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The intermediate bacterial microbiota is a heterogeneous group that varies in the severity of the dysbiosis, from minor deficiency to total absence of vaginal Lactobacillus spp. We treated women with this vaginal dysbiosis in the first trimester of pregnancy using a vaginally applied lactobacilli preparation to restore the normal microbiota in order to delay the preterm delivery rate. Pregnant women with intermediate microbiota of the vagina and a Nugent score of 4 were enrolled in two groups: intermediate vaginal microbiota and a Nugent score of 4 with lactobacilli (IMLN4) and intermediate vaginal microbiota and a Nugent score of 4 without lactobacilli (IM0N4), with and without vaginal lactobacilli at baseline, respectively. Half of the women in each group received the treatment. Among women without lactobacilli (the IM0N4 group), the Nugent sore decreased by 4 points only in the women who received treatment, and gestational age at delivery and neonatal birthweight were both significantly higher in the treated subgroup than in the untreated subgroup (p = 0.047 and p = 0.016, respectively). This small study found a trend toward a benefit of treatment with vaginal lactobacilli during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The intestinal microbiota is altered in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) when compared with those of the healthy population. Some interventions with specific probiotic preparations already demonstrate a change in composition of this microbiota accompanied by improvement in the disease. Objectives This research work was designed to evaluate clinical efficacy of the probiotic preparation, and to measure the effect of the intervention on the total dose of corticosteroids administered to subjects. Methods This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial including 70 participants with AD aged 4–17 years was designed to evaluate the clinical effect, compared with placebo, of a probiotic mixture of Bifidobacterium lactis , Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus casei at a total daily consumption of 1 × 109 colony-forming units per capsule, over 12 weeks. After randomization and exclusion, 35 patients were allocated to probiotic and 35 to placebo. Clinical variables analysed were SCORAD (SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis) and Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) indices; effect on the amount of topical corticosteroids used; and assessment of safety. Results Mean SCORAD index at 12 weeks showed a statistically significant difference of −5.43 (95% confidence interval −10.65 to −0.21) between probiotic (SCORAD 13.52) and placebo groups (SCORAD 18.96); P = 0.04. Comparison between groups showed a statistically significant difference in the number of patients with IGA score improvement over the 12-week intervention: 29 of 32 (90.5%) in the probiotic group vs. 17 of 30 (56.7%) in the placebo group (P < 0.002). A comparison between groups of the proportions of days using corticosteroids and the total dose (g) of corticosteroids between baseline and end of study showed no significant difference, but between weeks 6 and 12 there was a statistically significant reduction in the probiotic group when compared with the placebo group in both variables. Numbers of adverse events were similar in both groups of treatment. Conclusions The probiotic mix used in this clinical trial demonstrated efficacy on the change in activity index of AD compared with placebo. Furthermore, the total number of days and total amount of topical corticosteroids required by participants in the probiotic group showed a significant reduction compared with placebo between 6 and 12 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their availability, cost effectiveness and environmental-friendly nature, plant extracts are promising additives for fish farming. This study aims to determine the optimal dosage of fermented herbal extract (FHE)—composed of Morus alba (33.3%), Curcuma xanthorrhiza (33.3%), and Boesenbergia rotunda (33.3%)—for growth enhancement and feed utilisation efficiency of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. Fermentation was conducted using probiotics Lactobacillus casei (Yakult®, Tokyo, Japan) and Saccharomyces cereviceae (commercial baker’s yeast). The FHE was high in flavonoid and alkaloid, vitamin C, potassium, natrium, lipase and protease. Four doses of FHE treatments, namely treatment A (0 mg/kg of feed); treatment B (100 mg/kg of feed); treatment C (300 mg/kg of feed); treatment D (500 mg/kg of feed) were compared. After subjected to 35 days of culture, tilapias subjected to FHE-coated feed exhibited better weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed efficiency (FE) compared to control. The best dosage that gave the highest growth and feed efficiency was treatment C (300 mg/kg of feed). Furthermore, the feed efficiencies of FHEincorporated treatments were positively influenced by the increased in length and density of intestinal villi, number of goblet cells, lymphocytes, as well as nutrient retention to support growth. The results of this study indicate that FHE is a promising functional feed additive to stimulate growth and improve feed efficiency in tilapia farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research is to determine the effect of the probiotic preparation «Dialak» (dietary supplement), which includes the strain Lactobacillus casei IMV B-7280, on the vaginal microbiota and humoral immunity in women with bacterial vaginosis (BV). Methods. 40 female patients aged 20—45 years with disturbed vaginal microbiota and 10 healthy individuals were examined. The verification of 3 types of vaginal biocenosis states, namely normocenosis, intermediate type, and vaginal dysbiosis, was carried out on the basis of the Recommendations for the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report (2021) and laboratory diagnostic methods according to the well-known criteria proposed by R. Amsel. Female patients with an intermediate type of BV (group 1) received suppositories and capsules of the probiotic (once daily) for 10 days. Women with vaginal dysbiosis (group 2) received metronidazole in a dosage of 500 mg twice a day for 7 days during the first stage, and then 1 suppository at night and oral capsules of the probiotic in the morning for 10 days during the second stage. The studied vaginal secretion was stained by the Gram method in the Kopel off modification and also sown on nutrient media to determine facultatively anaerobic and obligately anaerobic microorganisms. Microorganism identification was carried out on the basis of morphological, cultural, biochemical, and antigenic properties according to the classification of D. H. Bergey (2009). Th e activity of humoral immunity was determined by evaluating the number of B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients using flow cytometry, as well as the levels of serum Ig A, M, and G before treatment and after 1 month using the immunoturbidimetric method and the Cobas 6000 test system from Roche Diagnostics (Switzerland). Results. When analyzing the vaginal microbiota in two groups of patients before treatment, a decrease in the number of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. and a significant increase in the number of obligate anaerobic microorganisms, including Gardnerella vaginalis, were found compared to the control group. Before treatment, the number of Lactobacillus spp. in women of group 2 was lower compared to group 1. In patients with vaginal dysbiosis before treatment, the number of obligate anaerobic microorganisms was higher than in patients with bacterial vaginosis, except for Eubacterium spp. At the same time, in women in both comparison groups, the indicators of the humoral immune response were partially disrupted, as evidenced by a decrease in the level of IgG and IgA (in women of group 2) in the serum against the normal level of B lymphocytes (CD19+ cells). However, these patients showed an increase in the IgM level in the serum, which may be due to the development of anaerobic microflora. After treatment, the number of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. in the vagina of women in both comparison groups increased compared to the indicators before treatment. However, the number of these bacteria in the vagina of patients with dysbiosis remained lower compared to patients with BV. In both groups, normalization of the number of obligate anaerobic microorganisms, including G. vaginalis, except for Veillonella spp., was also observed. After treatment, the humoral immune response indicators were normalized as well : the level of serum IgG and IgA increased, and the content of serum IgM decreased. Conclusions. In BV patients, the probiotic «Dialak» normalizes the vaginal microbiota, which was confirmed by increasing the number of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. along with decreasing the number of anaerobic microorganisms, including G. vaginalis, against the background of the dynamic disappearance of clinical signs of the disease, as well as restoration to the normal level of indicators of the immunity humoral link. The obtained data indicate the effective therapeutic effect of the probiotic «Dialak» on BV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) are E. coli pathotypes associated with unmanageable diarrhea in children and adults. An alternative to the treatment of infections caused by these microorganisms is the use of the bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus; however, the beneficial effects on the intestinal mucosa are specific to the strain and species. The interest of this study consisted of analyzing the coaggregation properties of Lactobacillus casei IMAU60214, as well as the effect of cell-free supernatant (CSF) on growth and anti-cytotoxic activity in a cell model of the human intestinal epithelium for an agar diffusion assay (HT-29) and the inhibition of biofilm formation on plates of DEC strains of the EAEC and EHEC pathotypes. The results showed that L. casei IMAU60214 exhibits time-dependent coaggregation (35–40%) against EAEC and EHEC that is similar to the control E. coli ATCC 25922. The CSF showed antimicrobial activity (20–80%) against EAEC and EHEC depending on the concentration. In addition, the formation and dispersion of biofilms of the same strains decrease, and the proteolytic pre-treatment with catalase and/or proteinase K (1 mg/mL) of CSF reduces the antimicrobial effect. When evaluating the effect in HT-29 cells pre-treated with CFS on the toxic activity induced by the EAEC and EHEC strains, a reduction of between 30 and 40% was observed. The results show that L. casei IMAU60214 and its CSF have properties that interfere with some properties associated with the virulence of the EAEC and EHEC strains that cause intestinal infection, which supports their use for the control and prevention of infections caused by these bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The current study evaluated the antibacterial properties of industrial sweet orange waste extracts (ISOWEs), which are a rich source of flavonoids. The ISOWEs exhibited antibacterial activity towards the dental cariogenic pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei with 13.0 ± 2.0 and 20.0 ± 2.0 mg/mL for MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and 37.7 ± 1.5 and 43.3 ± 2.1 mg/mL for MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration), respectively. When evaluated in a 7-day dual-species oral biofilm model, ISOWEs dose-dependently reduced the viable bacteria count, and demonstrated strong synergistic effects when combined with the anti-septic chlorhexidine (at 0.1 and 0.2%). Similarly, confocal microscopy confirmed the anti-cariogenic properties of ISOWEs, alone and in combination with chlorhexidine. The citrus flavonoids contributed differently to these effects, with the flavones (nobiletin, tangeretin and sinensetin) demonstrating significantly lower MICs and MBCs compared to the flavanones hesperidin and narirutin. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the potential of citrus waste as a currently underutilised source of flavonoids for antimicrobial applications, such as in dental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is a serious anaerobic enteric pathogen causing necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens. Following the ban on antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feedstuffs, there has been a remarkable rise in occurrence of NE which resulted in considering alternative approaches, particularly vaccination. The objective of this work was to evaluate the recombinant Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) expressing the C-terminal domain of α-toxin from C. perfringens as a potential probiotic-based vaccine candidate to immunize the broiler chickens against NE. Results The broiler chickens immunized orally with recombinant vaccine strain were significantly protected against experimental NE challenge, and developed specific serum anti-α antibodies. Additionally, the immunized birds showed higher body weight gains compared with control groups during the challenge experiment. Conclusions The current study showed that oral immunization of broiler chickens with a safe probiotic-based vector vaccine expressing α-toxin from C. perfringens could provide protective immunity against NE in birds.

Lactic acid bacteria produce a variety of antimicrobial peptides known as bacteriocins. Most bacteriocins are understood to kill sensitive bacteria through receptor-mediated disruptions. Here, we report on the identification of the Lactobacillus plantarum plantaricin EF (PlnEF) receptor. Spontaneous PlnEF-resistant mutants of the PlnEF-indicator strain L. plantarum NCIMB 700965 (LP965) were isolated and confirmed to maintain cellular ATP levels in the presence of PlnEF. Genome comparisons resulted in the identification of a single mutated gene annotated as the membrane-bound, magnesium/cobalt efflux protein CorC. All isolates contained a valine (V) at position 334 instead of a glycine (G) in a cysteine-β-synthase domain at the C-terminal region of CorC. In silico template-based modeling of this domain indicated that the mutation resides in a loop between two β-strands. The relationship between PlnEF, CorC, and metal homeostasis was supported by the finding that PlnEF-resistance was lost when PlnEF was applied together with high concentrations of Mg2+ , Co2+ , Zn2+ , or Cu2+ . Lastly, PlnEF sensitivity was increased upon heterologous expression of LP965 corC but not the G334V CorC mutant in the PlnEF-resistant strain Lactobacillus casei BL23. These results show that PlnEF kills sensitive bacteria by targeting CorC.

The changes of active components and antioxidant activity of the supernatant during Lactobacillus casei fermentation were studied using Euryales ferox as raw material. The pH, titratable acid, peptide yield, molecular weight distribution of peptides, free amino acid composition, total phenols, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity changes of supernatant during the fermentation of Euryales ferox by L. casei were investigated, and the correlation between each component and antioxidant activity were analyzed. The results showed that during the fermentation process, the pH tended to decrease, while the titratable acid content gradually increased, reaching 3.97±0.02 and 2.53±0.04 mL/g after 48 h of fermentation, respectively. The peptide yield showed an increasing trend, reaching 19.09%±0.42% at the end of fermentation, with a significant increase in the proportion of low molecular weight peptides of 500～180 and

The immunogenicity of Aha1, an OMP of Aeromonas hydrophila mediating the adhesion of bacteria onto the mucosal surface of hosts has been established. In this study, recombinant vectors, pPG1 and pPG2, carrying a 1366 bp DNA fragment that was responsible for encoding the 49 kDa Aha1 from A. hydrophila were constructed, respectively, then electroporated into a probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei CC16 separately to generate two types of recombinants, L. casei-pPG1-Aha1 (Lc-pPG1-Aha1) and L. casei-pPG2-Aha1 (Lc-pPG2-Aha1). Subsequently, these were orally administered into common carps to examine their immunogenicity. The expression and localization of the expressed Aha1 protein relative to the carrier L. casei was validated via Western blotting, flow cytometry, and immune fluorescence separately. The recombinant vaccines produced were shown high efficacies, stimulated higher level of antibodies and AKP, ACP, SOD, LZM, C3, C4 in serum in hosts. Immune-related gene expressions of cytokines including IL-10, IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ in the livers, spleens, HK, and intestines were up-regulated significantly. Besides, a more potent phagocytosis response was observed in immunized fish, and higher survival rates were presented in common carps immunized with Lc-pPG1-Aha1 (60%) and Lc-pPG2-Aha1 (50%) after re-infection with virulent strain A. hydrophila. Moreover, the recombinant L. casei were shown a stronger propensity for survivability in the intestine in immunized fish. Taken together, the recombinant L. casei strains might be promising candidates for oral vaccination against A. hydrophila infections in common carps.

To improve the freeze-drying survival rate of Lactobacillus casei LTL1361 in the vacuum freeze-drying process, the single factor and Plackett-Burman designs were first conducted to verify the main factors affecting the freeze-drying survival rate of Lactobacillus casei LTL1361. According to the experimental results, the artificial network coupling genetic algorithm was constructed using the Box Behnken design. The artificial network coupled genetic algorithm (BP-GA) model was constructed to simulate and predict the lyophilized protective agent formulation of Lactobacillus casei LTL1361. The results showed that the three main factors affecting the lyophilisation survival rate of the strain were: Alginate, glutamic acid and mannitol, which were selected by single-factor and Plackett-Burman tests, and the three factors and the base skim milk were identified as the optimisation conditions for subsequent optimisation tests. The BP-GA model was used to find the optimum concentration of protectant for Lactobacillus casei LTL1361, which was 10.3% skim milk, 0.8% glutamic acid, 6.7% alginate and 4.0% mannitol, and the maximum lyophilisation survival rate of the strain was 89.56%. Using the BP-GA model, this study explored a probiotic lyophilisation protectant formulation with a high lyophilisation survival rate, and provided a reference for the preparation of lyophilised formulations of highly active strains and the development of commercial direct-injection ferments.

Abstract Background Nowadays, cancer is the leading cause of death among threats to humanity, necessitating prompt action and preparation. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and is currently treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, among other treatments. Current oncology approaches focused on the simultaneous development of safe and effective cancer multi-agent therapies. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a combined extracts of heated TC1, a heat-killed preparation of Lactobacillus casei, and alpha-galactosyl ceramide (α-GalCer) in a mouse model of cervical cancer. Material and methods Cervical cancer in the mouse model was prepared by TC1 cells subcutaneous injection into the left flank of female C57BL/6 mouse aged 6–8 weeks (n = 80). After the appearance of the palpable tumor, the mice with cervical cancer were randomly devoted to 8 (ten-member) groups. The mice in some groups were treated with PBS, TC1 cell extract, L. casei extract, α-GalCer, and a combination of the mentioned treatments. Then, they were evaluated the splenocytes proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase production and nitric oxide. Moreover, IL-4, IFN-γ, and TGF-β cytokine levels of splenocytes supernatant the mice were measured. In all evaluations, a statistical difference of less than 0.05 (P ˂ 0.05) was considered as a significant level. Result The findings revealed that the combination therapy group (heated TC1 cell and L. casei extracts with α-GalCer) significantly increases the splenocytes proliferation (MTT) (0.358 ± 0.04 OD), LDH production (45.9 ± 2.3 U/L), NO rate (38.4 ± 2.8 µM), and IFN-γ cytokine level (46.6 ± 3.7 pg/ml) (P

Lactobacillus casei HDS-01, isolated from spent brine from sauerkraut, was added to construct a microbial ecosystem for sauerkraut fermentation. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), acid-base titration, high-throughput sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR were adopted in combination with traditional enzymatic analysis to investigate the dynamic changes of physicochemical properties and bacterial communities during sauerkraut fermentation. Meanwile, sensory quality and safety of the sauerkraut were evaluated. Results showed that the pH of fermented sauerkraut with L. casei HDS-01 decreased to 3.15±0.08 on the third day and the lactic acid bacteria count was (7.63±0.19) lg CFU/mL at the beginning of fermentation. The key enzyme activities of the lactic acid metabolic pathway were higher in all periods of L. casei HDS-01 fermented sauerkraut than in natural fermented sauerkraut (P

Aim: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common side effect during antibiotic treatment, which can cause dysbacteriosis of the gut microbiota. Previous studies have shown beneficial effects in AAD treatment with Bifidobacterium lactis XLTG11, Lactobacillus casei Zhang, Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM8661, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Probio-M9. However, no studies have been conducted on the immunomodulatory effects and protective intestinal barrier function of four complex probiotics. The aim of our study is to investigate the alleviation effects of complex probiotics on ampicillin-induced AAD. Methods: Thirty-six BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal control group (NC), model control group (MC), low-, medium-, and high-dose probiotics groups (LD, MD, and HD), and positive drug (Bifico, 1 107 cfu) control group (PDC; Bifico, also known as Bifidobacterium Triple Live Capsule, is composed of Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Enterococcus faecalis). An AAD model was established by intragastric administration of ampicillin, by gavage of different doses of complex probiotics and Bifico. The weight gain, fecal water content, loose stool grade, intestinal permeability, total protein and albumin levels, intestinal barrier, cytokine levels, and gut microbiota were determined. Results: The results showed that complex probiotics significantly decreased the fecal water content, loose stool grade, intestinal permeability, and ileum tissue damage. Their application increased the weight gain, SIgA, TP, and ALB levels. Additionally, complex probiotics significantly decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and increased those of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1, and MUC2 were significantly upregulated in the probiotic-treated group. Furthermore, the complex probiotics increased the gut microbiota diversity and modulated the changes in the gut microbiota composition caused by ampicillin. At the phylum level, the abundance of Proteobacteria in the HD group was lower than that in the MC group, whereas that of Bacteroidetes was higher. At the genus level, the abundances of Klebsiella and Parabacteroides in the HD group were lower, whereas those of Bacteroides, Muribaculaceae, and Lactobacillus were higher than those in the MC group. Moreover, Spearman's correlation analysis also found that several specific gut microbiota were significantly correlated with AAD-related indicators. Conclusion: We found that complex probiotics improved the diarrhea-related indexes, regulated gut microbiota composition and diversity, increased the expression levels of intestinal protective barrier-related genes, preserved the intestinal barrier function, and relieved inflammation and intestinal injury, thereby effectively improving AAD-associated symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ripening of cheese, caused by the combined effect of the fermentative enzyme and microflora of the bacterial starter, occurs in certain intervals of temperature, humidity and acidity of the environment which depend on the type of cheese. The composition of bacterial starters for hard cheese is important for formation of the finished product properties and affects the choice of technological regimes. Even minor changes in ripening conditions can significantly affect the microbiological, physicochemical, biochemical parameters, organoleptic properties, and safety of the target product. The aim of the investigation was to study the influence of ripening temperature regimes on the physicochemical, biochemical and organoleptic characteristics of hard cheeses with a low temperature of the second heating aged 30 days, produced using different compositions of bacterial starters. It was shown that the inclusion of lactobacilli Lactobacillus casei in the composition of the bacterial starter "Active" makes it possible to intensify proteolysis, and the using of aroma-forming lactic acid bacteria Leuconostoc mesenteroides in the starter culture "Active-LN" has a positive effect on the formation of the taste-aromatic composition and texture of the cheese. Changes in the microbiological parameters of cheeses at different stages of production were monitored and the sanitary and hygienic properties of the finished products were evaluated. It was established that cheeses produced both with the use of starter cultures "Active" and "Active-LN" had been ripened best at a temperature of 12–13°C. The products had a good taste and aroma with distinctive features of each type of cheese microbiota, a plastic consistency and a pattern with correctly shaped eyes, larger in cheese with "Aktiv-LN". Thus, the temperature 12–13°С and humidity 75–85% are adequate for the ripening of these cheeses and ensure the formation of a specific taste and aromatic composition of the products and the required level of maturation during 30 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the major causes of blindness today, despite important achievements in diagnosis and therapy. The involvement of a gut–retina axis is thought to be a possible risk factor for several chronic eye disease, such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, uveitis, and, recently, diabetic retinopathy. Dysbiosis may cause endothelial disfunction and alter retinal metabolism. This review analyzes the evidence regarding changes in gut microbiota in patients with DR compared with diabetics and healthy controls (HCs). A systematic review was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for the following terms: "gut microbiota" OR "gut microbiome" AND "diabetic retinopathy". Ultimately, 9 articles published between 2020 and 2022 presenting comparative data on a total of 228 T2DM patients with DR, 220 patients with T2DM, and 118 HCs were analyzed. All of the studies found a distinctive microbial beta diversity in DR vs. T2DM and HC, characterized by an altered Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, a decrease in butyrate producers, and an increase in LPS-expressing and pro-inflammatory species in the Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria phyla. The probiotic species Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were decreased when compared with T2DM. Gut microbiota influence retinal health in multiple ways and may represent a future therapeutic target in DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC)] and antibiofilm activity [log10 colony forming unit/mL (CFU/mL) and biofilm disruption] of copper-doped phosphate glass (CDPG) against Streptococcus oralis, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus casei, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: the antibacterial activity was determined using microbroth dilution and time-kill assay. The antibiofilm activity was investigated using crystal violet and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Bacteria growing in absence of CDPG were used as controls. Results: the MIC was ≥125 mg of CPDG/mL; the log10 CFU/mL reduction ranged from 2.66–3.14 to 6.23–9.65 after 4 and 24 h respectively. Generally, no growth was observed after 24 h of treatment with CDPG; the MBC was 250 mg/mL for L. casei and S. oralis while 500 mg/mL for the rest of the bacteria. The highest and lowest antibiofilm activity was observed against S. oralis and E. coli respectively. Three patterns of complete biofilm disruption were seen: (i) large areas with E. fecalis and S. oralis, (ii) medium-size pockets with S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, or (iii) small areas with E. coli and L. casei. Conclusion: CDPG can be potentially used as an antibacterial and an antibiofilm agent against oral biofilm-forming bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its abundance of physiologically active ingredients, one of the oldest medicinal herbs, elderberry (EB) Sambucus nigra L., is beneficial for both therapeutic and dietary purposes. This study determined the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds and the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols from freeze-dried EB powder (FDEBP), along with the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of this extract. The most significant phenolic compounds in black EB are represented by anthocyanins (41.8%), predominating cyanidin-sambubiosides and cyanidin-glucosides (90.1% of the identified anthocyanins). The FRAP assay obtained the highest antioxidant activity value (185 ± 0.18 μmol Fe2+/g DW). The most sensitive to the antimicrobial activity of the extract was proven to be Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.95 mg/mL. To determine the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols, the cell growth of five probiotic strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. fermentum and Saccharomyces boulardii) was tested. The influence on cell growth was positive for all five probiotic strains used. Overall, the most significant increase (p < 0.05) was recorded at 1.5% FDEBP, on L. casei with a growth index (GI) of 152.44%, very closely followed by GI at 0.5% and 1% concentrations. The stability of the total phenolic compounds through simulated gastronitestinal digestion was increased (93%), and the bioaccessibility was also elevated (75%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics have a cholesterol-lowering effect. Multi-strain probiotics (MSPs) outperformed single-strain probiotics due to the interaction of strains. Hence, we expect to develop a high-efficiency MSP for lowering cholesterol. Three strains, including Lactobacillus casei S1 , Enterococcus faecium S4 , and L. harbinensis S6 , were used to develop the MSPs. To evaluate their effect, gastrointestinal tolerance, bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, cholesterol-lowering rate, antioxidant ability, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production, and antibiotic sensitivity were determined. The triple lactic acid bacteria probiotic (TLP) was the most efficient one. After 24 h treatment with artificial gastric fluid, 47.88% of TLP survived. TLP exhibited the highest BSH activity (149.40 U·ml−1) and cholesterol-lowering rate (75.05%) in vitro , with co-precipitation reducing the majority of cholesterol. The reducing power and superoxide radical scavenging rate of the cell-free supernatant and the hydroxyl radical scavenging rate in viable cells were 1.52, 85.03%, and 89.66%, respectively, and the GABA production was 0.67 mg·ml−1, which enhanced the health benefit effects. By fuzzy mathematical analysis, TLP was the optimal probiotic and was competitive with commercial probiotics. The three strains were susceptible to 13 antibiotics. Therefore, TLP has the potential to develop into a cholesterol-lowering probiotic preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reuterin was anaerobically manufactured by developing Lactobacillus reuteri LBIQ1 (a local isolate) at 37 °C in the MRS broth medium. Cell biomass was harvested after 18 hours of incubation and used to ferment 278 mMol glycerol for 3 hours in a water-glycerol solution at 37 °C. Cells were then extracted from the suspension solution, which remained at 4 °C until colorimetric, UV, and HPLC assays observed the presence of reuterin in the solution. The reuterin compound has inhibitory activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The highest inhibition zones measured were 23mm and 21mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. The UV chromatogram of produced reuterin showed one peak at 280 nm, while HPLC analysis were appeared three peaks at 6.48, 15.6 min, and 15.49 min for the injection peak, residual glycerol, and produced reuterin, respectively. After incubation for 3 hours, a total yield of 167.382 L/ml reuterin was estimated as the productivity of L. reuteri LBIQ1in the glycerol-water solution. The highest inhibition zones of pure reuterin against S. aureus and E. coli were 44 and 39 mm, respectively. Reuterin is an effective compound against microorganisms that can be produced from glycerol media and used in food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the effect of lactic acid bacteria, fermentation time, and pressurized heating-cooling cycle on the formation of resistant starch content of beneng taro (Xanthosoma undipes K. Koch) flour. The materials used were beneng corm, isolates of lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus thermophilus, and MRSB media. The experimental design was randomized block design factorial with two factors: fermentation time (0, 18, and 24 hours) and pressurized-cooling heating (1, 2, and 3- cycles) in 3 replicates. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance and if necessary continued with Duncan's Multiple Range Test at a level of 95%. The tested parameters were the content of resistant starch, amylose, and amylopectin and the data were treated using variance of analysis. The results showed that the combination of L. casei and S. thermophillus produced the highest resistant starch content of 5.66%. Fermentation time of 18 and 24 hours produced resistant starch content of 4.46% and 4.51%, respectively. Autoclavingcooling of 1-, 2-, and 3-cycle produced a similar type of resistant starch of 3.81%, 4.26%, and 4.16%, respectively. Therefore, the combination of L. casei and S. thermophillus fermented in 18 hours and 1-cycle of autoclaving-cooling is recommended to produce resistant beneng taro flour starch content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative disorders (ND) are a group of conditions that affect the neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to their degeneration and eventually causing the loss of function in the affected areas. These disorders can be caused by a range of factors, including genetics, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices. Major pathological signs of these diseases are protein misfolding, proteosomal dysfunction, aggregation, inadequate degradation, oxidative stress, free radical formation, mitochondrial dysfunctions, impaired bioenergetics, DNA damage, fragmentation of Golgi apparatus neurons, disruption of axonal transport, dysfunction of neurotrophins (NTFs), neuroinflammatory or neuroimmune processes, and neurohumoral symptoms. According to recent studies, defects or imbalances in gut microbiota can directly lead to neurological disorders through the gut-brain axis. Probiotics in ND are recommended to prevent cognitive dysfunction, which is a major symptom of these diseases. Many in vivo and clinical trials have revealed that probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactobacillus casei, etc.) are effective candidates against the progression of ND. It has been proven that the inflammatory process and oxidative stress can be modulated by modifying the gut microbiota with the help of probiotics. As a result, this study provides an overview of the available data, bacterial variety, gut-brain axis defects, and probiotics' mode of action in averting ND. A literature search on particular sites, including PubMed, Nature, and Springer Link, has identified articles that might be pertinent to this subject. The search contains the following few groups of terms: (1) Neurodegenerative disorders and Probiotics OR (2) Probiotics and Neurodegenerative disorders. The outcomes of this study aid in elucidating the relationship between the effects of probiotics on different neurodegenerative disorders. This systematic review will assist in discovering new treatments in the future, as probiotics are generally safe and cause mild side effects in some cases in the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Machinery is the property of Food & Machinery Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The maintenance of intestinal barrier function is essential for preventing different pathologies, such as the leaky gut syndrome (LGS), which is characterized by the passage of harmful agents, like bacteria, toxins, and viruses, into the bloodstream. Intestinal barrier integrity is controlled by several players, including the gut microbiota. Various molecules, called postbiotics, are released during the natural metabolic activity of the microbiota. Postbiotics can regulate host-microbe interactions, epithelial homeostasis, and have overall benefits for our health. In this work, we used in vitro and in vivo systems to demonstrate the role of Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-5220-derived postbiotic (LP-PBF) in preserving intestinal barrier integrity. We demonstrated in vitro that LP-PBF restored the morphology of tight junctions (TJs) that were altered upon Salmonella typhimurium exposure. In vivo, LP-PBF protected the gut vascular barrier and blocked S. typhimurium dissemination into the bloodstream. Interestingly, we found that LP-PBF interacts not only with the host cells, but also directly with S. typhimurium blocking its biofilm formation, partially due to the presence of biosurfactants. This study highlights that LP-PBF is beneficial in maintaining gut homeostasis due to the synergistic effect of its different components. These results suggest that LP-PBF could be utilized in managing several pathologies displaying an impaired intestinal barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of three organic acid salts and two bacterial additives on the fermentation profile, in vitro digestibility and gas production, and aerobic stability of total mixed ration (TMR) silage prepared with 10% fresh weight (FW) of wet hulless barley distillers' grains (WHDG), 35% FW of common vetch, 15% FW of whole-crop oat, 10% FW of hulless barley straw, and 30% FW of mixed concentrate. The total mixed ration (555 g kg−1 FW) was ensiled with six treatments: (1) no additives (control); (2) calcium propionate (CAP; 0.5% FW); (3) potassium sorbate (POS; 0.1% FW); (4) sodium diacetate (SDA; 0.5% FW); (5) Lactobacillus buchneri (LB; 1 × 106 cfu g−1 FW); and (6) Lactobacillus casei (LAC; 1 × 106 cfu g−1 FW). All silos (20 L) were opened for the fermentation profile and in vitro digestibility analysis after 95 days of fermentation, and then subjected to an aerobic stability experiment for 14 days. All the TMR silage was well preserved with a low pH (4.32~4.51), acceptable levels of butyric acid (1.34~1.56 g kg−1 dry matter), and ammonia nitrogen (69.1~87.1 g kg−1 total nitrogen). All the groups were steady during aerobic exposure, while the SDA treatment was more stable with lower populations of undesirable microorganisms on day 14. The CAP, POS, and SDA treatments evidently (p < 0.05) enhanced the in vitro digestibility of dry matter (54.8~57.5 vs. 48.4%) and neutral detergent fiber (48.4~51.6 vs. 41.1%) compared to the control. By comprehensive consideration, SDA is recommended as additive to enhance fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and in vitro digestibility of TMR silage containing 10% FW of WHDG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Maintaining the viability of probiotics is critical for maximising their functionality. In this study, tara gum, basic amino acids, rice protein and red ginseng dietary fibre were sequentially applied to encapsulate various probiotic strains to improve their viability and enhance their adhesion to intestinal cells. Compared with uncoated control strains, multilayer‐coated probiotic strains exhibited higher survival rates under low pH conditions (maximum survival: 81.8% for Lactobacillus casei) and bile acid conditions (>50% survival for Lactobacillus rhamnosus). Multicoating also increased the ability of probiotic strains to adhere to intestinal epithelial cells. For example, encapsulated L. reuteri exhibited 56.9% adhesion, which was approximately four‐fold higher than that of the uncoated strain. Moreover, compared with the uncoated strains, multicoated strains exhibited significantly improved storage stability under various temperatures after freeze‐drying. Therefore, the quadruple‐coating technology used in this study enhances the viability and stability of probiotic strains, which is a key advantage from the industrial perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The objective of the work was to assess the effect of biostimulation with selected plant growth-promoting bacteria on growth and metabolite profile of Salicornia europaea. Methods and results Salicornia europaea seeds were inoculated with different combinations of plant growth-promoting bacteria Brevibacterium casei EB3, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans RL18, and Bacillus aryabhattai SP20. Plants germinated from inoculated seeds were grown either in laboratory conditions or in a saline crop field. Fresh and dry weight were determined at the end of the experiment, for biomass quantification. The microbiological quality of fresh shoots for human consumption as salad greens was assessed, and the persistence of the inoculated strains in the plant rhizosphere was confirmed by next-generation sequencing (Illumina) of the 16S rDNA gene. The primary metabolite profile of biostimulated plants was characterized by GC–TOF-MS. In laboratory conditions, inoculation with the two strains Br. casei EB3 and Ps. oryzihabitans RL18 caused the most significant increase in biomass production (fresh and dry weight), and caused a shift in the central metabolic pathways of inoculated plants toward amino acid biosynthesis. In the field experiment, no significant biostimulation effect was detected with any of the tested inoculants. Seed inoculation had no significant effect on the microbiological quality of the edible parts. The persistence of inoculants was confirmed in both experiments. Conclusions Manipulation of the plant microbiome can trigger primary metabolic reconfiguration and modulate the plant metabolism while promoting plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sapota (Achras sapota L. or Manilkara zapota L.) is one of the major fruit crops grown in subtropical countries and it contains sugars, acids, protein, phenolics carotenoids, ascorbic acid, minerals and vitamins. Growing of lactic acid bacteria in fruit juices for health benefits and improving the nutritional and sensory attributes of the fruit juice is becoming more prominent in the present days. In recent years, consumer preference for non dairy food products has increased especially for lactose intolerance people. The present study is aimed to develop probioticated sapota fruit juice using probiotic bacteria like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei. Methods: Sapota fruit juice was prepared and inoculated with four different species of proven probiotic lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei) and incubated at 30°C and 37°C for 72 hours. Population dynamics of lactic acid bacteria and their impact on physicochemical properties of probiotic sapota juice during fermentation at two different temperatures were studied. Sensory evaluation was also studied to know the overall acceptability of the probiotic fruit juice. Result: The pH decreased and titratable acidity (TA) increased in all probiotic sapota juice samples incubated at 30°C and 37°C for 72 hours and the maximum titratable acidity was recorded by T4 (Lactobacillus plantarum) followed by T1 (L. acidophilus). All the three carbohydrates like glucose, fructose and sucrose present in sapota juice samples were utilized by the lactic acid bacteria during fermentation. Total phenolic concentration in the samples increased during fermentation. Viable cell counts in both samples kept at 30°C and 37°C gradually increased from 0 to 48 hours and then decreased. Sensory evaluation was conducted randomly for all the samples and no significant difference was recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining an astronaut's health during space travel is crucial. Multiple studies have observed various changes in the gut microbiome and physiological health. Astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) had changes in the microbial communities in their gut, nose, and skin. Additionally, immune system cell alterations have been observed in astronauts with changes in neutrophils, monocytes, and T-cells. Probiotics help tackle these health issues caused during spaceflight by inhibiting pathogen adherence, enhancing epithelial barrier function by reducing permeability, and producing an anti-inflammatory effect. When exposed to microgravity, probiotics demonstrated a shorter lag phase, faster growth, improved acid tolerance, and bile resistance. A freeze-dried Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota capsule was tested for its stability on ISS for a month and has been shown to enhance innate immunity and balance intestinal microbiota. The usage of freeze-dried spores of B. subtilis proves to be advantageous to long-term spaceflight because it qualifies for all the aspects tested for commercial probiotics under simulated conditions. These results demonstrate a need to further study the effect of probiotics in simulated microgravity and spaceflight conditions and to apply them to overcome the effects caused by gut microbiome dysbiosis and issues that might occur during spaceflight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaginal infections continue to be a serious public health issue, and developing new approaches to address antibiotic-resistant pathogens is an urgent task. The dominant vaginal Lactobacillus species and their active metabolites (e.g., bacteriocins) have the potential to defeat pathogens and help individuals recover from disorders. Here, we describe for the first time a novel lanthipeptide, inecin L, a bacteriocin from Lactobacillus iners with posttranslational modifications. The biosynthetic genes of inecin L were actively transcribed in the vaginal environment. Inecin L was active against the prevailing vaginal pathogens, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Streptococcus agalactiae, at nanomolar concentrations. We demonstrated that the antibacterial activity of inecin L was closely related to the N terminus and the positively charged His13 residue. In addition, inecin L was a bactericidal lanthipeptide that showed little effect on the cytoplasmic membrane but inhibited the cell wall biosynthesis. Thus, the present work characterizes a new antimicrobial lanthipeptide from a predominant species of the human vaginal microbiota. IMPORTANCE The human vaginal microbiota plays essential roles in preventing pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses from invading. The dominant vaginal Lactobacillus species show great potential to be developed as probiotics. However, the molecular mechanisms (such as bioactive molecules and their modes of action) involved in the probiotic properties remain to be determined. Our work describes the first lanthipeptide molecule from the dominant Lactobacillus iners. Additionally, inecin L is the only lanthipeptide found among the vaginal lactobacilli thus far. Inecin L shows strong antimicrobial activity toward the prevalent vaginal pathogens and antibiotic-resistant strains, suggesting that inecin L is a potent antibacterial molecule for drug development. In addition, our results show that inecin L exhibits specific antibacterial activity related to the residues in the N-terminal region and ring A, which will contribute to structure-activity relationship studies in lacticin 481-like lanthipeptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, vegan consumers demand that food products have more and more properties that contribute to the prevention of some diseases, such as lower fat content, increased mineral content (calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus), pleasant flavor, and low calorie values. Therefore, the beverage industry has tried to offer consumers products that include probiotics, prebiotics, or symbiotics with improved flavor and appearance and beneficial effects on health. The possibility of producing beverages based on soy milk with sea buckthorn syrup or sea buckthorn powder supplemented with inulin and fermented with the Lactobacillus casei ssp. paracasei strain was examined. The aim of this study was to obtain a novel symbiotic product that exploits the bioactive potential of sea buckthorn fruits. Tests were carried out in the laboratory phase by fermenting soy milk, to which was added sea buckthorn syrup (20%) or sea buckthorn powder (3%) and inulin in proportions of 1% and 3%, with temperature variation of fermentation (30 and 37 °C). During the fermentation period, the survivability of prebiotic bacteria, pH, and titratable acidity were measured. The storage time of beverages at 4 °C ± 1 °C was 14 days, and the probiotic viability, pH, titratable acidity, and water holding capacity were determined. Novel symbiotic beverages based on sea buckthorn syrup or powder, inulin, and soy milk were successfully obtained using the Lactobacillus casei ssp. paracasei strain as a starter culture. Moreover, the inulin added to the novel symbiotic beverage offered microbiological safety and excellent sensory attributes as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to date, the reported fucosidases generally show poor activities toward the IgG core-fucose, which limits the efficiency of ENGase-catalyzed glycoengineering process. However, EndoS or EndoS2 owns excellent activity and great selectivity towards the N-glycosylation of IgGs, and their non-catalytic domains are deduced to have specific interactions to IgG Fc domain that result in the great activity and selectivity. Herein, we constructed a series fusion protein of AlfC (an α- l -fucosidase from Lactobacillus casei BL23) with EndoS/S2 non-catalytic domain by replacing the catalytic GH (glycan hydrolase) domain of EndoS/S2 with the AlfC. We found that all these fused AlfCs showed significantly enhanced defucosylation activity toward the deglycosylated IgGs (Fucα1,6GlcNAc-IgG). We also performed the kinetic study of these fusion enzymes, and our results tend to tell that the EndoS-based fusion proteins have higher k cat values while the EndoS2-based ones possess lower K m values other than higher k cat. Conclusively, our research provides an effective approach to improve the activity of AlfC and remarkably shortened the defucosylation process within several minutes, which will significantly promote the development of glycoengineered antibodies in the future. A series of robust IgG specific fucosidases were developed by constructing the fusion protein of AlfC and non-catalytic domain of EndoS/S2, which could accomplish the deglycosylation and defucosylation of wild-type IgG within 10 min together with ENGase. [Display omitted] • A series of novel fucosidase fusion proteins were developed. • Fused AlfCs possess higher k cat and/or lower Km than that of WT to IgG. • Fused AlfCs could defucosylate IgG within 10 min with EndoS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mask-wearing is still recommended owing to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the closed chamber created by the mask, people are increasingly self-aware of their oral malodor. In this prospective and cross-sectional study, we aimed to measure volatile sulfide compound (VSC) levels in patients with halitosis and investigate the oral microbiome profile on the inner surface of their KF94 masks. We also investigated which oral microbiota increases VSC levels and whether the oral microbiomes of oral saliva and mask are correlated. A total of 50 subjects (41 women, average age 38.12 ± 12.58 years old) were included in the study, 25 healthy subjects and 25 patients with halitosis who wore masks for more than 3 h. The dominant bacterial species, bacterial profile, and Shannon diversity index of whole unstimulated saliva and the inner surface of the mask were investigated. The bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes of the major oral bacterial species were analyzed using real-time PCR. Gas chromatography was used to measure hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), which are representative VSCs. The total bacterial DNA copy number was significantly higher in the saliva sample than in the mask sample (p < 0.001), and the average value was 276 times greater. Shannon diversity index was also significantly higher in saliva than in the inner surface of the mask (2.62 ± 0.81 vs. 1.15 ± 1.52, p < 0.001). The most common Gram-negative and Gram-positive species in the masks were Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Lactobacillus casei (Lc), respectively. The bacterial species with significant positive correlations between saliva and mask samples were Prevotella intermedia (Pi) (r = 0.324, p = 0.022), Eikenella corrodens (r = 0.309, p = 0.029), Lc (r = 0.293, p = 0.039), and Parvimonas micra (Pm) (r = 0.366, p = 0.009). The mean value of CH3SH was significantly higher in the halitosis group than in the non-halitosis group (17.84 ± 29.00 vs. 3.84 ± 10.57 ppb, p = 0.031). In the halitosis group, the DNA copy numbers and VSC levels showed highly positive correlation coefficients in the order Pg, Treponema denticola (Td), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Pi, and Prevotella nigrescens (Pn) (all p < 0.05). Regarding bacterial profiles of the mask, Td was strongly correlated with CH3SH (r = 0.414, p = 0.040) and total VSCs (r = 0.374, p = 0.033) only in halitosis group. Mask-wearing time was strongly correlated with total VSCs, H2S, and CH3SH (all r > 0.8, p < 0.001). Oral bacteria, whose association with halitosis has been identified, increased VSC levels in mask-wearing subjects during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the number of Gram-negative anaerobes such as Pg and Td. Mask-wearing time was a major factor in increasing VSC levels. The study results suggest that people with halitosis could control these Gram-negative bacteria by improving oral hygiene and regularly changing masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been found to be effective in neutralizing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) due to their cationic characteristics. LHH1 and LGH2 are two AMPs that we previously identified from the genome of Lactobacillus casei HZ1, which is originated from Chinese traditional fermented milk. In present study, the anti-inflammatory capacity of the two AMPs was investigated via a LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages inflammation model. Cell viability assay results showed that the AMPs showed a lower cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 cells at a concentration of lower than 32 μM. Compared to LGH2, LHH1 exhibited a good anti-inflammatory effect with a markedly declined release of nitric oxide (NO) from RAW264.7 cells. What’s more, LHH1 could effectively decrease the secretion of pro-inflammatory TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. ITC data depicted that LHH1 could interact with LPS in an exothermic reaction. These data confirmed the efficacy of LHH1 from Lactobacillus casei HZ1 in exerting anti-inflammatory activity, which provided a novel AMP candidate in treating inflammation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the inhibitory effects of green tea (Gt), EGCG, and nanoformulations containing chitosan (Nchi) and chitosan+green tea (Nchi+Gt) against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei. In addition, the antibacterial effect of nanoformulations was evaluated directly on dentin after the selective removal of carious lesion. At first, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against S. mutans and L. casei isolates were investigated. In parallel, dentin specimens were exposed to S. mutans to induce carious lesions. Soft dentin was selectively removed by Er:YAG laser (n=33) or bur (n=33). Remaining dentin was biomodified with Nchi (n=11) or Gt+Nchi (n=11). Control group (n=11) did not receive any treatment. Dentin scraps were collected at three time points. Microbiological analyses were conducted and evaluated by agar plate counts. Gt at 1:32 dilution inhibited S. mutans growth while 1:16 was efficient against L. casei. EGCG at 1:4 dilution completely inhibited S. mutans and L. casei growth. Independently of the association with Gt, Nchi completely inhibited S. mutans at 1:4 dilution. For L. casei, different concentrations of Nchi (1:32) and Nchi+Gt (1:8) were required to inhibit cell growth. After selective carious removal, viability of S. mutans decreased (p<0.001), without difference between bur and Er:YAG laser (p>0.05). Treatment with Nchi and Nchi+Gt did not influence the microbial load of S. mutans on dentin (p>0.05). Although variations in concentrations were noticed, all compounds showed antibacterial activity against S. mutans and L. casei. Both bur and Er:YAG laser have effectively removed soft dentin and reduced S. mutans counts. Nanoformulations did not promote any additional antibacterial effect in the remaining dentin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The different lactobacillus strains isolated from dairy resource s may have unique functional properties on human health. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the health properties of the lactobacilli isolated from a traditional dairy product in vitro. A total of seven isolated lactobacilli abilities were evaluated for environmental pH reduction, antibacterial activity, cholesterol reduction, and antioxidant activity. Based on the results, the highest decrease in the environment pH was observed in Lactobacillusfermentum B166 with 57%. The antipathogen activity test showed the best results for inhibiting Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to be obtained by Lact. fermentum 10–18 and Lact. brevis SKB1021 strains, respectively. However, Lact. plantarum H1 and Lact. plantarum PS7319 represented the maximum activity in preventing Escherichia coli ; also, Lact. fermentum APBSMLB166 inhibited Staphylococcus aureus more than other strains. Additionally, Lact. crustorum B481 and fermentum 10–18 strains significantly led to a higher reduction in the medium cholesterol than the other strains. The results of antioxidant tests demonstrated that Lact. brevis SKB1021 and Lact. fermentum B166 inhabited radical substrate significantly more than the other lactobacilli. Therefore, four lactobacilli isolated from a traditional dairy product improved some safety indexes positively; thus, they are suggested to be used in manufacturing probiotic supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We probed the effect of a probiotic complex on the immune response caused by Plesiomonas shigelloides infection in the southern catfish. Our study revealed the key genes for this inflammatory response, and the probiotic complex effectively inhibited the expression of key inflammatory factors caused by P. shigelloides, providing basic data for future artificial breeding of the southern catfish and the prevention and control of bacterial diseases caused by P. shigelloides. To explore whether a probiotic complex composed of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus casei can prevent or inhibit the inflammatory response caused by the invasion of Plesiomonas shigelloides in the southern catfish, we screened differentially expressed genes and enriched inflammation-related pathways among a control and three experimental groups and conducted analysis by transcriptome sequencing after a 21-day breeding experiment. Compared with those in the PS (Plesiomonas shigelloides) group, southern catfish in the L-PS (Lactobacillus-Plesiomonas shigelloides) group had no obvious haemorrhages or ulcerations. The results also showed that inflammation-related genes, such as mmp9, cxcr4, nfkbia, socs3, il-8, pigr, tlr5, and tnfr1, were significantly upregulated in the PS group compared with those in the L-PS groups. In addition, we verified six DEGs (mmp9, cxcr4, nfkbia, socs3, rbp2, and calr) and three proteins (CXCR4, NFKBIA, and CALR) by qRT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Our results were consistent with the transcriptome data. Moreover, significantly downregulated genes (p < 0.05) were enriched in inflammation-related GO terms (lymphocyte chemotaxis and positive regulation of inflammatory response) and immune-related pathways (intestinal immune network for IgA production and IL-17 signalling pathway) in the L-PS vs. the PS group. Our results indicate that the infection of P. shigelloides can produce an inflammatory response, and probiotics could inhibit the inflammatory response caused by P. shigelloides to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice cream was supplemented with 50 mg per kg free and encapsulated forms of iron and Lactobacillus casei (a probiotic). Physicochemical characteristics such as pH, acidity, overrun, viscosity, melting rate, texture, and lipid oxidation of the enriched ice cream were determined over 90 days at − 18 °C. Furthermore, the survival of Lactobacillus casei and sensory attributes were also examined during and at the end of storage. No adverse effect was observed on hardness, adhesion, cohesion, and acidity but viscosity dropped during this period. A significant increase in the lipid oxidation rate was observed, especially in samples supplemented with the free iron. Some reduction in the probiotic counts was observed, however the value was maintained above the minimum threshold of 106 cfu/g at the end of 90 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qymyz is a traditional acidic and ethanolic beverage in central Asian countries made from mare milk fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts. Modeling the growth of microorganisms during fermentation is one of the methods used to control the quality of fermented products. The objective of the study was, firstly, to model the growth kinetics of Kazachstania unispora found in qymyz, and, secondly, to understand their interaction with Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lactobacillus kefiri during the fermentation of mare milk. The K. unispora optimum values of pH and temperature were 4.81 ± 0.22 and 30.16 ± 0.53 °C, respectively, with an optimal growth rate (µopt) of 0.56 ± 0.02 h−1. K. unispora had an ethanol production rate of 6.1 × 10−8 mg·CFU−1. Growth, in terms of limiting substrates showed a lower Ks value for galactose at 0.13 ± 0.04 mg·mL−1 with µopt of 0.45 ± 0.01 h−1, while, for glucose, the Ks was 0.24 ± 0.03 mg·mL−1 with the same µopt. Cocultures of K. unispora were conducted with L. casei and L. kefiri in a synthetic medium and mare milk. The results showed that K. unispora growth was limited and, thus, its ethanol production capacity was inhibited. VOC analysis of mare milk fermented with the studied strains and their cocultures resulted in 37 major volatile compounds. Statistical analysis of the VOC profiles showed that K. unispora modulates the aroma production in coculture with LAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Machinery is the property of Food & Machinery Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can be biosynthesized by most Lactic acid bacteria thereby converting toxic sodium into SeNPs. However, few studies have reported the antimicrobial activity of biogenic SeNPs against Pseudomonas fluorescens which are the main species of psychrotrophic bacteria in raw milk. This study reported the synthesis and characterization of SeNPs from Lactobacillus casei ZK-AS 1.1482, and the antimicrobial mechanism against P. fluorescens ATCC 13525. The synthesized SeNPs were amorphous with sizes ranging from 52 to 103 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra showed the presence of proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids on the surface of particles, which evidently stabilized the SeNPs structure and morphology. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis revealed that the nanoparticles contained selenium. In addition, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SeNPs against P. fluorescens ATCC 13525 was 0.1 mg ml−1 and the biofilm inhibition rate was 43.52 ± 0.26%. SeNPs decreased the number of living bacteria observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Meanwhile, after SeNPs treatment, the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and antioxidant enzyme activity decreased, the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased, and lipid peroxidation intensified. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay showed that the expression of flgA, luxR, lapD, MCP, cheA, c-di-GMP, phoB, and pstC gene were down-regulated after SeNPs treatment. The rfbC and DegT/DnrJ/EryC1/StrS gene were significantly up-regulated, indicating that SeNPs could destroy the integrity of cell membrane and thus play an antimicrobial role. Biogenic SeNPs are expected to be developed as an efficient and novel antimicrobial agent for application in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotic bacteria confer health benefits to their host, support the intestinal microbiome and fight antibiotic resistance. Probiotic products are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries and, in recent years, have become increasingly popular in the cosmetic industry. However, in the case of cosmetics, it is difficult to meet microbiological requirements while maintaining viable cells. The aim of this research study was to develop an effective way of introducing live bacteria (a strain of L. casei) into cosmetic formulations. A method of encapsulation of the bacteria was used to increase their viability. As part of the results, the effective carriers for the strain of L. casei are reported. Alginate microspheres were prepared for the systems to protect the microorganisms against external factors, such as temperature, UV light and preservatives. The obtained probiotic-loaded alginate microspheres were then used as the active ingredient of cosmetic formulations. Additionally, a preservative system was carefully selected to ensure the microorganisms’ viability and the microbiological stability of the products. The obtained results showed a significant improvement in the survival of the microencapsulated probiotic strain in the cosmetic formulations containing antimicrobial agents (6.13 log CFU/g after 120 days of storage) compared with the formulation containing the non-immobilised probiotic strain, where complete elimination of bacterial cells was observed.

Kawasaki disease (KD) occurs in young children, has an unknown etiology, and can cause such life-threatening complications as coronary artery aneurysm. A mouse model using Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE) with intraperitoneal injection was established for KD years ago. Histological examination of coronary artery lesions indicated features similar to those of vascular lesions of patients with KD. Since animals must be sacrificed during histological examination, the longitudinal survey of coronary artery lesions (CALs) is difficult. The aim of this study was to survey the vasculitis status of the coronary artery and the carotid artery in a KD mouse model. Method: LCWE was intraperitoneally injected into 5-week-old male C57BL/6 mice to induce CALs. We studied the longitudinal status of the carotid and coronary arteries and analyzed the Z-score of coronary artery diameter. Results: Carotid artery wall thickness (day 7) and diameter (day 14) significantly increased in the LCWE group with a dose-dependent effect (p < 0.05). Aortic diameter and wall thickness demonstrated significant increases on day 28 and day 7, respectively (p < 0.05). Carotid artery outer diameter and wall thickness were positively associated with coronary artery diameter on day 28 (p < 0.01). Coronary artery diameter significantly increased in the LCWE group after day 7 (p < 0.05). The percentage of Z > 3.0 indicated was more than 80% in the high-dose LCWE group and 0% in the control group. Conclusions: This report is the first to use coronary artery Z-score in a mouse model of KD by echocardiography and to find a positive association between carotid artery and coronary artery diameter.

Purpose: To apply titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) in an aqueous solution or incorporated into the primer of a self-etching adhesive (Clearfil SE Bond) as dentin pre-treatment and evaluate its antimicrobial effect, determine the minimum bactericidal concentraion (MBC) against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei and analyse its potential to inhibit the development of carious lesions at the restoration interface.Materials and Methods: For MBC, an aqueous solution or primer with different concentrations (in %) of TiF4 were used (from 0.0 to 4.0). Also, 50 cavities were prepared at the enamel/dentin junction of third molars and received the following dentin pre-treatments (n = 10): Clearfil SE Bond (CL); aqueous solution of 2.5% TiF4 + CL (T2.5%); aqueous solution of 4% TiF4 + CL (T4%); 2.5% TiF4 incorporated into the primer (P2.5%); 4% TiF4 incorporated into the primer (P4%). Cavities were restored and submitted to pH cycling to create artificial caries lesions. Microhardness tests were performed after sectioning the restorations to assess the demineralisation at margins.Results: ANOVA and Tukey's tests showed that TiF4 in aqueous solution presented MBC against S. mutans and L. casei of over 2.0%. TiF4 in the primer of a self-etching adhesive presented MBC of over 1% for L. casei. For enamel, CL showed no significant differences in microhardness between the depths.Conclusions: The aqueous solution had an antimicrobial effect against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei of over 2.0%. Pretreatment with the aqueous solution or primer did not inhibit demineralisation at enamel or dentin restoration interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of supplement ofLactobacillus casei K17 on fillet tastes of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides were researched for improving its fillet tastes. The M. salmoides was given commercial feed supplemented with live L. casei K17 (1×108 CFU/g), live L. casei K17 protected by skim milk powder (10%), heat-killed dead L. casei K17, its fermentation supernatant, skim milk powder (10%), and saline (0.85% NaCl), designated as LB, MB, DB, FS, MG, and SG, respectively. At the end of the trial, the outline of the whole taste difference of each group was determined by using the electronic tongue. The contents of free amino acids and flavor nucleotides were analyzed. The results showed that the electronic tongue adopted discriminant factor analysis based on principal component analysis, the difference of six groups could be effectively distinguished, and the umami, bitter and sweet taste of each group could be effectively distinguished by using radar map. Sixteen free amino acids were detected from the fillet of six groups. Total umami amino acids and aspartic acid (Asp) in the MB group, the valine (Val), isoleucine (Ile), leucine (Leu), phenylalanine (Phe) and total bitter amino acids in the FS group, and the total essential amino acids in the MG group were significantly higher than those in the control SG group (PFS>DB>LB>MG>SG. Consistent with the predicted results of the electronic tongue, EUC was recommended to quantify the umami of fish fillet. These results showed the fillet taste compositions and contents of M. salmoides fed with different L. casei K17 diets were improved obviously compared with the control group, especially LB and MB, which could provide a useful theoretical reference for further development and utilization of M. salmoides.