Ryan J. Elias, Ph.D.

Ryan J. Elias, Ph.D.

  • Professor and Associate Head of Food Science
336 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building
University Park, PA 16802

Areas of Expertise

  • Food chemistry
  • Enology
  • Wine oxidation
  • Hop chemistry
  • Antioxidants
  • Lipid oxidation

Education

  • Postdoc, Viticulture & Enology, University of California-Davis
  • Ph.D., Food Science, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 2006
  • B.A., Chemistry, Hamilton College, 2000

Research

Our group studies the free radical chemistry of foods, especially as it relates to understanding antioxidant and pro-oxidant mechanisms. Current research projects in our laboratory are in the following areas:

  • Oxidative stability of wine and beer components
  • Lipid oxidation in complex foods
  • Use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to investigate free radical mechanisms in foods, tobacco products, and biological systems
  • Small molecule partitioning in complex foods using EPR spin probes
  • Redox chemistry and stability of polyphenols in foods

Honors and Awards

  • Outstanding Collaborative Research Award, Penn State College of Medicine, 2018
  • Community of Teaching Award, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, 2018
  • Anna and Guy Bixler Memorial Teaching Award in Food Science, 2015
  • Young Scientist Award, American Chemical Society, Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division, 2012
  • Honored Student Award, American Oil Chemists' Society, 2005


Funding

Work in our group is, or has been, supported by the following agencies and organizations:

  • Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Specialty Crop Research Initiative, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (P50), US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Board, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA)
  • Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverage Industry Promotion Board, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA)
  • Dairy Management Inc. (DMI)

Publications

Microscopic assessment of the degradation of millet starch granules by endogenous and exogenous enzymes during mashing
Carbohydrate Polymers, Ledley, Andrew, Ziegler, Gregory, Elias, Ryan, Cockburn, Darrell W., 2023

Evaluating the Role of Mashing in the Amino Acid Profiles of Worts Produced from Gluten-Free Malts
Beverages, Ledley, Andrew J., Elias, Ryan J., Cockburn, Darrell W., 2023

Impact of mashing protocol on the formation of fermentable sugars from millet in gluten-free brewing
Food Chemistry, Ledley, Andrew, Elias, R, Cockburn, Darrell, 2023

The effect of dessert-flavored e-cigarettes on brain function: A brief report
Neuropsychopharmacology, Hobkirk, A, Houser, K, Hoglen, B, Bitzer, Z, Fendrich, A, Bordner, C, Foulds, J, Mukherjee, D, Yingst, J, Karunanayakac, P, Goel, R, Wang, J, Richie, J, Elias, Ryan, Yang, Q, 2023

Free radicals in little cigar mainstream smoke and the influence of flavoring chemicals on free radical production
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Mocniak, Leanne, Bitzer, Z, Goel, R, Muscat, J, Foulds, J, Elias, Ryan, Richie, J, 2023

Effect of alkyl chain length on the antioxidant activity of alkylresorcinol homologs in low-moisture crackers
LWT, Elder, Andrew S., Coupland, John N., Hopfer, H, Elias, R, Hopfer, Helene, Elias, Ryan J., Andrew, Elder, 2022

Partitioning of caffeine and quinine in oil-in-water emulsions and effects on bitterness
Journal of Food Science, Elias, R, Tenney, K, Hayes, John, Tenney, Kelsey, Bakke, A, Coupland, John, Elias, Ryan, 2022

Impact of copper-based fungicides on the antioxidant quality of ethanolic hop extracts
Food Chemistry, Chrisfield, Benjamin J., Hopfer, Helene, Elias, Ryan J., 2021

Influence of region on sensory and chemical profiles of pennsylvania grüner veltliner wines
Foods, Keller, Stephanie T., Harner, Andrew D., Centinari, Michela, Elias, Ryan J., Hopfer, Helene, 2021

Gliadin sequestration as a novel therapy for celiac disease: A prospective application for polyphenols
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Van Buiten, Charlene B., Elias, Ryan J., 2021

Evidence From an fMRI Study That Dessert-Flavored E-Cigarettes Engage Taste-Related, but Not Smoking-Related, Brain Circuitry for Female Daily Smokers
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Hobkirk, Andr\'ea L, None, Hobkirk, Andrea, Houser, Kenneth, Hoglen, Brianna, Bitzer, Zachary, Fendrich, Alan, Frendrich, Alan, Bordner, Candace, Foulds, J, Wang, J, Mukherjee, D, Yingst, J, Mukherjee, Dahlia, Yingst, J, Karunanayakac, P, Karunanayaka, P, others, None, Goel, R, Goel, R, Wang, J, Richie, J, Elias, Ryan, Yang, Qing, Elias, R, Yang, Q, 2021

Effect of Copper-Based Fungicide Treatments on the Quality of Hop Produced in the Northeastern United States
Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists, Chrisfield, B, Gugino, Beth, Hopfer, Helene, Elias, Ryan, 2021

Unburned Tobacco Cigarette Smoke Alters Rat Ultrastructural Lung Airways and DNA
Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Vivarelli, Fabio, Canistro, Donatella, Cirillo, Silvia, Elias, Ryan J., Granata, Silvia, Mussoni, Matilde, Burattini, Sabrina, Falcieri, Elisabetta, Turrini, Eleonora, Fimognari, Carmela, Buschini, Annamaria, Lazzaretti, Mirca, Beghi, Sofia, Girotti, Stefano, Sangiorgi, Stefano, Bolelli, Luca, Ghini, Severino, Ferri, Elida Nora, Fagiolino, Ivan, Franchi, Paola, Lucarini, Marco, Mercatante, Dario, Rodriguez-Estrada, Maria Teresa, Lorenzini, Antonello, Marchionni, Silvia, Gabriele, Morena, Longo, Vincenzo, Paolini, Moreno, 2021

Impact of Atomizer Age and Flavor on in Vitro Toxicity of Aerosols from a Third-Generation Electronic Cigarette against Human Oral Cells
Chemical Research in Toxicology, Ureña, José F., Ebersol, Lauren A., Silakov, Alexey, Elias, Ryan J., Lambert, Joshua D., 2020

An Electronic Aerosol Delivery System for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, Hobkirk, Andréa L., Bitzer, Zachary, Goel, R, Sica, Christopher T., Livelsberger, Craig, Yingst, Jessica, Houser, Kenneth, Rupprecht, Sebastian, Trushin, N, Karunanayaka, Prasanna, Foulds, Jonathan, Richie, John P., Richie, Jr, J, Spreen, Lauren, Hoglen, Brianna, Wang, Jianli, Elias, Ryan J., Yang, Qing X., 2020

Impact of electronic cigarette heating coil resistance on the production of reactive carbonyls, reactive oxygen species and induction of cytotoxicity in human lung cancer cells in vitro
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, Cirillo, Silvia, Urena, Jose F., Lambert, Joshua D., Vivarelli, Fabio, Canistro, Donatella, Paolini, Moreno, Cardenia, Vladimiro, Rodriguez-Estrada, Maria Teresa, Richie, John P., Elias, Ryan J., 2019

UV-C irradiated gallic acid exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity via generation of reactive oxidative species and quinone
Food Chemistry, Wang, Qingyang, Leong, Wai Fun, Elias, Ryan J., Tikekar, Rohan V., 2019

Loss and formation of malodorous volatile sulfhydryl compounds during wine storage
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Kreitman, Gal Y., Elias, Ryan J., Jeffery, David W., Sacks, Gavin L., 2019

Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity and Interaction with Radical Species Using the Vesicle Conjugated Autoxidizable Triene (VesiCAT) Assay
European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, Durand, Erwann, Zhao, Yu, Ruesgas-Ramón, Mariana, Figueroa-Espinoza, Maria Cruz, Lamy, Samantha, Coupland, John N., Elias, Ryan J., Villeneuve, Pierre, 2019

Physicochemical interactions with (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate drive structural modification of celiac-associated peptide α2-gliadin (57-89) at physiological conditions
Food and Function, Van Buiten, Charlene B., Yennawar, Neela H., Pacheco, Carlos N., Hatzakis, Emmanuel, Elias, Ryan J., 2019

In Vitro Antioxidant and Cancer Inhibitory Activity of a Colored Avocado Seed Extract
International Journal of Food Science, Dabas, Deepti, Elias, Ryan J., Ziegler, Gregory R., Lambert, Joshua D., 2019

Modeling the Impacts of Weather and Cultural Factors on Rotundone Concentration in Cool-Climate Noiret Wine Grapes
Frontiers in Plant Science, Harner, Andrew D., Vanden Heuvel, Justine E., Harner, Andrew, Marini, Richard P., Vanden Heuvel, J, Elias, Ryan J., Centinari, Michela, 2019

Effects of Charcoal on Carbonyl Delivery from Commercial, Research, and Make-Your-Own Cigarettes
Chemical Research in Toxicology, Reilly, Samantha, Goel, R, Trushin, Neil, Bitzer, Zachary, Elias, Ryan J., Muscat, Joshua, Richie, J, 2018

Characterization of amylose inclusion complexes using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy
Food Hydrocolloids, Kong, Lingyan, Yucel, Umut, Yoksan, Rangrong, Elias, Ryan J., Ziegler, Gregory R., 2018

Inclusion complex formation between high amylose corn starch and alkylresorcinols from rye bran
Food Chemistry, Gunenc, Aynur, Kong, Lingyan, Elias, Ryan J., Ziegler, Gregory R., 2018

Effect of Charcoal in Cigarette Filters on Free Radicals in Mainstream Smoke
Chemical Research in Toxicology, Goel, R, Bitzer, Zachary, Reilly, Samantha, Bhangu, Gurkirat, Trushin, N, Elias, Ryan J., Foulds, Jonathan, Muscat, Joshua, Richie, John P., 2018

Little cigars, filtered cigars, and their carbonyl delivery relative to cigarettes
Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Reilly, Samantha, Goel, R, Bitzer, Zachary, Elias, Ryan J., Foulds, Jonathan, Muscat, Joshua, Richie, John P., 2018

Impact of roasting on the flavan-3-ol composition, sensory-related chemistry, and in vitro pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of cocoa beans
Food Chemistry, Stanley, Todd H., Van Buiten, Charlene B., Baker, Scott A., Elias, Ryan J., Anantheswaran, Ramaswamy C., Lambert, Joshua D., 2018

Influence of Smoking Puff Parameters and Tobacco Varieties on Free Radicals Yields in Cigarette Mainstream Smoke
Chemical Research in Toxicology, Goel, R, Bitzer, Zachary, Reilly, Samantha, Foulds, Jonathan, Muscat, Joshua, Elias, Ryan, Richie, John, 2018

Effect of flavoring chemicals on free radical formation in electronic cigarette aerosols
Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Bitzer, Zachary, Goel, R, Reilly, Samantha, Elias, Ryan J., Silakov, Alexey, Foulds, Jonathan, Muscat, Joshua, Richie, John P., 2018

Effect of ethanol on the solubilization of hydrophobic molecules by sodium caseinate
Food Hydrocolloids, Qu, Yanqi, Harte, Federico M., Elias, Ryan J., Coupland, John N., 2018

Green Tea Polyphenols Mitigate Gliadin-Mediated Inflammation and Permeability in Vitro
Die Nahrung, Van Buiten, Charlene B., Lambert, Joshua, Elias, Ryan J., 2018

Impact of fruit-zone leaf removal on rotundone concentration in noiret
American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Homich, Laura J., Elias, Ryan J., Van Den Heuvel, Justine E., Centinari, Michela, 2017

Brand variation in oxidant production in mainstream cigarette smoke: Carbonyls and free radicals
Food and Chemical Toxicology, Reilly, Samantha M., Goel, Reema, Trushin, Neil, Elias, Ryan J., Foulds, Jonathan, Muscat, Joshua, Liao, Jason, Richie, John P., 2017

Effects of Topography-Related Puff Parameters on Carbonyl Delivery in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke
Chemical Research in Toxicology, Reilly, Samantha, Goel, R, Bitzer, Zachary, Elias, Ryan J., Foulds, Jonathan, Muscat, Joshua, Richie, John P., 2017

Man vs. Machine: A Junior-Level Laboratory Exercise Comparing Human and Instrumental Detection Limits
Journal of Food Science Education, Elias, Ryan J., Hopfer, Helene, Hofstaedter, Amanda N., Hayes, John E., 2017

Removal of fumonisin B1 and B2 from model solutions and red wine using polymeric substances
Food Chemistry, Carrasco-Sánchez, Verónica, Kreitman, Gal Y., Folch-Cano, Christian, Elias, Ryan J., Laurie, V. Felipe, 2017

Binding of Caffeine and Quinine by Whey Protein and the Effect on Bitterness
Journal of Food Science, Tenney, Kelsey, Hayes, John, Euston, Stephen, Elias, Ryan, Coupland, John, 2017

Soy protein concentrate mitigates markers of colonic inflammation and loss of gut barrier function in vitro and in vivo
Nutrition Reports International, Bitzer, Zachary, Wopperer, Amy, Chrisfield, Benjamin, Tao, Ling, Cooper, Timothy, Vanamala, J, Elias, Ryan J., Hayes, John E., Lambert, Joshua D., 2017

Copper(II)-mediated hydrogen sulfide and thiol oxidation to disulfides and organic polysulfanes and their reductive cleavage in wine: Mechanistic elucidation and potential applications
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Kreitman, Gal Y., Danilewicz, John C., Jeffery, Davi D.W., Elias, Ryan J., 2017

Variation in Free Radical Yields from U.S. Marketed Cigarettes
Chemical Research in Toxicology, Goel, R, Bitzer, Zachary, Reilly, Samantha, Foulds, J, Trushin, Neil, Muscat, J, Foulds, Jonathan, Muscat, Joshua, Liao, J, Elias, R, Liao, Jason, Richie, J, Elias, Ryan J., Richie, John P., 2017

Effect of ethanol on the solubilization of hydrophobic molecules by sodium caseinate
Food Hydrocolloids, Qu, Y, Harte, F, Elias, Ryan, Coupland, J, 2017

Effects of Solvent and Temperature on Free Radical Formation in Electronic Cigarette Aerosols
Chemical Research in Toxicology, Bitzer, Zachary, Goel, R, Reilly, Samantha, Foulds, J, Foulds, Jonathan, Muscat, J, Muscat, Joshua, Elias, Ryan, Elias, R, Richie, J, Richie, J, 2017

Antioxidants and their mechanisms of action, Elias, Ryan, Decker, E, 2017

Inhibition of gliadin digestion by green tea polyphenols and the potential implications for celiac disease
The FASEB Journal, Van Buiten, C, Lambert, J, Sae-tan, S, Elias, Ryan, 2017

Potential strategies for preventing copper mediated reductive aroma in post-bottle wines
Abstracts of Papers of The American Chemical Society, Elias, Ryan, Kreitman, G, Vernarelli, L, 2017

Rethinking re-stinking: A critical evaluation of hypothesis for formation of sulfurous off aromas during wine storage
Abstracts of Papers of The American Chemical Society, Sacks, G, Kreitman, G, Elias, Ryan, Jeffery, D, 2017

Antioxidants and their mechanisms of action, Elias, Ryan J., Decker, Eric A., 2017

Reaction of Acetaldehyde with Wine Flavonoids in the Presence of Sulfur Dioxide
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Sheridan, Marlena K., Elias, Ryan J., 2016

Grape compounds suppress colon cancer stem cells in vitro and in a rodent model of colon carcinogenesis
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Reddivari, L, Charepalli, V, Radhakrishnan, S, Vadde, R, Elias, R, Lambert, J, Vanamala, Jairam, 2016

Reaction Mechanisms of Metals with Hydrogen Sulfide and Thiols in Model Wine. Part 2: Iron- and Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Kreitman, Gal Y., Danilewicz, John C., Jeffery, David W., Elias, Ryan J., 2016

Reaction Mechanisms of Metals with Hydrogen Sulfide and Thiols in Model Wine. Part 1: Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Kreitman, Gal Y., Danilewicz, John C., Jeffery, David W., Elias, Ryan J., 2016

Generation of reactive oxidative species from thermal treatment of sugar solutions
Food Chemistry, Wang, Qingyang, Durand, Erwann, Elias, Ryan J., Tikekar, Rohan V., 2016

Effects of co-inoculation on wine-quality attributes of the high-acid, red hybrid variety chambourcin
American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Homich, Laura J., Scheinberg, Joshua A., Elias, Ryan J., Gardner, Denise M., 2016

Enhanced phenylpyruvic acid production with Proteus vulgaris by optimizing of the fermentation medium
Acta Alimentaria, Coban, H. B., Demirci, A., Patterson, P. H., Elias, R. J., 2016

Enhanced phenylpyruvic acid production with Proteus vulgaris in fed-batch and continuous fermentation
Preparative Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Coban, H, Demirci, Ali, Patterson, Paul, Elias, Ryan J., 2016

Assessing Interactions between Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Antioxidants in Food Emulsions
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Durand, Erwann, Zhao, Yu, Coupland, John N., Elias, Ryan J., 2015

Effect of lipophilization on the distribution and reactivity of ingredients in emulsions
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Leong, Wai Fun, Berton-Carabin, Claire C., Elias, Ryan J., Lecomte, Jérôme, Villeneuve, Pierre, Zhao, Yu, Coupland, John N., 2015

Highly Reactive Free Radicals in Electronic Cigarette Aerosols
Chemical Research in Toxicology, Goel, Reema, Durand, Erwann, Trushin, Neil, Prokopczyk, Bogdan, Foulds, Jonathan, Elias, Ryan J., Richie, John P., 2015

Effects of dietary Capsicum oleoresin on productivity and immune responses in lactating dairy cows
Journal of Dairy Science, Oh, J., Giallongo, F., Frederick, T., Pate, J., Walusimbi, S., Elias, R. J., Wall, E. H., Bravo, D., Hristov, A. N., 2015

Effect of food structure on the distribution and reactivity of small molecules
Current Opinion in Food Science, Zhao, Yu, Elias, Ryan J., Coupland, John N., 2015

Enhanced phenylpyruvic acid production with Proteus vulgaris in fed-batch and continuous fermentation
Preparative Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Coban, H, Demirci, A, Patterson, P, Elias, Ryan, 2015

Generation of reactive oxidative species from thermal treatment of sugar solutions.
Food Chemistry, Wang, Q, Durand, E, Elias, Ryan, Tikekar, R, 2015

Dietary soy protein concentrate suppresses colonic inflammation and loss of gut barrier function in vitro and in mice
The FASEB Journal, Lambert, J, Bitzer, Zachary, Wopperer, Amy, Elias, Ryan, 2015

Effect of interfacial properties on the reactivity of a lipophilic ingredient in multilayered emulsions
Food Hydrocolloids, Chaprenet, Jérôme, Berton-Carabin, Claire C., Elias, Ryan J., Coupland, John N., 2014

Screening of phenylpyruvic acid producers and optimization of culture conditions in bench scale bioreactors
Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, Coban, H, Demirci, Ali, Patterson, Paul, Elias, Ryan J., 2014

Enhanced phenylpyruvic acid production with Proteus vulgaris by optimization of fermentation medium
Acta Alimentaria, Coban, H, Demirci, A, Patterson, P, Elias, Ryan, 2014

Hass avocado (Persea americana) seed extract as a natural colorant
Planta Medica, Shegog, RM, Elias, Ryan, Ziegler, GR, Lambert, JD, 2014

Conversion of phenylalanine to phenylpyruvic acid by microbial fermentation, Coban, Hasan B., Demirci, Ali, Patterson, Paul H., Elias, Ryan, 2014