• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.197-203
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• 2011

Lactobacilli are normal constituents of the intestinal microbiota, and some strains show the capacity to bind to extracellular matrix proteins and components of the mucosal layer, which represents an adaptation to persist in this niche. A shotgun phage-display library of Lactobacillus casei BL23 was constructed and screened for peptides able to bind to fibronectin and collagen. Clones showing binding to these proteins were isolated, which encoded overlapping fragments of a putative transcriptional regulator (LCABL_29260), a hypothetical protein exclusively found in the L. casei/rhamnosus group (LCABL_01820), and a putative phage-related endolysin (LCABL_13470). The construction of different glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusions confirmed the binding activity and demonstrated that the three identified proteins could interact with fibronectin, fibrinogen, and collagen. The results illustrate the utility of phage display for the isolation of putative adhesins in lactobacilli. However, it remains to be determined whether the primary function of these proteins actually is adhesion to mucosal surfaces.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2018

Orally administered ginsengs come in contact with the gut microbiota, and their hydrophilic constituents, such as ginsenosides, are metabolized to hydrophobic compounds by gastric juice and gut microbiota: protopanxadiol-type ginsenosides are mainly transformed into compound K and ginsenoside Rh2; protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides to ginsenoside Rh1 and protopanaxatriol, and ocotillol-type ginsenosides to ocotillol. Although this metabolizing activity varies between individuals, the metabolism of ginsenosides to compound K by gut microbiota in individuals treated with ginseng is proportional to the area under the blood concentration curve for compound K in their blood samples. These metabolites such as compound K exhibit potent pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiallergic, and neuroprotective effects compared with the parent ginsenosides, such as Rb1, Rb2, and Re. Therefore, to monitor the potent pharmacological effects of ginseng, a novel probiotic fermentation technology has been developed to produce absorbable and bioactive metabolites. Based on these findings, it is concluded that gut microbiota play an important role in the pharmacological action of orally administered ginseng, and probiotics that can replace gut microbiota can be used in the development of beneficial and bioactive ginsengs.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.146-148
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• 2017

We sequenced the genome of Lactobacillus reuteri KLR3004 strain isolated from a fattening pig in South Korea. The sequences were assembled into a draft genome containing 1,996,237 bp with a G+C content of 38.75% and 1,837 predicted protein-coding sequences in 149 contigs.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.614-621
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• 2014

This study was conducted to isolate and characterize bacteriocin-producing bacteria against Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) from domestic animals to determine their usefulness as probiotics. Bacteriocin-producing bacteria were isolated from pig feces by the spot-on-lawn method. A total of 1,370 bacterial stains were isolated, and six were tentatively selected after identifying the inhibitory activity against the pathogenic indicator C. perfringens KCTC 3269 and KCTC 5100. The selected strains were identified as Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) by 16s rRNA sequencing. Most of the isolated bacterial strains were resistant to 0.5% bile salts for 48 h and remained viable after 2 h at pH 3.0. Some E. faecalis also showed strong inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes KCTC 3569, KCTC 3586 and KCTC 3710. In the present study, we finally selected E. faecalis AP 216 and AP 45 strain based on probiotic selection criteria such as antimicrobial activity against C. perfringens and tolerance to acid and bile salts. The bacteriocins of E. faecalis AP 216 and AP 45 strains were highly thermostable, showing anticlostridial activities even after incubation at $121^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. These bacteriocin-producing bacteria and/or bacteriocins could be used in feed manufacturing as probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics in the livestock industry.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2012

To produce novel cheese-like fermented soybean, the solid-state fermentation of roasted soybean flour (RSF) was performed using 1.0% inoculum Bacillus subtilis HA and Lactobacillus plantarum, with the initial 60% substrate moisture for 10 hr at $42^{\circ}$, resulting in pH 6.5, 0.82% acidity, 3.5% mucilage, 14.3 unit/g protease activity, 7.6 unit/g fibrinolytic activity, 216 mg% tyrosine content and $1.7{\times}10^{10}$ CFU/g of viable cell counts. After the second lactic acid fermentation with 10~30% skim milk powder, the fermented RSF resulted in an increase in acidity with 1.64~1.99%, tyrosine content with 246~308 mg% and protease activity in the range of 5.2~17.5 unit/g and 0.966 water activity. Viable cell counts as probiotics indicated $1.6{\times}10^8$ CFU/g of B. subtilis and $7.3{\times}10^{10}$ CFU/g of L. plantarum. The firmness of the first fermented RSF with 2,491 $g{\cdot}{\o}mm^{-1}$ greatly decreased to 1,533 $g{\cdot}{\o}mm^{-1}$ in the second fermented RSF, although firmness was slightly increased by adding a higher content of skim milk. The consistency of the second fermented RSF also decreased greatly from 55,640 to 3,264~ 3,998 in the presence of 10~30% skim milk. The effective hydrolysis of soy protein and skim milk protein in the fermented RSF was confirmed. Thus, the second fermented RSF with a sour taste and flavor showed similar textural properties to commercial soft cheese.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.351-360
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• 2020

Previous studies have suggested that microbial fermentation is an attractive process to develop food products using seaweed. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are used as starters for seaweed fermentation. The isolation of LAB strains was conducted using kelp Saccharina japonica kimchi, a well-known fermented seaweed in southeastern Korea. Based on the assay of acid tolerance, bile tolerance and antioxidant activity, 15 strains of LAB were selected for further study. The LABs exhibited cholesterol lowering activity in the range of 15.50 to 94.77%. Among the LABs suitable for food production, Lactobacillus plantarum D-11 had the highest antioxidant and cholesterol lowering activities. This probiotic strain will be applied to develop various kelp fermentation products.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2008

To further the goal of isolating Bacillus sp. from commercial chungkukjang (CKJ) for a development of a probiotic dietary adjunct using soymilk or milk, antioxidant activity of CKJ purchased from the Sunchang Traditional Village in Chunbook province was examined. Six CKJ samples were evaluated and 3 were selected based on the results of the physicochemical analysis and sensory evaluation for further antioxidant study. $IC_{50}$ for DPPH scavenging activity of methanol extracts of CKJ ranged from 238.1 to 345.7 ${\mu}g/mL$. CKJ exhibited over 80% scavenging of ${\cdot}OH$ and ONOO- at concentrations of 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 250 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively. $O_2^-$ and NO scavenging activities of three CKJ were increased in a dose dependent manner with the concentration tested from 100 to 1000 ${\mu}g/mL$. In this study, the methanol extract of CKJ exhibited a great reduction capability and powerful free radical scavenging activity, especially against OH. and ONOO-, which are the most toxic radicals responsible for oxidative damage in the body. However, radical scavenging effects of CKJ on DPPH, $O_2^-$, and nitrite radical were rather moderate. In conclusion, CKJ may reduce the oxidative stress in the body by scavenging the free radicals.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.334-344
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological and physicochemical characteristics, and the antagonistic activity against Helicobacter pylori ATCC 43504, of yogurt fermented with the lactic acid bacteria from Baikkimchi kept under cold storage. The viable cell counts, titratable acidity, viscosity, and total solid content of the yogurt were different according to the bacterial strains used for fermentation. There was no significant change (P>0.05) in the various properties of refrigerated yogurt. Among the tested strains, the strongest resistance against artificial gastric juice and bile salt was found for Lactobacillus brevis BK11 and Lactobacillus paracasei BK57. Due to high lactic acid levels obtained from these two lactic acid bacteria, yogurt may show good anti-Helicobacter effects according to the time-kill assay. In particular, yogurt fermented with L. brevis BK11 significantly reduced the number of H. pylori adhering to gastric epithelial AGS cells and the urease activity of this pathogen (P<0.05).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1395-1403
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• 2020

There is an increasing interest in using inactivated probiotics to modulate the host immune system and protect against pathogens. As the immunomodulatory function of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis KCTC 12777BP (LBB) and its mechanism is unclear, we investigated the effect of LBB on immune response based on the hypothesis that LBB might exert stimulatory effects on immunity. In the current study, we demonstrate that administration of LBB can exert immune-stimulatory effects and promote clearance of foreign matters through enhancing phagocytosis. Treatment with LBB induced the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide in macrophages. Importantly, LBB directly increased the phagocytic activity of macrophages against bacterial particles. LBB was able to promote the production of TNF-α in bone marrow-derived macrophages and splenocytes and also increase the proliferation rate of splenocytes, suggesting that the immune-stimulating activity of LBB can be observed in primary immune cells. Investigation into the molecular mechanism responsible revealed that LBB upregulates TAK1 activity and its downstream ERK, p38, and JNK signaling pathways. To further confirm the immunomodulatory capability of LBB in vivo, we orally administered LBB to mice and assessed the effect on primary splenocytes. Splenocytes isolated from LBB-treated mice exhibited higher TNF-α expression and proliferative capacity. These results show that heat-killed L. brevis, a wildly consumed probiotic, may provide protection against pathogens through enhancing host immunity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.907-920
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory activity of Lactobacillus spp., Bacillus ssp., and calf fecal isolates against pathogenic Salmonella typhimurium, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. Among thirteen strains of Lactobacillus ssp. tested, Lactobacillus helveticus CU631 showed the highest inhibition against three pathogens, whereas Bacillus spp. showed a weak inhibitory activity. Four calf fecal isolates were identified as Lactobacillus pentosus CU13, CU05, Pediococcus pentosaceus CUR02, and Lactobacillus lactis ssp. lactis CUM14. The whole cell and cell wall components of L. rhamnosus CU02 and L. pentosus CU13 were active in the inhibition of L. monocytogenes. The medium components and levels, which affect on the inhibitory activity, were revealed as Tween 80 1.0%, peptone 3.0%, yeast extract 3.0%, glucose 3.0%, beef extract 3.0%, and NaCl 1.0～3.0%, respectively. Inhibitory activity of the supernatant culture medium was not affected by catalase and proteinase K treatment but affected by heat treatment at 80℃ and netralization, which implies that the inhibitory activity is due to the production of organic acids during the growth. L. pentosus CU13 and L. rhamnosus CU02 exhibited broad inhibition spectrum against 16 out of 21 strains including some pathogens. Oral administration of L. rhamnosus CU02 to the mice infected with E. coli O157:H7 was proven to be effective to recover their body weight during the experimental period.