• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2018

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of low-temperature encapsulation on the viability of Weissella cibaria CMU under harsh conditions and in freeze-dried foods during storage. The capsules were prepared by gelation of sodium caseinate at different concentrations (5%, 6%, 7%, and 8%) with a combination of 0.5% gellan gum and 2% $glucono-{\delta}-lactone$. The size distribution of the capsules was determined using a Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction particle size analyzer. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the capsule with 6% sodium caseinate had a smooth and rounded external surface, with reproducibility. The acid, bile, and heat tolerances of the encapsulated cells were significantly higher than those of the control under prolonged acid (5 h), bile (12 and 24 h), and heat (2 h) exposure, respectively. During storage for up to 6 months at $4^{\circ}C$ or $25^{\circ}C$, the viability of encapsulated Weissella cibaria CMU in beef and vegetable rice porridge was effectively improved.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.558-561
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• 2019

This study aimed to understand the survival and growth patterns of bacteriophage-sensitive Weissella and Leuconostoc strains involved in kimchi fermentation. Dongchimi kimchi was prepared, and Weissella and Leuconostoc were co-cultivated in the dongchimi broth. Weissella cibaria KCTC 3807 growth was accompanied by rapid lysis with an increase in the bacteriophage quantity. Leuconostoc citreum KCCM 12030 followed the same pattern. The bacteriophage-insensitive strains W. cibaria KCTC 3499 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCCM 11325 survived longer under low pH as their growth was not accompanied by bacteriophages. The bacteriophage lysate of W. cibaria KCTC 3807 accelerated and promoted the growth of Leuconostoc. Overall, our results show that bacteriophages might affect the viability and population dynamics of lactic acid bacteria during kimchi fermentation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2011

PCR-based Weissella species-specific detection method was developed to apply for the discrimination of Korean and Chinese kimchi by detecting a Weissella species only found in Korean or Chinese kimchi. PCR primers were designed from the species-specific sequence in the recN gene of each species. The primers allowed the species-specific detection and identification of nine species in the genera Weissella, and were successfully applied to the detection of W. cibaria, W. confusa, W. koreensis, and W. soli in kimchi with 20 ng template DNA. W. cibaria, W. confusa, and W. koreensis were detected from the Korean kimchi samples tested but W. soli was not detected. However, the four species were detected from Chinese kimchi samples. PCR-based W. soli-specific detection could not be perfectly applied as the Chinese kimchi discriminating method but has significance as an approach to evaluate the potential of scientific verification method based on the difference of microbial community.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2015

Weissella spp. from traditional Korean foods of Kimchi were isolated and characterized against food-borne pathogenic Listeria monocytogens. The isolates were identified as W. cibaria 0D17 and W. confusa 0D23 from Kimchi by the biochemical characteristics and 16S DNA sequencing. The culture solutions of the isolates adjusted to pH 7.0 showed L. monocytogens inhibition. To analyze the quantitative detection of L. monocytogenes, real-time PCR was performed according to the SYBR Green I method. The isolates grew well and L. monocytogens did not grow during the co-culture with those strains at $37^{\circ}C$. Therefore, W. cibaria 0D17 and W. confusa 0D23 might be the candidates as the functional lactic acid bacteria for improving food safety.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.244-247
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• 2018

Quantitative analysis for non-host infection bacteriophage was conducted for their enumeration. Flow cytometry and epifluorescence microscopy (EPM) were selected as counting methods. Correlation analysis was performed based on the plaque assay method on the existing host infection and consisted of Pearson correlation statistical analysis, regression analysis, and difference analysis. Analyses of 12 samples with flow cytometry and plaque assay methods showed that there was a correlation of 96.7% with Pearson correlation value r=0.967, $R^2$ 0.9352, and difference value of 1.063. Analyses of 12 samples with EPM and plaque assay methods showed that there was a correlation of 99.0% with Pearson correlation value r=0.990, $R^2$ 0.9811, and difference value of 1.605. Therefore, flow cytometry and epifluorescence microscopy would be effective for enumeration of Weissella cibaria bacteriophage with plaque assay.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.193-200
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine if natural extracts could be used as an additive in oral health food made with Weissella cibaria CMU (oraCMU). Natural extracts of green tea, mulberry leaf, licorice, and propolis, which are reported to have antimicrobial activities, were selected and used in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of extracts on periodontal pathogens such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis and their synergy effects with oraCMU by the fractional inhibitory concentrations methods were measured. From the results obtained, all the extracts showed no effect on the growth of oraCMU. Green tea extract showed the best antibacterial activity with MIC of 1.8 mg/ml against both F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. In addition, green tea extract had a synergistic effect with oraCMU against F. nucleatum. Therefore, these results suggested that green tea extract is available as an additive in oral health food made with oraCMU.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to enhance the antioxidant activity of salted squid by inoculation of two Weissella spp. strains (W. cibaria FB-069 and W. viridescens FB-077) isolated from traditional Korea salted squid. The safety and probiotic potential characteristics of these two strains were evaluated. The safety of these strains was analyzed based on hemolytic activity, mucin degradation, biogenic amino production, and resistance to antibiotics. These lactic acid bacteria showed probiotic potential, including resistance to gastrointestinal tract conditions, adhesion to Caco-2 cells, and aggregation. The low-salted squid fermented with Weissella strains had consistently higher antioxidant activity through changing their amino acid profiles. Therefore, W. cibaria FB-069 and W. viridescens FB-077 might be good candidates for fermentation of salted squid to develop functional food with enhanced health benefits.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1198-1205
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• 2016

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have beneficial effects on intestinal health and skin diseases. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a cell wall component of gram-positive bacteria, is known to induce the production of several cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 and affect the intestinal microflora, anti-aging, sepsis, and cholesterol level. In this study, Weissella cibaria was isolated from Indian dairy products, and we examined its immune-enhancing effects. Live and heat-killed W. cibaria did not induce the secretion of immune-related cytokines, whereas LTA isolated from W. cibaria (cLTA) significantly increased the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner. cLTA increased the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases in THP-1 cells. The secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 was also increased in the cLTA-treated mouse splenocytes. These results suggest that cLTA, but not W. cibaria whole cells, has immune-boosting potential and can be used to treat immunosuppression diseases.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2018

This study assessed the effects of Weissella cibaria (W. cibaria) CMU on oral health in male and female beagles (n = 18) by measuring oral malodor and periodontal disease-related parameters (calculus, plaque, and gingivitis indices). Oral malodor and indicators of periodontal disease were assessed in five treatment groups: negative control (scaling and 0.24 mg of maltodextrin, n = 3), positive control (0.24 mg of maltodextrin, n = 3), and W. cibaria CMU groups (each n = 4) at low (CMU-L, $2{\times}10^7$ colony forming unit [CFU]), medium (CMU-M, $2{\times}10^8CFU$), and high (CMU-H, $2{\times}10^9CFU$) concentrations. After feeding with W. cibaria CMU for 6 weeks, total volatile sulfur compound concentrations in the CMU-L ($2.0{\pm}1.04ng/10mL$), CMU-M ($2.4{\pm}1.05ng/10mL$), and CMU-H ($2.6{\pm}1.33ng/10mL$) groups were significantly lower than in the positive control group ($3.2{\pm}1.65ng/10mL$). Also, CMU-L ($1.4{\pm}0.83ng/10mL$) and CMU-H ($1.9{\pm}1.14ng/10mL$) groups had methyl mercaptan levels lower than that in the positive control group ($2.4{\pm}1.21ng/10mL$) at week 2. The plaque index was significantly lower in the CMU-H group ($4.5{\pm}0.28$) than in the positive control group ($5.9{\pm}1.08$) at week 6. W. cibaria CMU could be useful as a novel oral hygiene probiotics for reducing volatile sulfur compounds production and inhibiting plaque growth in companion animals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.204-212
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• 2009

A strain producing ${\alpha}$-galactosidase and ${\beta}$-glucosidase was isolated from Kimchi. The isolated strain was identified as Weissella cibaria by 16S rDNA analysis and designated as Weissella cibaria K-M1-4. The enzyme activity of ${\alpha}$-galactosidase and ${\beta}$-glucosidase reached the maximum in the soy medium at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr. The enzymes were purified by ethanol fractionation, DEAE sepharose fast flow, and sephacryl S-100HR column chromatography. ${\alpha}$-Galactosidase specific activity was shown by 576 Units/mg protein and the yield was 3.5% of the total activity of crude extracts. ${\beta}$-glucosidase specific activity was shown by 480 Units/mg protein and the yield was 2.9% of the total activity of crude extracts. The optimum temperature for ${\alpha}$-galactosidase was $60^{\circ}C$ and 43% of its original activity remained when it was treated at $80^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. For ${\alpha}$-galactosidase shows the optimum pH of 8.0 and is fairly stable between pH5.0 and pH9.0. The enzyme activity was increased in the presence of $Fe^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$. The value of Km and Vmax for the enzyme were 0.98 mM and $1.81{\mu}$mole/min, respectively. The ${\beta}$-glucosidase has the optimum temperature of $50^{\circ}C$ and 46% of its original activity remained when it was treated at $80^{\circ}C$ for 30min. Its optimum pH of 7.0 and is fairly stable between pH5.0 and pH9.0. The enzyme activity was increased in the presence of $Fe^{2+},\;Co^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$. The value of Km and Vmax for the enzyme were 1.24 mM and $6.81{\mu}$mole/min, respectively.