Lactose-Derived Prebiotics

Dr. Andrés Illanes is a Full Professor of the Biochemical Engineering School and Head of the Biocatalysis Group, Senior Researcher at the Biotechnology Nucleus of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. Dr. Illanes’ fields of expertise are enzyme biocatalysis, enzyme immobilization and bioreactor design. He is author of over 150 publications in ISI WoS journals, several book chapters and editor of three books in enzyme biocatalysis for Wiley, Springer and Academic Press-Elsevier. Dr. Cecilia Guerrero is Associate Professor at the School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. She has published over 45 publications in ISI WOS journals, two book chapters, two patents and over 60 presentations of congress. Dr. Guerrero’s fields of expertise are the enzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates and rare-sugar with prebiotics effect by transgalactosylation and isomerization reaction with commercial and recombinant enzyme. Dr. Carlos Vera is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, Universidad de Santiago de Chile. He has published over 40 research articles on the enzymatic production of lactose derived prebiotics, glycosides by transglycosylation and, more recently, the enzymatic production of rare sugars with isomerases. He has also published two books, a book chapter and two patents. Department alumnus and Wolfson student from Chile, Dr Raul Conejeros, undertook his PhD studies on Simulation, Optimisation and Control of Biological Process Systems. He was funded by Agencia Cooperation International in Chile. In 2009 he was officially given the full professorship at his current University, the School of Biochemical Engineering in Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Chile, where he started working back in 2005.

1. Lactose: production and upgrading2. Functional foods and feeds: probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics3. Lactose derived non-digestible oligosaccharides as prebiotics: available technologies, opportunities and market4. Enzymatic production of galacto-oligosaccharides5. Enzymatic production of lactulose6. Enzymatic production of other lactose-derived prebiotic candidates7. Technical and economic analysis of industrial production of lactose-derived prebiotics8. Future trends