a USDA Future Leader in Agriculture for 2020 and attended the USDA Outlook Forum in Washington, D.C. She was also accepted to the New England Science Symposium at Harvard Medical School despite being delayed due to the pandemic. The following year, the PD was accepted into the New England Future Faculty Workshop provided by Northeastern University. She drafted her research, teaching, and diversity statements which were reviewed by several universities. Moreover, she spent time enhancing her grant writing skills after attending several NIH and USDA grant training workshops from UNL to prepare her for future grant submissions. Moreover, she took an intensive week-long workshop focused on 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. During this time, she has also steered various committees within the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) as an at-large delegate (2019-2020) and student interest group secretary (2020-2021). She was the co-lead for the society's "Meet the Fellows event where students from around the world virtually meet in small groups with distinguished leaders in nutrition science. During her final period as a USDA Predoctoral Fellow, the PD continued to serve for the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and was accepted as a board member of the ASN Minority and Diversity Affairs Committee to further diversity, equity, and inclusion in nutrition science. Furthermore, she was also elected as the ASN Early Career Nutrition Executive Board Nominations Chair for 2021-2023. Moreover, based on her success during her fellowship period, the PD secured a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston at the regional campus in El Paso, TX to continue her research in basic science, clinical science, and community nutrition to address nutritional health disparities on Mexican and Mexican American populations. At the end of her USDA fellowship, the PD secured a National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute Diversity Supplement to further her research in Texas. The PD mentored three diligent undergraduate students in the lab. Her first student to graduate now attend Cornell University in the Division of Nutritional Sciences. Her honors thesis undergraduate student has now chosen to pursue a medical degree and was accepted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to start in Fall 2022.Lastly, her McNair undergraduate student was accepted to the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) and has recently been accepted to pursue her doctoral studies at UMass Medical School in Immunology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The PD has focused on disseminating her research to various groups. She has shared her research and scientific journey with students aspiring to become scientists through the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy (NCPA) at UNL. She also worked closely with her mentees to discuss the project but also the soft skills developed as a scientist (i.e., communication skills, presentation skills, etc.). She also shared her work as a member of the Nebraska First Generation Board to undergraduates from similar backgrounds interested in careers in research or science. Working in both community nutrition and biochemical/molecular nutrition, the PD is able to connect with a diverse group of students to provide a unique mentoring experience. She also has presented her research to scientific audiences such as at the American Society for Nutrition conferences for 2020 and 2021. She presented her research at the Nebraska Food for Health Center (NFHC) seminar and the Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Predoctoral Training Program at UNL. Lastly, she presented her research at the NFHC's Agriculture and Health Summit held virtually and internationally. In summer 2021, the PD disseminated her research to a broad audience during her dissertation defense. Her public dissertation defense included academics from various institutions, international students, community members, undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in nutrition science, and high school students interested in pursuing a degree in agriculture/nutrition science. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Thegoal of this proposalis to establish 1) impact of red raspberry polyphenols on gut microbial community and production of gut-derived metabolites of red raspberry polyphenols by using a germ-free vs. conventionalized mouse model and 2) metabolic benefits of gut-derived polyphenolic metabolites of red raspberry in reversing the effects of HF diet-mediated metabolic dysfunction. ?Under the first goal of determining the impact of red raspberry polyphenols on gut microbial communities and the production of gut-derived metabolites of red raspberry polyphenols using germ-free vs. conventionalized mouse model, the PD made significant progress in elucidating these throughout the grant period. First, at the time of the award being granted, the PD completed two pilot studies to understand how to engraft Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens (G. urolithinfaciens) in a previously germ-free conventional mouse by using probiotic administration (i.e., in the drinking water) or by oral gavage. After finding the microbe is stable in the drinking water, the PD initiated a diet study to understand how the gut plays a role in mediating the effects of red raspberry consumption on metabolic benefits. The PD set out to administer G. urolithinfaciens through the drinking water to the mice in February 2020 where the mice were also fed high-fat diet (45% calories from fat) with or without 0.5% red raspberry pulp extract which is devoid of sugars and fibers. The PD cultured the G. urolithinfaciens every 24 hours and gave the mice fresh water daily until the end of the study which was caused by the pandemic shutdown. The PD has made extensive progress in understanding the mechanisms by which G. urolithinfaciens responds differently in the presence of red raspberry polyphenols. The PD found that when mice consumed the red raspberry polyphenol diet along with the G. urolithinfaciens, this abrogated the health benefits of lowering adiposity and blood glucose which is seen only in mice administered the G. urolithinfaciens and consuming diet without red raspberry polyphenols. Interestingly, the PD also sees a responder and non-responder phenotype occur with the mice, meaning that some mice respond to the administration of G. urolithinfaciens whereas other mice - even within the same cage - do not respond similarly. Currently, the PD is completing the data analysis to understand these patterns. Given the results from the study using G. urolithinfaciens, the PD wanted to understand whether another microbe, Gordonibacter pamelaeae (G. pamelaeae) would confer the same health benefits if administered with or without the presence of a red raspberry polyphenol - ellagic acid. The PD successfully completed her final mouse study in June 2022 which shed light on howG. urolithinfaciensand/orG. pamelaeaemay improve metabolic health with or without red raspberry polyphenols. Interestingly, the PD found the experimental results were reproduced in thatG. urolithinfaciensimproved metabolic benefits without red raspberry supplementation whereasG. pamelaeaeimproved metabolic benefits when administered with the red raspberry polyphenolellagic acid. This project also provides information on how red raspberry polyphenols, especially ellagic acid, can reverse the effects of HF diet-mediated metabolic dysfunction and that the gut microbiome in fact is required to mediate these health benefits. The PD plans to finish the analysis on this project and submit these studies as a manuscript for publication in early 2023. Under goal two, the PD also conducted a side in vitro study examining the role of red raspberries or their gut-derived metabolites, Urolithin A, in reducing neuroinflammation in BV-2 microglial cells and macrophages. The PD published this study using the BV-2 mouse microglial cells where she found that red raspberries reduced inflammation when given acutely (3 hours) alongside LPS whereas urolithin A reduced neuroinflammation acutely (3 hours) and chronically (12 and 24 hours), thereby suggesting urolithin A is potentially more robust than red raspberry polyphenols in an in vitro model of neuroinflammation. Lastly, the PD published a thorough review on the immunomodulatory role of urolithin A on metabolic diseases.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Ashley Toney, Yibo Xian, Jing Shao, Duncan Works, Mahaa Albusharif, Robert Schmaltz, Virginia Chaidez, Soonkyu Chung, Amanda E Ramer-Tait, The Gut Microbiota Regulates the Metabolic Benefits Mediated by Red Raspberry Polyphenols, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 5, Issue Supplement_2, June 2021, Page 1187, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab054_042
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Toney, Ashley RM, "From Bench to Community: Addressing Health Disparities by Investigating Host Metabolic Benefits of Red Raspberry Polyphenols and Understanding the Macrosystem Level of Influence on Community Health Worker Effectiveness" (2021). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. [Under embargo until 2023]
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Toney, A.M., Fox, D., Chaidez, V., Ramer-Tait, A.E., & Chung, S. (2021). Immunomodulatory Role of Urolithin A on Metabolic Diseases. Biomedicine, 9(2), 192.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Toney, A.M., Albusharif, M., Works, D., Polenz, L., Schlange, S., Chaidez, V., Ramer-Tait, A.E., & Chung, S. (2021). Differential Effects of Whole Red Raspberry Polyphenols and Their Gut Metabolite Urolithin A on Neuroinflammation in BV-2 Microglia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), 68.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Toney, A., Xian, Y., Shao, J., Schmaltz, R., Chaidez, V., Chung, S., & Ramer-Tait, A. (2020). Introducing Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens into Gut Ecosystems to Study Its Role in Mediating the Metabolic Benefits of Dietary Polyphenols. Current Developments in Nutrition, 4(Supplement_2), 1594-1594.
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Progress 05/01/19 to 01/10/22
Outputs
Target Audience:During the remainder of my reporting period (, my efforts for this project and training reached the following target audiences: Presenting my research at the American Society for Nutrition Conference - Nutrition 2021 - of which was chosen as an oral presentation for the Microbiology section Presenting my overall USDA predoctoral fellowship research during my dissertation defense Shared research findings for the Nebraska Food For Health Center's Agriculture & Health Summit Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The overall project has provided the PD with numerous training and professional development opportunities - as reported in previous USDA annual reports. During her final period as a USDA Predoctoral Fellow, the PD continued to serve for the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and was accepted as a board member of the ASN Minority and Diversity Affairs Committee to further diversity, equity, and inclusion in nutrition science. Furthermore, she was also elected as the ASN Early Career Nutrition Executive Board Nominations Chair for 2021-2023. The PD also hosted the ASN Nutrition 2021 "Meet the Fellows" event where students from around the world are able to virtually meet in small groups with distinguished leaders in nutrition science. Moreover, based on her success during her fellowship period, the PD secured a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston at the regional campus in El Paso, TX to continue her research in basic science, clinical science, and community nutrition to address nutritional health disparities on Mexican and Mexican-American populations. The PD continued mentoring her final undergraduate student in the lab with his honors thesis. Her undergraduate student has now chosen to pursue a medical degree and was accepted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to start in Fall 2022. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The PD disseminated her research to a broad audience during her dissertation defense in the summer of 2021. Her public dissertation defense included academics from various institutions, international students, community members, undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in nutrition science, and high school students interested in pursuing a degree in agriculture/nutrition science. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Under the first goal of determining the impact of red raspberry polyphenols on gut microbial communities and the production of gut-derived metabolites of red raspberry polyphenols using germ-free vs. conventionalized mouse model, the PD made significant progress in elucidating these mechanisms in the remainder of her grant period. The PD successfully completed the her final mouse study which shed light on how Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens(G. urolithinfaciens)and/or Gordonibacter pamelaeae (G. pamelaeae)may improve metabolic health with or without red raspberry polyphenols. This project also provides information on how red raspberry polyphenols, especially ellagic acid, can reverse the effects of HF diet-mediated metabolic dysfunction and that the gut microbiome in fact is required to mediate these health benefits. Interestingly, the PD found that supplementation of G. urolithinfaciens improved metabolic health but these benefits were abrogated in the prescence of RR polyphenols. Therefore, the PD repeated the mouse experiment using a key red raspberry polyphenol, ellagic acid, and introduced both G. urolithinfaciens and G. pamelaeae. The PD found the experimental results were reproduced in thatG. urolithinfaciens improved metabolic benefits without red raspberry supplementation whereas G. pamelaeae improved metabolic benefits when administered with the red raspberry polyphenolellagic acid. The PD plans to finish the analysis on this project and submit these studies as a manuscript for publication.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Ashley Toney, Yibo Xian, Jing Shao, Duncan Works, Mahaa Albusharif, Robert Schmaltz, Virginia Chaidez, Soonkyu Chung, Amanda E Ramer-Tait, The Gut Microbiota Regulates the Metabolic Benefits Mediated by Red Raspberry Polyphenols, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 5, Issue Supplement_2, June 2021, Page 1187, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab054_042
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Toney, Ashley RM, "From Bench to Community: Addressing Health Disparities by Investigating Host Metabolic Benefits of Red Raspberry Polyphenols and Understanding the Macrosystem Level of Influence on Community Health Worker Effectiveness" (2021). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. [Under embargo until 2023]
|
Progress 05/01/20 to 04/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:During the current reporting period, my efforts for this project and training reached the following target audiences: 1. Training two undergraduate students in Food Science and Technology under my USDA predoctoral project 2. Presenting my USDA Predoctoral Research to the Nebraska Food for Health seminar which included University of Nebraska Medical Center clinicians, UNL researchers, students, and collaborators 3. Shared research with first generation Nebraskan undergraduates at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 4. Disseminated two completed manuscripts through peer reviewed journals 5. Presented an abstract at the American Society for Nutrition Conference Nutrition Live Online 2020 6. Conducted outreach and talked about my research with incoming college students at the Nebraska College Prepatory Academy by video Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has provided the PD with numerous training and professional development opportunities. The PD was accepted into the New England Future Faculty Workshop provided by Northeastern University. She drafted her research, teaching, and diversity statement which was reviewed by several universities. Additionally, the PD has enhanced her grant writing skills after attending several NIH and USDA grant training workshops from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to prepare her for future grant submissions as a postdoctoral fellow. Lastly, since the PD was given the opportunity to develop her skills in gut biology, she completed a week-long workshop focused on 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and is now completing her 16S analysis as outlined in the goals from this proposal. Moreover, the PD has continued to be part of the American Society for Nutrition and was selected as Secretary for the ASN Student Interest Group Executive Board. She was the co-chair for the " Meet the Fellows" event where students from around the world are able to virtually meet in small groups with distinguished leaders in nutrition science. Since the PD values the impact of mentoring, she also completed mentoring two undergraduates in her lab who assisted in this project. One of the undergraduates has now chosen to pursue a graduate degree in STEM and will start in Fall 2021. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The PD has focused on disseminating information about her research to individuals in the community with a particular focus on students aspiring to be scientists. The PD discussed her journey and research to the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy (NCPA). NCPA is an innovative college access program and its mission is to prepare academically talented, first-generation, low-income students from high school for college and future careers. The PD gave this talk virtually during their summer camp in 2020. The PD also works closely with first-generation college students by assisting in preparing graduate applications and delivered a webinar to first-generation students regarding her journey through STEM with a particular focus on nutrition lab science. The PD also disseminated her research results to the Nebraska Food for Health Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and as part of a seminar for the Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Predoctoral Training Program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next reporting period, the PD plans to complete her final mouse study and analysis with plans to submit and defend her dissertation. She will publish results in several peer-reviewed manuscripts and disseminate these results at the American Society for Nutrition online conference in 2021. The results from the PD's collective research will highlight the importance of considering specific diet-microbiota interactions when developing foods for preventing and treating obesity-related diseases.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Thegoals of this proposalareto establish 1) impact of red raspberry polyphenols on gut microbial community and production of gut-derived metabolites of red raspberry polyphenols by using a germ-free vs. conventionalized mouse model and 2) metabolic benefits of gut-derived polyphenolic metabolites of red raspberry in reversing the effects of HF diet-mediated metabolic dysfunction. The proposed project will provide insight into the microbiome's role in metabolic benefits of red raspberry intake. Under the first goal for determining the impact of red raspberry polyphenols on gut microbial communities and the production of gut-derived metabolites of red raspberry polyphenols using a germ-free vs. conventionalized mouse model, the PD has made significant progress in elucidating these mechanisms. After several pilot studies, the PD was able to introduce Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens and Gordonibacter pamelaeae, both of which are human-derived strains, into mice through their daily drinking water. Additionally, the PD completed one mouse study prior to the pandemic shutdown where she has made progress in identifying how the specific urolithin-producing strain affects host metabolism. Lastly, she is set to complete her final mouse study by mid-May which will shed light on how Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens and/or Gordonibacter pamelaeae may improve metabolic health with or without red raspberry polyphenols. Under the second goal for establishing metabolic benefits of gut-derived polyphenolic metabolites of red raspberries in reversing the effects of HF diet-mediated metabolic dysfunction, the PD has also made significant progress. Based on preliminary results from the studies addressed under goal one, she has seen that the microbiome is in fact required for mediating RR polyphenol metabolic benefits. Moreover, supplementation of Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens improved metabolic health in HF diet fed mice. Additionally, the PD published an in vitro study using BV-2 mouse microglial cells to elucidate the mechanisms behind red raspberry polyphenols and their gut-derived metabolite, urolithin A, in attenuating neuroinflammation - which has been implicated in metabolic diseases. Moreover, the PD published a thorough review on the immunomodulatory role of urolithin A on metabolic diseases.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Toney, A. M., Fox, D., Chaidez, V., Ramer-Tait, A. E., & Chung, S. (2021). Immunomodulatory Role of Urolithin A on Metabolic Diseases. Biomedicines, 9(2), 192.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Toney, A. M., Albusharif, M., Works, D., Polenz, L., Schlange, S., Chaidez, V., ... & Chung, S. (2021). Differential Effects of Whole Red Raspberry Polyphenols and Their Gut Metabolite Urolithin A on Neuroinflammation in BV-2 Microglia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), 68.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Toney, A., Xian, Y., Shao, J., Schmaltz, R., Chaidez, V., Chung, S., & Ramer-Tait, A. (2020). Introducing Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens into Gut Ecosystems to Study Its Role in Mediating the Metabolic Benefits of Dietary Polyphenols. Current Developments in Nutrition, 4(Supplement_2), 1594-1594.
|
Progress 05/01/19 to 04/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:During the current reporting period, my efforts for this project and training reached the following target audiences: 1. Training two undergraduate students in molecular/biochemical nutrition 2. USDA Outlook Forum attendees as my research was shared as a recipient of the USDA Future Leaders in Agriculture Graduate Finalist 3. Sharing research with first generation Nebraskan undergraduates at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Based on the PD's interdisciplinary approach of her project, the PD was selected as a USDA Future Leader in Agriculture for 2020. The PD was able to attend the USDA Outlook Forum in Washington, D.C. Additionally, the PD has been accepted to the New England Science Symposium (cancelled for COVID-19 concerns) at Harvard Medical School. The PD's abstract was accepted to the American Society for Nutrition Nutrition 2020 Conference which will be held in Seattle, Washington in June 2020. The PD also has been accepted to the American Society for Nutrition Student Interest Group Board as an at-large delegate and is assisting in the planning of the conference events directed towards students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results from the pilot studies and in vitro studies have been discussed with members from other lab groups at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Additionally, the PD is a member of the Nebraska First Generation Board and speaks of her research and career with undergraduates from similar backgrounds interested in careers in research or science. Working in both community nutrition and biochemical/molecular nutrition, the PD is able to connect with a diverse group of students to provide a unique mentoring experience. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next reporting period, the PD plans to finalize her projects and submit her dissertation. She will apply for several conferences (local and abroad) to disseminate results of her research. The PD will continue to mentor undergraduate students and provide mentoring experiences for them and their interests in agricultural research. The PD will begin to analyze her data and translate her findings for various audiences, including researchers and the public. Lastly, the PD plans to finalize publications related to this research.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Thegoals of this proposalareto determine1) impact of red raspberry polyphenols on gut microbial community and production of gut-derived metabolites of red raspberry polyphenols by using a germ-free vs. conventionalized mouse model and 2) metabolic benefits of gut-derived polyphenolic metabolites of red raspberry in reversing the effects of HF diet-mediated metabolic dysfunction. The proposed project will provide insight into the microbiome's role in metabolic benefits of red raspberry intake. Under these goals, the PD completed two pilot studies to understand how to engraft Gordonibacter Urolithinfaciens in a previously germ-free conventional mouse by using probiotic administration or oral gavage. PD also initiated a diet study to understand how the gut plays a role in mediating the effects of red raspberry consumption on metabolic benefits. This study is ongoing and will be completed in May 2020. PD has also worked on in vitro experiments to look at the gut metabolite, Urolithin A, or the polyphenols extracted from whole red raspberry and red raspberry pulp on microglial cells and macrophages. The PD is focusing on the gut biology aspect of the project for the next year.
Publications
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