During his PhD studies, Asger Givskov Jørgensen researched the dynamic changes in the protein composition of bovine milk by utilising a novel aptamer-based method, APTA-SHAPE, that uses highly diverse random aptamer pools as biosensors to profile the protein composition of milk. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors influence the chemical properties of milk, and the study investigated changes in the protein position related to breed, genetic polymorphisms of kappa-casein, shelf-life of skyr, and high heat-treatments effect on whey protein denaturation. Asger Givskov Jørgensen studied how aptamers and the APTA-SHAPE method can be utilised to extend the understanding of bovine milk’s protein composition to improve product quality, profitability, and climate footprint of dairy manufacturing. The new research findings contribute to the development of assays capable of identifying kappa-casein phenotypes in milk, milk authenticity, and an assay for estimating heat-induced whey protein denaturation.

The PhD study was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 2 December 2022 at 13:15
Place: Mathematics G2 (1532-122)
Title of PhD thesis: Analysing food ingredients by a novel APTA-SHAPE technology

Contact information: Asger Givskov Jørgensen, e-mail: asgergivskov@inano.au.dk, tel.: +45 28729188

Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Günter Mayer, Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) Chemical Biology, University of Bonn, Germany

Senior R&D Manager Marie Stampe Ostenfeld, Nutrition & Health, Arla Foods Ingredients, Denmark

Associate Professor Ken Howard (chair), Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center INANO-MBG, Aarhus University, Denmark

Main supervisor:
Professor Jørgen Kjems, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center - INANO-MBG, Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisor:
Assistant Professor Daniel Miotto Dupont, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center - INANO-MBG,  Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS,
Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.