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(1) Background: Strains HL1 and M1, isolated from kefir grains, have been tentatively identified, based on their partial 16S rRNA gene sequences, as Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens. The two strains demonstrated different health benefits. Therefore, not only the genetic factors exerting diverse functionalities in different L. kefiranofaciens strains, but also the potential niche-specific genes and pathways among the L. kefiranofaciens strains, should be identified. (2) Methods: Phenotypic and genotypic approaches were employed to identify strains HL1 and M1 at the subspecies level. For the further characterization of the probiotic properties of both strains, comparative genomic analyses were used. (3) Results: Both strains were identified as L. kefiranofaciens subsp. kefirgranum. According to the COG function category, dTDP-rhamnose and rhamnose-containing glycans were specifically detected in the L. kefiranofaciens subsp. Kefirgranum genomes. Three unique genes (epsI, epsJ, and epsK) encoding glycosyltransferase in the EPS gene cluster, and the ImpB/MucB/SamB family protein encoding gene were found in HL1 and M1. The specific ability to degrade arginine via the ADI pathway was found in HL1. The presence of the complete glycogen metabolism (glg) operon in the L. kefiranofaciens strains suggested the importance of glycogen synthesis to enable colonization in kefir grains and extend survival under environmental stresses. (4) Conclusions: The obtained novel information on the potential genes and pathways for polysaccharide synthesis and other functionalities in our HL1 and M1 strains could be applied for further functionality predictions for potential probiotic screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous studies indicated that Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens HL1, isolated from kefir grain, has strong antioxidant activities and anti-aging effects. However, this strain is difficult to use in isolation when manufacturing fermented products due to poor viability in milk. Thus, the purpose of this study was to apply a co-culture strategy to develop a novel probiotic fermented milk rich in L. kefiranofaciens HL1. Each of four selected starter cultures was co-cultured with kefir strain HL1 in different media to evaluate their effects on microbial activity and availability of milk fermentation. The results of a colony size test on de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar agar, microbial viability, and acidification performance in MRS broth and skimmed milk suggested that Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris APL15 is a suitable candidate for co-culturing with HL1. We then co-cultured HL1 and APL15 in skimmed milk and report remarkable improvement in fermentation ability and no negative impact on the viability of strain HL1 or textural and rheological properties of the milk. Through a co-culture strategy, we have improved the viability of kefir strain HL1 in fermented skimmed milk products and successfully developed a novel milk product with a unique flavor and sufficient probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many dyes or radioactive markers used for sentinel lymph node (SLN) have the shortcomings of false positive and radiation injury. Indocyanine green (ICG) seems to have a lower false positive rate and tissue damage, without a clear field of vision during the operation., Methods: For the shortcomings, we successfully synthesized three anionic pullulan materials, changed the degree of hydrophobic for size controlling (< 50nm) to prepare CHP nanoparticles (NPs) and changed the succinyl degree to prepare CHPC NPs with different negative surface potential., Results: The size of those NPs were less than 50nm under (transmission electron microscope) TEM, with hydrodynamic size of 90.67 ± 2.2 nm of CHP, 105.8 ± 1.7 nm of CHPC1 and 115.9 ± 2.3 nm of CHPC2. Moreover, the Zeta potential of CHP, CHPC1 and CHPC2 were -1.9 ± 0.2 mV, -9.6 ± 0.3 mV and -19.4 ± 0.7 mV. The size of ICG-loading CHP, CHPC1 and CHPC2 NPs increased to 109.4 ± 2.7 nm, 113.8 ± 1.2 nm and 30.6 ± 3.5 nm, as the zeta potential decreased to -2.7 ± 0.4 mV, -12.5 ± 1.6 mV and -23.1 ± 1.2 mV. With the increasing degree of succinyl, the size increased and the zeta potential decreased. At the same time, the higher degree of succinyl drug-loading NPs have lower release and have increased the stability of ICG. We found that the blank-NPs had no significant toxicity to normal cells (HSF), as the ICG@CHP group had larger toxicity than the CHPCs and control. Moreover, the cellular uptake was decreased with the increased degree of succinyl., Conclusion: In this study, we successfully prepared CHPC2 carriers with the maximum negative surface charge, for follow-up research and providing new ideas for SLN., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)