• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2012

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG(ATCC 53103) is one of the best researched probiotic strains in the world. Studies in children have shown that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG effectively prevents early atopic disease in patients with high risk. The active molecules associated with the immunostimulatory sequence and anti-allergy effects of L. rhamnosus GG have not yet been identified. Unmethylated CpG motifs in bacterial DNA have a mitogenic effect in mouse immune cells, CpG-containing ISS oligodeoxynucleotides are potent Th1 adjuvants, effective in both preventing and reversing Th2-biased immune deviation in allergy models. The genomic DNA of L. rhamnosus GG is a potent inducer of murine B cell and dendritic cell immunoactivation. In L. rhamnosus GG genomic DNA, ID35 shows high activity in ISS assays in both mice and humans. The effects of ID35 result from a unique TTTCGTT motif located at its 5'-end, and its effects are comparable with murine prototype CpG 1826. L. rhamnosus GG is known to secrete proteinaceous pili encoded by the spaCBA gene cluster. The presence of pili structures may be essential for its adhesion to human intestinal mucus, explaining the prolonged duration of intestinal residence of this bacterium, compared to that of non-piliated lactobacilli.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 2013

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are added to different food products for a long time due to health beneficial effects on human host. LAB is applied in dairy products, such as yoghurt, cheese, and various fermented products, and also in non-dairy products, such as sausages. However, reaching the human gut alive as well as in a sufficient cell amount to exert positive health effects is still a big challenge, due to LAB sensitive character and vulnerability against harsh and detrimental conditions in human digestive system. Keeping physiological activity of sensitive LAB strains alive is for the formulation of novel food products with a probiotic health claim of utmost interest, thus microencapsulation has been applied and investigated as a promising technique for a good and reliable protection. Microencapsulation allows reduced cell injury or cell loss by retaining cells within the encapsulating membrane and can be enforced by spray-drying, emulsion, extrusion, and a range of other technologies in combination with an appropriate coating material, such as alginate, chitosan, and mixture of these two polymers. In this review, established and well-studied microencapsulation techniques with their favored coating materials, as well as the recent applications of microencapsulated LAB into dairy products will be discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1490-1503
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• 2016

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. Although 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the representative chemotherapy drug for colorectal cancer, it has therapeutic limits due to its chemoresistant characteristics. Colorectal cancer cells can develop into cancer stem cells (CSCs) with self-renewal potential, thereby causing malignant tumors. The human gastrointestinal tract contains a complex gut microbiota that is essential for the host's homeostasis. Recently, many studies have reported correlations between gut flora and the onset, progression, and treatment of CRC. The present study confirms that the most representative symbiotic bacteria in humans, Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) supernatant (SN), selectively inhibit the characteristics of 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT-116). LP SN inhibited the expression of the specific markers CD44, 133, 166, and ALDH1 of CSCs. The combination therapy of LP SN and 5-FU inhibited the survival of CRCs and led to cell death by inducing caspase-3 activity. The combination therapy of LP SN and 5-FU induced an anticancer mechanism by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling of chemoresistant CRC cells, and reducing the formation and size of colonospheres. In conclusion, our results show that LP SN can enhance the therapeutic effect of 5-FU for colon cancer, and reduce colorectal cancer stem-like cells by reversing the development of resistance to anticancer drugs. This implies that probiotic substances may be useful therapeutic alternatives as biotherapeutics for chemoresistant CRC.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.820-830
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• 2019

Most consumers consider yogurt to be a healthy food because it contains probiotic microorganisms. Although a plethora of commercially produced yogurts exists, nutritional and functional aspects of the commercial yogurts have not been well characterized. In this study, the microbiological and physicochemical properties of popular drinking yogurts in Korea were extensively characterized. The viability of lactic acid bacteria, including lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, varied between yogurt samples. These lactobacilli and bifidobacteria showed effective antimicrobial activities against foodborne pathogenic bacteria. Unlike the titratable acidity and pH, the soluble solids content varied between yogurt samples. All the yogurt samples contained high levels of potassium (average 143.53 mg/100 g) and calcium (average 133.92 mg/100 g), as well as phosphorus and sodium. Lactose, fructose, and glucose were the major sugar components in most yogurt samples, whereas the levels of sucrose and maltose were relatively low. Among several organic acids analyzed in the yogurt samples, lactic acid (average 767.67 mg/100 g) and citric acid (average 170.91 mg/100 g) were the most predominant. Taken together, this study provides preliminary information about the nutritional and functional characteristics of commercially available drinking yogurts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.142-158
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• 2019

Kimchi is a traditional Korean fermented vegetable probiotic food. The use of high quality ingredients and predominant LAB (lactic acid bacteria)-whether it be ambient bacteria or adding starters, low temperature and facultative anaerobic condition for the fermentation are important factors for preparing kimchi with better taste and functionality. The predominated LAB genera are Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Weissella in kimchi fermentation. The representative species are Leu. mesenteroides, Leu. citrium, Lab. plantarum, Lab. sakei, and Wei. koreensis. Kimchi, especially the optimally fermented kimchi, has various health benefits, including control of colon health, antioxidation, antiaging effects, cancer preventive effect, antiobesity, control of dyslipidemic and metabolic syndrome, etc.; due to the presence of LAB, various nutraceuticals, and metabolites from the ingredients and LAB. The kimchi LAB are good probiotics, exhibiting antimicrobial activity, antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticancer effects, as well as immunomodualatory effect, antiobesity, and cholesterol and lipid lowering effects. Thus, kimchi ingredients, LAB, fermentation methods, and metabolites are important factors that modulate various functionalities. In this review, we introduced recent information showing kimchi and its health benefits in Korean Functional Foods (Park & Ju 2018).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.348-354
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• 2022

Recent studies have shown that probiotics have health-promoting effects, particularly intestinal immune modulation. In this study, we focused on the immunomodulatory properties of Latilactobacillus curvatus BYB3, formerly called Lactobacillus curvatus, isolated from kimchi. In a mouse model of 14-day dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, treatment with L. curvatus BYB3 significantly decreased the disease activity index, colon length, and weight loss. Moreover, histological analyses showed that L. curvatus BYB3 protected the structural integrity of the intestinal epithelial layer and mucin-secreting goblet cells from DSS-induced damage, with only slight infiltration by immune cells. To evaluate the molecular mechanisms underlying L. curvatus BYB3-driven inhibition of interleukin 6 production, possible in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of L. curvatus BYB3 were examined in the same mouse model. In addition, significantly lower levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 upregulation were seen in the DSS+BYB3 group (compared to that in the DSS group). These results indicate that L. curvatus BYB3 exhibits health-promoting effects via immune modulation; and therefore, it can be used to treat various inflammatory diseases.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.157-169
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• 2023

Effects of culture supernatants of Lactobacillus reuteri MG5346 (CS-MG5346) on receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis were examined. CS-MG5346 treatment up to 400 ㎍/mL significantly reduced tartrate-resistant acid-phosphatase (TRAP) activity, the phenotype biomarker of osteoclast, without affecting cell viability. CS-MG5346 inhibited the expression of osteoclast specific transcriptional factors (c-fos and nuclear factor-activated T cells c1) and their target genes (TRAP, cathepsin, and matrix metallo-proteinase-9) in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). The administration of L. reuteri MG5346 (2×10⁸ CFU/day) for 8 wks significantly improved furcation involvement, but no difference was observed in alveolar bone loss in ligature-induced experimental periodontitis rats. The elevated RANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio, the biomarker of periodontitis, was significantly lowered in the gingival tissue by administration of L. reuteri MG5346 (p<0.05). L. reuteri MG5346 showed excellent stability in simulated stomach and intestinal fluids and did not have antibiotic resistance. Based on the results, L. reuteri MG5346 has the potential to be a promising probiotic strain for oral health.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2023

Background: Commensal bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and probiotics have been used as treatment options. We aimed to explore the current use of probiotics and factors associated with their prescription in patients with IBD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a single hospital-based cohort. Patients were eligible if they were ≥18 years old, visited the IBD clinic as an outpatient more than twice during the study period, and had a confirmed diagnosis of IBD. Patients were divided into two groups based on the prescription of probiotics. Clinical assessments were compared between the two groups. Results: In total, 217 patients were enrolled in this study. In patients with Crohn disease (CD), moderate or severe abdominal pain; prior use of methotrexate (MTX), iron, thiopurines, or biologics; history of IBD-related surgery; and stool frequency were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), moderate or severe abdominal pain, hematochezia, stool frequency, and moderate or severe physician global assessment score were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. Conclusion: Increased disease activity may be associated with fewer prescriptions of probiotics in patients with IBD. However, physicians prescribed probiotics to control symptoms, such as abdominal pain and increased stool frequency in patients with UC and CD, and hematochezia in patients with UC. Additionally, the use of MTX and iron, and a history of IBD-related surgeries were associated with more frequent probiotic prescriptions in patients with CD.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1044-1054
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• 2023

Growing evidence indicates a crucial role of the gut microbiota in physiological functions. Gut-brain axis imbalance has also been associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Studies have suggested that probiotics regulate the stress response and alleviate mood-related symptoms. In this study, we investigated the effects of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC3201 (L3201) on the behavioral response and fecal metabolite content in an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) mouse model. Our study shows that chronic stress in mice for three weeks resulted in significant changes in behavior, including lower locomotor activity, higher levels of anxiety, and depressive-like symptoms, compared to the control group. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that disrupted fecal metabolites associated with aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis by UCMS were restored with the administration of L3201. Oral administration of the L3201 ameliorated the observed changes and improved the behavioral alterations along with fecal metabolites, suggesting that probiotics play a neuroprotective role.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological characteristics and anti-obesity effects of E. faecalis MD366 isolated from raw milk. E. faecalis MD366 inhibited lipase activity ($65.0{\pm}0.9%$) and differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes ($27.4{\pm}1.4%$) at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$ ($10^8CFU/g$ E. faecalis MD366). The optimum growth temperature of E. faecalis MD366 was $37^{\circ}C$. Among 16 tested antibiotics, E. faecalis MD366 demonstrated the highest sensitivity to novobiocin and the highest resistance to neomycin, kanamycin, and vancomycin. The strain also showed high acid phosphatase activity. Moreover, E. faecalis was relatively tolerant to bile juice and acid, and displayed high resistance to Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus (80.4%, 60.2%, and 65.4%, respectively). These results demonstrate that E. faecalis MD366 can be potentially used as a probiotic with anti-obesity effects.