Introduction
IDF ELIE METCHNIKOFF PRIZE 2010 WINNERS AWARDED
The winners of the IDF Elie Metchnikoff Prize were announced at the Award Ceremony at the IDF Symposia on Science and Technology of Fermented Milk and on Microstructure of Dairy Products in Tromsö, Norway, on 9 June 2010.
The IDF Elie Metchnikoff Prize 2010 was awarded in three categories: Nutrition and health, Biotechnology and Microbiology. And the winners are…
Nutrition and health
Prof. Seppo Salminen & Prof. Erika Isolauri, Finland
Probiotics in dairy products - novel tools to fight Western life-style diseases
Their discoveries focused on probiotics and fermented milks influencing gut microbiota and its interactions in a health and nutrition promoting manner. The discoveries demonstrate that probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary counselling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing allergic, inflammatory disease and the metabolic epidemic.
Biotechnology
Prof. Todd R. Klaenhammer, USA
Industrial application of molecular genetics to food grade lactic acid bacteria
His discoveries focused on industrial application of molecular genetics to food grade lactic acid bacteria. His groups’ research efforts have focused on (i) design of novel genetic strategies to provide bacteriophage resistance to dairy starter cultures; (ii) discovery and characterization of bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria; and (iii) use of genomic approaches to investigate the functional properties of probiotic lactobacilli and examine the role of the dairy environment on the expression of key traits.
Microbiology
Prof. R. Paul Ross, Dr. Catherine Stanton, Prof. Gerald Fitzgerald and Prof. Colin Hill, Ireland
Mechanistic basis of LAB and probiotic functionality
The research of this group has focused on the mechanistic basis of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and probiotic functionality. Their collaborative research has focused on exploitation and genetic improvement of LAB, ranging from applications in phage resistance and biopreservation to their incorporation and stabilisation in functional foods, to demonstration of efficacy and mechanistic studies in mammalian hosts.
Download the flyer for more information on the winners and the list of all entries received.
About Prof. E. Metchnikoff
Nobel prize winner Prof. Elie Metchnikoff of Russia first discussed the concept of creating beneficial health effects through ingestion of living bacteria. His famous book titled "The Prolongation of Life" (London, William Heinemann) was published in 1907. In his book, Prof. Metchnikoff suggested that the longevity of certain ethnic groups was related to their ingestion of fermented milk products and that these products influence the intestinal microbiota to maintain an optimal balance in support of the human metabolism.
Since this initial observation, it has been recognized that a number of factors beyond simple manipulation of the intestinal microbiota can play a role in the success of fermented milk and probiotic activity for improving nutrition and health.
The pioneering work of Prof. Elie Metchnikoff has been fundamental for the development of the very dynamic and rapidly expanding branch of the dairy industry, namely fermented milks and probiotics for improving nutrition and health world-wide. Scientific research has established the crucial role of fermented milks as natural suppliers of active ingredients and ideal carriers for probiotics essential for achieving an optimal development of the gut microbiota.
About the IDF Elie Metchnikoff Prize 2010
The IDF Elie Metchnikoff Prize 2010 has been created by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and its partner organizations, Institut Pasteur and the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) with the support of the following partners from the industry: Yakult, Danone Research, Nestlé, Mead Johnson, DSM Food Specialties, YLFA International, Danisco, Chr. Hansen, and the California Dairy Research Foundation. The key objectives of the initiative are to recognize and celebrate outstanding scientific discoveries in the fields of microbiology, biotechnology, nutrition and health with regard to fermented milks and to promote further research and innovation in the dairy industry.
The Elie Metchnikoff Prize 2010 award ceremony has taken place at the occasion of the IDF Symposia on Science and Technology of Fermented Milk and on Microstructure of Dairy Products in Tromsö, Norway, on 9 June 2010. Details on the events can be obtained from the following Internet websites: http://www.idffer2010.no/ and http://www.idfmic2010.no/
The IDF Elie Metchnikoff Prize 2010 initiative is a follow-up from the first IDF Elie Metchnikoff Prize of 2007. Details can be found at: http://emetchnikoff.fil-idf-pr.com/