Lactose-Derived Prebiotics

Dr. Andrés Illanes is a full Professor at the Biochemical Engineering School of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. Dr. Illanes’ fields of expertise are enzyme biocatalysis, enzyme immobilization, and bioreactor design. He is editor of three books in enzyme biocatalysis for Wiley, Springer, and Academic Press-Elsevier and author of more than 200 articles in scientific journals. He is editor of the Electronic Journal of Biotechnology. Dr. Cecilia Guerrero is an Associate Professor at the School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso, Chile. Her interests include the study of enzymatic biocatalysis, applied to the production of functional carbohydrates from industrial waste, through the application of reaction medium, biocatalyst, and reactor engineering strategies, in order to obtain more productive and sustainable processes in line with the principle of green chemistry. Her work includes the study of immobilized enzymes for the generation of biocatalysts for the synthesis of various lactose derived prebiotics. Dr. Guerrero has published numerous articles in scientific journals and book chapters. Dr. Carlos Vera is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, Universidad de Santiago de Chile. His interest includes the study of the enzymatic syntheses of glycosides and oligosaccharides derived from lactose and other underutilized carbohydrates by kinetically and thermodynamically controlled routes. Within this framework, Dr. Vera is especially interested in the use of kinetic modelling and substrate, reaction medium, and reactor engineering strategies for the development of more sustainable enzymatic processes. Dr. Vera has published several academic articles and book chapters and edited two books regarding these topics. 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