Food Biochemistry Lab

 

Research

The aim of the Food Biochemistry Group is to unravel the understanding of food composition, specifically the components of foods in relation to their benefit to human health. We are interested in investigating the reactions of these components postharvest-during storage, and processing with the intention of modification and improvement. Health promoting plant-based foods are the focus and utilization of their biochemical characteristics to improve nutritional quality is paramount.  Our research goal is to bridge the gap between traditional food components and their end products after reactions, with the intention to steer the reactions to consumer preferences. The activities of our research group dwell on using modern chemical, biochemical, and analytical methods to study food components and their reactions.  We use model systems and efficient statistical tools for data analysis. 

 

People

Dr. Ananga received his Associate of Science degree in Pre-Pharmacy from Calhoun Community College, Bachelor of Science degree from University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Master of Science degree in Plant Molecular Genetics from Alabama A&M and PhD in Food Science with the concentration in Food Biotechnology from Alabama A&M University.   He completed his postdoctoral training at the Center for Viticulture and Small Fruits Research in the laboratory of Dr. Violeta Tsolova at Florida A&M University where he studied Functional Genomics and Nutraceuticals in Muscadine Grapes.  He later served as an Assistant Professor and Program Leader in Food Science at Florida A&M until 2022.  In 2023, he joined the Department of Food and Animal Sciences at Alabama A&M University, where He is currently serving as an Associate Professor of Food Biochemistry.

 

Publications

Books Edited 

Badria, F. A., Ananga, A., & Blumenberg, M. (2020). Flavonoids: A Coloring Model for Cheering Up Life. BoD–Books on Demand. 

Book Chapters 

 Ochieng, J. W., & Ananga, A. (2019). Biotechnology in agricultural policies of sub-Saharan Africa. Elements of Bioeconomy. 

Ananga, A., Obuya, J., Ochieng, J., & Tsolova, V. (2017). Grape seed nutraceuticals for disease prevention: current status and future prospects. Phenolic compounds–biological activity, 119-137 

Georgiev, V., Ananga, A., & Tsolova, V. (2016). Dietary supplements/nutraceuticals made from grapes and wines. Wine safety, consumer preference, and human health, 201-227. 

Ananga, A., Georgiev, V., Ochieng, J., Phills, B., & Tsolova, V. (2013). Production of anthocyanins in grape cell cultures: a potential source of raw material for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. The Mediterranean genetic code-grapevine and olive, 1(0), 247-287. 

Ananga, A. O., Cebert, E., Ochieng, J. W., Kumar, S., Kambiranda, D., Vasanthaiah, H., ... & Anike, F. N. (2012). Prospects for transgenic and molecular breeding for cold tolerance in canola (Brassica napus L.). Edited by Uduak G. Akpan, 1. 

Kambiranda, D. M., Vasanthaiah, H. K., Katam, R., Ananga, A., Basha, S. M., & Naik, K. (2011). Impact of drought stress on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) productivity and food safety. Plants and environment, 1, 249-272. 

Konan, K. N., Ananga, A. O., & Dodo, H. (2009). Reducing peanut allergy risks by means of genetic modification. Modification of Seed Composition to Promote Health and Nutrition, 51, 289-302. 

 

Refereed Research Articles 

Zhou, W., Bias, K., Lenczewski-Jowers, D., Henderson, J., Cupp, V., Ananga, A., ... & Tsolova, V. (2022). Analysis of Protein Sequence Identity, Binding Sites, and 3D Structures Identifies Eight Pollen Species and Ten Fruit Species with High Risk of Cross-Reactive Allergies. Genes, 13(8), 1464. 

Snoussi, H., Askri, H., Nacouzi, D., Ouerghui, I., Ananga, A., Najar, A., & El Kayal, W. (2022). Comparative Transcriptome Profiling of Salinity-Induced Genes in Citrus Rootstocks with Contrasted Salt Tolerance. Agriculture, 12(3), 350. 

Francis, N., Kanga, L. H., Mannion, C. M., Haseeb, M., Ananga, A., & Legaspi, J. C. (2022). First report on voracity and feeding preference of predatory beetle, Thalassa montezumae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on croton scale, Phalacrococcus howertoni (Hemiptera: Coccidae). Agriculture, 12(7), 990. 

Kanga, L. H., Marechal, W., & Ananga, A. (2021). First Report on the Mechanisms of Insecticide Resistance in Field Populations of the Small Hive Beetle in Florida. Agriculture, 11(6), 559. 

Nâ, K., KONAN, D., ANANGA, A. O., & Hortense, D. O. D. O. (2020). Improving peanut protein quality: Expression of a synthetic storage protein. African Journal of Biotechnology, 19(5), 265-275. 

Georgiev, V., Ananga, A., Dincheva, I., Badjakov, I., Gochev, V., & Tsolova, V. (2019). Chemical composition, in vitro antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activities of essential oils and hydrosols from Native American muscadine grapes. Molecules, 24(18), 3355. 

Oglesby, L., Ananga, A., Obuya, J., Ochieng, J., Cebert, E., & Tsolova, V. (2016). Anthocyanin accumulation in muscadine berry skins is influenced by the expression of the MYB transcription factors, MybA1, and MYBCS1. Antioxidants, 5(4), 35. 

Corbiere, P., Ananga, A., Ochieng, J. W., Cebert, E., & Tsolova, V. (2015). Jacobs Journal of Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 

Obuya, J. O., Ananga, A., & Franc, G. D. (2015). Silent mutation: characterization of its potential as a mechanism for sterol 14 [alpha]-demethylase resistance in Cercospora beticola field isolates from the United States. Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, 6(6), 1. 

Hall, J., Ananga, A., Georgiev, V., Ochieng, J. W., Cebert, E., & Tsolova, V. (2015). Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) gene during Muscadine grape berry development. 

Georgiev, V., Ananga, A., & Tsolova, V. (2014). Recent advances and uses of grape flavonoids as nutraceuticals. Nutrients, 6(1), 391-415. 

Ananga, A., Georgiev, V., & Tsolova, V. (2013). Manipulation and engineering of metabolic and biosynthetic pathway of plant polyphenols. Current pharmaceutical design, 19(34), 6186-6206. 

Ananga, A., Acheampong, K., Zheng, C., Or, E., Georgiev, V., & Tsolova, V. (2013). Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene from North American native grapes (Vitis rotundifolia). In IX International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology 1157 (pp. 301-308). 

Georgiev, V., Ananga, A., & Tsolova, V. (2013). Phytochemical composition, biological activity and genetic variability of red and yellow muscadine cell lines in bioreactor cultivation. In IX International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology 1157 (pp. 65-72). 

Davis, G., Ananga, A., Krastanova, S., Sutton, S., Ochieng, J. W., Leong, S., & Tsolova, V. (2012). Elevated gene expression in chalcone synthase enzyme suggests an increased production of flavonoids in skin and synchronized red cell cultures of North American native grape berries. DNA and cell biology, 31(6), 939-945. 

Sutton, S., Krastanova, S., Ananga, A., Leong, S., & Colova, V. (2011). Genetic transformation for overexpression of flavonoid compounds in Muscadinia grape cell cultures. In Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society (Vol. 124, pp. 13-17). 

Ananga, A., Krastanova, S., Sutton, S., Leong, S., & Colova, V. (2011). Molecular Assessment of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Pathway in Synchronized In Vitro Red Cell Cultures of American Native Grapes. In Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society (Vol. 124, pp. 7-12). 

Ananga, A. O., Cebert, E., Soliman, K., Kantety, R., Konan, K., & Ochieng, J. W. (2008). Phylogenetic relationships within and among Brassica species from RAPD loci associated with blackleg resistance. African Journal of Biotechnology, 7(9). 

Ananga, A. O., Cebert, E., Soliman, K., Kantety, R., Pacumbaba, R. P., & Konan, K. (2006). RAPD markers associated with resistance to blackleg disease in Brassica species. African Journal of Biotechnology, 5(22). 

 

Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings: 

Price, X. D., Kanga, L. H., Ananga, A., & Shirk, P. D. (2017). Investigating the co-acquisition of pesticide resistance within Apis mellifera colonies. In Entomology 2017. ESA. 

Mariah Henry, Anthony Ananga, Vasil Georgiev, Violeta Tsolova. (2015). Molecular identification and detection of Eutypa lata in muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Much.). 112th Annual Meeting of The Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists Biochemistry and Biotechnology Division 

Britney Clark, Anthony Ananga, Violetka Tsolova, Vasil Georgiev. (2015). Characterization and molecular cloning of Flavonoid related Glucosyltransferase (GT’s) genes from muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Much.). 112th Annual Meeting of The Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists Biochemistry and Biotechnology Division 

Britney Clark, Anthony Ananga, Jasmine Hall, Mariah Henry, Khyrrah-Cymone Shepard, Violeta Tsolova. (2015). Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone of UDP-glucose: anthocyanin 5-O-glucosyltransferase in Vitis rotundifolia. March 13th, 2015 CAFS Research Forum, Perry Paige Auditorium 

Jasmine Hall, Anthony Ananga, Violetka Tsolova, Vasil Georgiev. (2015). Identification and Characterization of potential allergens in muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Much.). 112th Annual Meeting of The Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists Biochemistry and Biotechnology Division 

Jasmine Hall, Anthony Ananga, Vasil Georgiev, Joel Ochieng, Violetka Tsolova. (2015). Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of Flavanone 3-Hydroxylase (F3H) gene during muscadine grape berry development. March 13th, 2015 CAFS Research Forum, Perry Paige Auditorium 

Khyrrah-Cymone Shepard, Anthony Ananga, Jasmine Hall, Britney Clark, Mariah Henry, Violetka Tsolova. Somatic embryogenesis and long-term maintenance of embryogenic lines from muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia). March 13th, 2015, CAFS Research Forum, Perry Paige Auditorium 

A. Ananga, K. Acheampong, C. Zheng, E. Or, V. Georgiev, V. Tsolova. 2013. Molecular Cloning and Genetic Silencing of Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase Gene (dfr) in Cell Lines of North American Native Grapes (Muscadinia rotundifolia). 9th International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology (April 21-26, 2013), La Serena, Chile 

Vasil Georgiev, Anthony Ananga, Violeta Tsolova Phytochemicall Composition, Biological Activity and Genetic Variability of Red and Yellow Muscadine Cell Lines in Bioreactor Cultivation. 9th International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology (April 21-26, 2013), La Serena, Chile 

V. Georgiev, A.ananga, V. Tsolova. 2013. Cell suspension of native American Muscadine Grape as Prospective Source of Nutraceuticals-Rich Biomass. 17th Biennial Research Symposium (April 6-10, 2013), Gainesville, Florida 

Phillip Corbiere, Anthony Ananga, Vasil Georgiev, and Violeta Tsolova. (2013). In Silico Analysis Characterization and Molecular Cloning of UDP-Glucose: Flavonoid-3-O-Glucosyltransferase (UFGT) Gene from Muscadine Grape (Muscadinia rotundifolia, Small). 17th Biennial Research Symposium (April 6-10, 2013), Gainesville, Florida 

L. Oglespy, A. Ananga, V. Georgiev, V. Tsolova. 2013. Molecular Characterization and in silico Express Ananalysis of a MYB Gene Family in Muscadinia Grapes (Vitis muscadinia).17th Biennial Research Symposium (April 6-10, 2013), Gainesville, Florida. 

A. Ananga, K. Acheampong, C. Zheng, E. Or, V. Georgiev, V. Tsolova. 2013. Cloning of a cDNA encoding the Muscadine dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR) and its expression in transgenic cell lines increases flavonoid flux. 17th Biennial Research Symposium (April 6-10, 2013), Gainesville, Florida. 

Britney Clark, Anthony Ananga, Jasmine Hall, Mariah Henry, Khyrrah-Cymone Shepard, Violeta Tsolova. (2015). Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone of UDP-glucose: anthocyanin 5-O-glucosyltransferase in Vitis rotundifolia. March 13th, 2015 CAFS Research Forum, Perry Paige Auditorium 

G. Davis, A. Ananga, S. Krastanova, S. Sutton, V. Colova (Tsolova). 2011. Verification of the expression of CHS gene in invitro Cell lines of North American Native grapes. Association of Research Directors; 16th Biennial Research Symposium (April 9-13, 2011), Atlanta, Georgia. 

S. Sutton, S. Krastanova, A. Ananga, S. Leong, V. Colova (Tsolova). 2011. Genetic Transformation of Synchronized in vitro Muscadinia Grape Cell cultures. Association of Research Directors; 16th Biennial Research Symposium (April 9-13, 2011), Atlanta, Georgia. 

A. Ananga, S. Krastanova, S. Sutton, V. Colova (Tsolova). 2011. Molecular Assessments of Synchronized in vitro Red cell Cultures of American Native Grapes. Association of Research Directors; 16th Biennial Research Symposium (April 9-13, 2011), Atlanta, Georgia. 

 Ananga, A. O. (2010). Molecular and Phenotypic Characterization of Transgenic Hypoallergenic Peanut (Arachis Hypogea L.) (Doctoral dissertation, Alabama A & M University). 

A. Ananga, H. Dodo, K. Konan. Down Regulation of the Three Major Allergens in Peanut (Arachis hypogea) Seeds. Association of Research Directors; 15th Biennial Research Symposium (March 28-April 1, 2009), Atlanta, Georgia. 

Ananga, A., Konan, K., & Dodo, H. (2009). Hypoallergenicity of Transgenic Peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) is Transmitted to the Progeny. In IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY-ANIMAL (Vol. 45, pp. S63-S64). 233 SPRING ST, NEW YORK, NY 10013 USA: SPRINGER. 

Kaur, G., Bishnoi, U. R., Ananga, A., & Cebert, E. (2008). Proteomic Analysis of Primed Canola Seeds. In The 2008 Joint Annual Meeting. 

Ananga, A., Dodo, H., & Konan, K. (2008). Elimination of the three major allergens in transgenic peanut (Arachis hypogea L). In IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY-ANIMAL (Vol. 44, pp. S36-S37). 233 SPRING ST, NEW YORK, NY 10013 USA: SPRINGER  

Ananga, A., Cebert, E., Soliman, K., Kantety, R., Konan, K., & Ochieng, J. W. (2007). Phylogenetic Relationships among Brassica Species from RAPD Markers Associated with Blackleg Resistance. 

 Alsanabani, A. A., Beyl, C. A., & Ananga, A. (2006). Assessment of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods: simplifying the induction process and factors to consider in plant/strain competence selection. In IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY-ANIMAL (Vol. 42, pp. 36A-36A). 514 DANIELS STREET, STE 411, RALEIGH, NC 27605 USA: SOCIETY IN VITRO BIOLOGY. 

A. Ananga, E. Cebert, K. Soliman, R. Kantety, and K. Konan. Association Mapping of Resistance to Blackleg Disease (Leptosphaeria Maculans) in Canola. The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 6-10, 2005), Salt Lake City, UT. 

Ananga, A., Cebert, E., Soliman, K., Kantety, R., & Konan, K. (2005). Association Mapping of Resistance to Blackleg Disease (Leptosphaeria Maculans) in Canola. 

GenBank Submission 

Lilian Oglesby, Anthony Ananga, Violetka Tsolova. 2014. Vitis rotundifolia Myb transcription factor (MYBCS1) mRNA, partial cds. GenBank: KJ513438.1 

Lilian Oglesby, Anthony Ananga, Violetka Tsolova. 2014. Vitis rotundifolia Myb transcription factor (MybA1) mRNA, partial cds. GenBank: KJ513437.1 

Lilian Oglesby, Anthony Ananga, Violetka Tsolova. 2014. Vitis rotundifolia MYB5b-like mRNA, partial sequence. GenBank: KJ513439.1 

Anthony Ananga, Kwameh Acheampong, Chuanlin Zheng, Etti Or, Vasil Georgiev, Violeta Tsolova. 2013. Full-length cDNA clone of Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase Gene (dfr) from Muscadinia rotundifolia. NCBI accession number-KC460268 

Phillip Corbiere, Anthony Ananga, Vasil Georgiev, Joel Ochieng, Etti Orr, Violetka Tsolova 2013. Full-length cDNA clone of UDP-Glucose: Flavonoid-3-O-Glucosyltransferase (UFGT) gene from muscadine (Vitis rondutifolia) grapes. NCBI accession no. KC936148 

Jasmine Hall, Anthony Ananga, Vasil Georgiev, Joel Ochieng, Etti Orr, Violetka Tsolova. 2013. Full-length cDNA clone of Flavanone 3’ Hydroxylase (F3H) gene from Muscadine grapes. NCBI accession no. KF040970