• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 2008

One hundred one years have passed since Metchnikoff made his first scientific contribution to probiotics study. Intestinal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for humans are closely associated with the host's health because LAB is an important biodefense factor in preventing colonization and subsequent proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine. A probiotic is recently defined as "live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amount confer a health benefit on the host". Some species of LAB have been claimed as probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, L. fermentum, L. plantarum, L. reuteri, and Lactococcus lactis. For understanding the general mechanism of probiotics, this paper would explore the early studies relating to probiotics and intestinal microbiota, and briefly introduce the Prolongation of Life written by Elie Metctmikoff.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 1997

The growth inhibition effect of Orally administrated yogurt ACE and Metchnikoffupon E. coli O157:H7 and S. typhimurium inoculated into gastric lumen of rabbits was in vestigated. The rabbits challenged with each 1 $m\ell$ of suspension containing 108 CFU/$m\ell$ of the pathogens were divided into 4 groups by the interval of yogurt administration: A group; preadministrated 7 days before inoculation of the pathogens and fed daily; B group; administrated daily after inocjlation of the pathogens, C group; administrated every 3 days after inoculation of the pathogens; Control group, not fed after inoculation of the pathogens. Each 3 $m\ell$ of yogurt containing 109 CFU/$m\ell$ was orally administrated into rabbits. All yogurt administrated groups (A, B, c) chowed growth ingibition effect on E. coli O157:H7 in one day after inoculation of the pathogen by the level of 0.8~1.0 log CFU/g, compared with the result differences between the control group and the yogurt administrated groups. In the control group after 5 days of inoculation, the number of colonized pathogens was 105~106 CFU/g, whereas 103~104 CFU/g was detected in the yogurt administrated groups. After 10 days of inoculation, the viable pathogen number per gram (g) of the rabbit feces was 103 CFU/g in the control group, whereas the number below 101 CFU/g was detected in the group A, and 102 CFU/g in the control group, B and C. The growth inhibition effect of yogurt administration on E. coli O157:H7 was highly increased in the order of A, B, and C group. The same effect on S. typhimurium was observed at the level of 2 log CFU/g in the Metchnikoff yogurt administrated groups, compared with the control group result in one day after inoculation of the pathogen. In 7 days after inoculation of the pathogen, the viable number was increasingly decreased, and finally after 15 days no viable cell of S. typhimurium was discharged into the fecal samples in the group A, and the mean level of 10* CFU/g was detected in the group B, but there was no growth inhibition effect in the group C. The growth inhibition effect on S. typhimurium was observed at the same level of viable cell number between the yogurt ACE administrated groups and the control group in 5 days after inoculation. But, after 10 days of inoclation the viable cell number was started to decrease, and the viable cell of S. typhimurium was not discharged from rabbit intestinal contents after 15 days of inoculation in the yogurt ACE administrated groups. In such a case that yogurt was administrated in order to prevent the pathogens, pre-administration on a daily basis one week before inoculation of the pathogens exerted considerable effect in growth inhibition. In comparison with two kinds of yogurt tested in this study, the growth inhibition effect on two kinds of pathogens was observed more highly in the Metchnikoff administated group than the ACE administrated group.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 1997

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella ser. typhimurium are pathogens involved in food poisoning in numerous countries. This study aimed to obtain knowleges on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 KSC 109 and S. ser. typhimurium ATCC 14028 in fermentedmilk products which were on sale in Suwon Yakult supplier. To the final concentration of 103~104 cfu/$m\ell$ of E. coli O157:H7 KSC 109 or S. wer. typhimurium ATCC 14028 in the fermented milks, Metchnikoff, Ace, Yakult, Mastoni and Super 100 were inoculated with these pathogens and then were stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ and viable cells of these pathogens were periodically counted. The results showed that the survival of two pathogens differed in the different types of fermented milks tested. Number of suriviving E. coli O157:H7 KSC 109 and S. ser. typimurium ATCC 14028 cells (initial inoculum, 103~104 cfu/$m\ell$) were decreased to 101, 102 cfu/$m\ell$ in Ace after 100 hours, and were decreased gradually to 101 cfu/$m\ell$ in Yakult after 250 hours. In the other fermented milks, viable cells of E. coli O157:H7 KSC 109 was not drastically decreased but those of S. ser. typhimurium ATCC 14028 was decreased gradually to 102 (Mastoni), and to 101 cfu/$m\ell$ (Super 100) after 250 hours. It appeared that S. ser. typhimurium ATCC 14028 was more susceptible than E. coli O157:H7 KSC 109 at low pH. Vibale cells of E. coli O157:H7 KSC 109 was not drastically decreased in most of fermented milks tested except Ace and Yakult, but in general, S. ser. typhimurium ATCC 14028 was drastically decreased in most of the fermented milks. The major ingibition factor against these pathogens in the fermented milks during storage at 4$^{\circ}C$ appeared to be the acidity and the metabolites produced by the starters bacteria used in fermented milk products.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 2003

The health benefits of friendly bacteria first came to the attention of the general public in 1908, when Dr. Elie Metchnikoff, a Russian biologist, wrote The Prolongation of Life. The longevity may be, in part, due to the antioxidative ability of lactic acid bacteria. However, the antioxidative effect of lactic acid bacteria has been reported only recently. Many kinds of reactive oxygen species can be formed in the human body and in food system, oxidative stress plays a significant pathological role in human disease. Antioxidants are effective for the reduction of oxidation induced by oxygen radicals by scavenging reactive oxygen species. Various synthetic and natural antioxidants have been reported, but there are doubts about the safety and long term effects on health. Antioxidants from natural sources are likely to be found more desirable. An elevated scavenging ability of reactive oxygen species would be a good property for commercially applied lactic acid bacteria. Antioxidant supplement or food containing antioxidants would be greatly applied for the reduction of oxidative damage for human body, and lactic acid bacteria are potentiated candidates for the production of functional foods or natural antioxidant supplements.