• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1186-1194
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• 2022

The intake of probiotic lactic acid bacteria not only promotes digestion through the microbiome regulated host intestinal metabolism but also improves diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, and suppresses pathogenic harmful bacteria. This investigation aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects in intestinal epithelial cells and to study the clinical efficacy of the selected the Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum groups. The physiological and biochemical properties were characterized, and immunomodulatory activity was measured against pathogenic bacteria. In order to find out the mechanism of inflammatory action of the eight viable and sonicated Bifidobacterium spp., we tried to confirm the changes in the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), and chemokines, (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, IL-8) and inflammatory enzymatic mediator (nitric oxide) against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 infection in Caco-2 cells and RAW 264.7 cells. The clinical efficacy of the selected B. breve and B. longum group was studied as a probiotic adjuvant for acute diarrhea in children by oral administration. The results showed significant immunomodulatory effects on the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, MCP-1, IL-8 and NO, in sonicated Bifidobacterium extracts and viable bifidobacteria. Moreover, each of the Bifidobacterium strains was found to react more specifically to different cytokines. However, treatment with sonicated Bifidobacterium extracts showed a more significant effect compared to treatment with the viable bacteria. We suggest that probiotics functions should be subdivided according to individual characteristics, and that personalized probiotics should be designed to address individual applications.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of MRS-C (0.05% L-cystein; pH 5) and BHI-CM (0.05% L-cystein, 0.5% mucin) agars for the selective isolation of bifidobacteria in fecal samples compared to blood-liver-NPNL (BL-NPNL) agar. Over 200 isolated colonies were characterized morphologically and biochemically. Genomic DNA was extracted from pure cultures of the isolated strains, followed by PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene. Bifidobacterium longum and B. animalis were selectively isolated from MRS-C agar and Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus avium were also isolated. B. longum, B. faecale, and B. animalis were isolated from feces on BHI-CM agar; however, different Bacteroides strains (including Bac. fragilis, Bac. kiribbi, Bac. ovatus, Bac. koreensis, and Bac. salyersiae) were also detected. BL-NPNL agar successfully isolated B. longum and Bacillus, while other Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides species could not grow owing to the presence of antibiotics in the medium. The use of antibiotics in a medium can enhance the selectivity; however, antibiotics may inhibit the growth of certain bacteria in a sample. Hence, adjusting pH or adding non-antibiotic nutrients to the medium is more advantageous, than relying on antibiotics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1369-1374
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• 2019

We isolated Lactobacillus mucosae NK41 and Bifidobacterium longum NK46 from human feces, which induced BDNF expression in corticosterone-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells, and examined their anti-depressive effects in mice. NK41, NK46, and their (1:1) mixture significantly mitigated immobilization stress (IS)-induced anxiety-like/depressive behaviors, hippocampal $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, BDNF expression, $Iba1^+$ cell population, and blood corticosterone, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and lipopolysaccharide levels. Furthermore, they inhibited colitis marker $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression in mice with IS-induced anxiety/depression. They additionally suppressed gut Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes populations and bacterial lipopolysaccharide production. These findings suggest that NK41 and NK46 may alleviate anxiety/depression and colitis by suppressing gut dysbiosis.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.773-779
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• 2017

The effect of addition of the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum KACC 91563 on the chemical and sensory properties of Kwark cheese produced using CHN-11 as a cheese starter were investigated. The addition of B. longum KACC 91563 to Kwark cheese did not change the composition or pH value of the cheese, compared with control. B. longum KACC 91563 survived at a level of 7.58 Log CFU/g and did not have any negative effect on survival of the cheese starter. A sensory panel commented that the addition of B. longum KACC 91563 made Kwark cheese more desirable to consumers, and that the probiotic supplementation had no effect on perceived taste. Thus, B. longum KACC 91563 can be used for inclusion of probiotic bacteria in cheese.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2009

A number of bifidobacterial species of human origin were screened for the presence of cryptic plasmids. One strain, Bifidobacterium longum FI10564, harbored plasmids of approximately 2.2 kb, 3.6 kb, and 4.9 kb in size. The smallest plasmid, pFI2576(2,197 bp), was studied in detail and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. Computer-assisted analysis of this novel plasmid(G+C content 62%) identified 9 putative open reading frames(orfs), 3 of which were shown to be probable genes. These putative genes are arranged in an operon-like structure, in which the overlapping orfs 1 and 2 encode putative Rep proteins and are highly homologous to the rep genes of the B. longum plasmid pMBI(1,847 bp). The mechanism of replication of pFI2576 was investigated using Southern blot analysis of whole cell lysates, with and without S1 nuclease treatment, and atomic force microscopy(AFM). The results indicate that pFI2576 is likely to use the theta mode of replication.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2000

Methanol extracts of 27 Brazilian plant samples and 10 oriental medicinal plant samples (27 families), using spectrophotometric and paper disc agar diffusion methods under anaerobic conditions, were tested in vitro for their growth-inhibiting activities against Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Clostridium perfringens, and Bacteroides fragilis. The responses varied with bacterial strains, plant species, and tissues sampled. In a test with B. longum and B. bifidum(20 mg/disc), extracts of Acanthopanax sessilifolinus stem bark and Ampelozizyphus amazonicus leaves strongly inhibited the growth of B. longum, whereas other plant samples did not inhibit any intestinal bacteria tested. At 5 mg/disc, adding extracts of Aralia eleta, Euterpe oleracea, and Syzygium guineense to the media strongly inhibited the growth of C. perfringens and B. fragilis without growth inhibition of B. adolescentis, B. longum, and B. bifidum. Extracts of Jacaranda mimosifolia and Ulmus paraifolia significantly inhibited the growth of C. perfringens and B. fragilis as well as B. adolescentis. These results may be indications of at least one of the pharmacological actions of the five Brazilian plants but not oriental medicinal plants tested.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.390-405
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• 2020

Purpose: The effect of prebiotics intake after administration of a synbiotics mixture (a probiotic, Bifidobacterium longum, and a prebiotic, xylooligosaccharide containing sugar [XOS]) on human intestinal microflora and defecation characteristics was investigated in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-five healthy young volunteers (11 males and 14 females) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (BL2XO2 and BL2XO6). The synbiotics mixture was orally administered to both groups for 2 weeks, and the prebiotics were subsequently administered to the BL2XO6 group for 4 additional weeks. The daily dose of the synbiotics mixture comprised 10¹⁰ colony-forming unit of Bifidobacterium longum and 10 g of XOS, and during the prebiotics period, the daily dose of prebiotics comprised only 10 g of XOS. The fecal pH, microflora, and defecation characteristics were analyzed at baseline and at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6. Results: The counts of B. longum and Bifidobacterium spp. in the BL2XO6 group exhibited a steady, increasing trend during the synbiotics and prebiotics periods, whereas those of the BL2XO2 group exhibited considerable variation in each week of the study period. Although there was no significant difference, the counts of fecal Bifidobacterium in the BL2XO6 group tended to be higher than those of the BL2XO2 group at week 6. The growth of Lactobacillus spp. exhibited a time-dependent variation, peaking at week 6 in both groups. Low counts of Clostridium spp. were observed after treatment with the synbiotics and prebiotics in the BL2XO6 group (p < 0.05) throughout the study, whereas the inhibitory effect on Clostridium spp. was maintained only during the synbiotics period in the BL2XO2 group. The defecation characteristics did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: Administration of XOS after a synbiotics mixture containing B. longum and XOS can exert a prebiotic effect in healthy young volunteers by stimulating Bifidobacteriun spp. growth and inhibiting growth of Clostridium spp.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.457-462
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• 2003

The complete nucleotide sequence of a plasmid, pMG1, isolated from Bifidobacterium longum MG1 has been determined. This plasmid, composed of 3,862 base pairs with 65.1% of G+C content. harbors two major open reading frames (ORF) encoding putative proteins of 29 kDa (ORF I) and 71 kDa (ORF II). ORF I showed relatively high amino acid sequence homology with replication proteins of other plasmids from Gr Im-positive and -negative bacteria. Upstream of ORF I, four sets of tandem repeat sequences resembling the iteron structure of related plasmids were found. S1 endonuclease treatment and Southern blot analysis revealed that pMG1 accumulates single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) intermediate, which indicate i the rolling circle replication (RCR) mechanism of this plasmid. Homology search indicated that ORF II encodes plasmid mobilization protein, and the presence of highly conserved oriT sequence in the upstream of this gene supported this assumption. RT-PCR showed that only ORF I is expressed in vivo. Based on these results, pMG 1 was exploited to construct a shuttle vector, pBES2. It was successfully transformed into Bifidobacterium and maintained stably.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.388-394
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• 2005

In order to investigate the distribution of dominant Bifidobacterium species in intestinal microflora of Korean adults and seniors, SDS-PAGE profiles of whole cell proteins were used for the identification of bifidobacteria. To confirm the reliability of SDS-PAGE, the Bifidobacterium species identified by SDS-PAGE of whole cell proteins were validated by using 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. The results of SDS­PAGE corresponded well with those determined by the analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing. Based on the analysis of SDS-PAGE patterns on unidentified fecal strains which showed positive in fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase activity, B. adolescentis, B. longum, and B. bifidum were identified in the feces of adults, and B. adolescentis, B. longum, B. bifidum, B. breve, and B. dentium were identified in those of seniors. In most of the fecal samples tested, the predominant Bifidobacterium species consisted of only a few species, and differences in the distribution and numbers of Bifidobacterium species were observed between adults and seniors. B. adolescentis and B. longum were found to be the most common species in feces of adults, but not in seniors. Accordingly, the distribution and abundance of bifidobacteria in the human intestinal microflora varied depending on the age of hosts.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.743-750
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• 2010

The influence of various fermenting conditions using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, alone (Control, Single) and in combination with mixed lactic acid-producing bacteria (Combined 1, Mixed, Combined 2), including Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium, and Lactobacillus acidophilus on flour sourdough preparation was examined. For the Combined 2 method, starters were incubated separately for 15 h, combined, and then further incubated for 10 h. Fermentation using Combined 2 improved the growth of mixed lactic acid-producing bacteria, but inhibited that of S. cerevisiae. This was also reflected in the extent of the pH reduction in sourdough produced in the Combined 2 step by these organisms. Among biochemical activities, $CO_2$ production and titratable acidity were increased by Combined 2, although the viable yeast counts were decreased. Aroma compounds in sourdough markedly varied according to fermentation conditions.