• 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.42 no.6
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• pp.1046-1060
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the metabolites of Latilactobacillus curvatus BYB3 and indole-activated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) to increase the tight junction (TJ) proteins in an in vitro model of intestinal inflammation. In a Western blot assay, the metabolites of L. curvatus BYB3 reduced the TJ demage in lipoploysaccharide (LPS) stimulated-Caco-2 cells. This reduction was a result of upregulating the expression of TJ-associated proteins and suppressing the nuclear factor-κB signaling. Immunofluorescence images consistently revealed that LPS disrupted and reduced the expression of TJ proteins, while the metabolites of L. curvatus BYB3 and indole reversed these alterations. The protective effects of L. curvatus BYB3 were observed on the intestinal barrier function when measuring transepithelial electrical resistance. Using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis the metabolites, the indole-3-latic acid and indole-3-acetamide concentrations were found to be 1.73±0.27 mg/L and 0.51±0.39 mg/L, respectively. These findings indicate that the metabolites of L. curvatus BYB3 have increasing mRNA expressions of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and AhR, and may thus be applicable for therapy of various inflammatory gut diseases as postbiotics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.588-594
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• 1998

Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from Kimchi and screened for bacteriocin production. Strain SE1, identified as Lactobacillus curvatus sp., showed the strongest inhibitory activity against Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii. The bacteriocin was inactivated by amyloglucosidase, trypsin, or protease K treatment. However, it maintained its activity under heat treatment at $100^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. The production of the bacteriocin had a growth-related mode and decreased around the early-stationary phase. The optimum temperature for the growth of L. curvatus SE1 was $37^{\circ}C$; however, the optimum temperature for bacteriocin production was $30^{\circ}C$. The bacteriocin activity was decreased by treatment with methanol, butanol, acetone, or chloroform, however, it was not affected by treatment with ethanol, iso-propanol, or cyclohexane. The inhibitory activity of bacteriocin was stable over a wide range of pHs (2 to 11). The bacteriocin from L. curvatus SE1 killed the indicator strain by a bactericidal mode of action. The bacteriocin from L. curvatus SE1 was partially purified by ethanol precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to determine the molecular weight of the bacteriocin by the bacteriocin activity test. The apparent molecular mass of the bacteriocin produced by L. curvatus SE1 was about 14 kDa.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.1009-1016
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• 2014

This study investigated the probiotic and functional characteristics of Mukeunji starter, Lactobacillus curvatus ML17, isolated from Mukeunji. Lb. curvatus ML17 was confirmed as a safe microorganism due to its non-hemolytic activity and non-production of harmful ${\beta}$-glucuronidase and ${\beta}$-glucosidase. Tolerance to artificial gastric and bile juice of Lb. curvatus ML17 was investigated. After incubation in artificial gastric and bile juice, the number of surviving cells was $1.38{\times}10^8$ CFU/mL. According to the results of adhesion assay, this strain also exhibited good adhesion to Caco-2 cells. Lb. curvatus ML17 showed good antimicrobial activity against food borne pathogens, especially Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cell-free extract of Lb. curvatus ML17 exhibited high levels of DPPH scavenging capacity and inhibitory effects on growth of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells. These results suggest that Lb. curvatus ML17 has potential for application in functional foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.1872-1877
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• 2013

Lactic acid bacteria were selected on the basis of lactic acid producing ability from kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented food. Among the initial screening of over 150 strains selected from the sample, 27 strains were selected as lactic acid producing bacteria, and 4 strains were finally selected based on their ability to produce relatively high levels of lactic acid. The four strains were identified as Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum Gk04, Pediococcus pentosaceus Gk07, L. brevis Gk35 and L. curvatus Gk36 by the conventional morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Among the identified lactic acid bacteria, L. curvatus Gk36 was used for soymilk fermentation. The viable cell counts and acidity values measured for the L. curvatus Gk36 were comparable to the commmercial L. acidopillus. Thus, the L. curvatus Gk36 is a potential probiotic strain to prepare fermented soy products, such as kephir, yogurt, tempeh and soy sauce.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.305-315
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• 1994

Nineteen strains of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria were isolated from 432 Kimchi samples, and identified by the comprehensive biochemical and morphological tests verifying their cellular fatty acid composition. Using partially purified bacteriocins from these isolates, their inhibitory activities against other lactic acid bacteria and some pathogens, and sensitivity to enzyme and heat treatments were tested. The isolates were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum (2 strains), L curvatus (2 starins), L brevis (2 strains), Enterococcus faecium (6 strains), Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides (1 strain) and Lactobacillus sp. (6 strains). The bacteriocins produced by E. faecium strains provided the broadest spectrum of inhibition, affecting against other Gram-positive bacteria including lactic acid bacteria and health-threatening bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteriocins of Lactobacillus sp., L plantarum and L brevis strains were capable of inhibiting many strains of the lactic acid bacteria, whereas those of L curvatus and L mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides strains were only inhibitory to a few strains. Generally, the inhibitory activities of both E. faecium and Lactobacillus sp. strains were greater than those of other producer strains. The bacteriocins from the isolates were sensitive to several proteolytic enzymes, and those of L curvatus and L mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides were also sensitive to lipase and $\alpha$-amylase as well as to proteolytic enzymes. The bacteriocins from the strains of Lactobacillus sp. and a strain of L. brevis were resistant to autoclaving.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.2148-2158
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• 2016

To investigate the effects of Lactobacillus curvatus and Leuconostoc mesenteroides on suan cai (pickled Chinese cabbage) fermentation, L. curvatus and/or Ln. mesenteroides were inoculated into suan cai. Physicochemical indexes were measured, and the microbial dynamics during the fermentation were analyzed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The results showed that inoculation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) lowered the pH of the fermentation system more rapidly. The decrease in water-soluble carbohydrates in the inoculated treatments occurred more rapidly than in the control. The LAB counts in the control were lower than in other inoculated treatments during the first 12 days of fermentation. According to the Illumina MiSeq sequencing analyses, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia were present in the fermentations, along with other unclassified bacteria. Generally, Firmicutes was predominant during the fermentation in all treatments. At the genus level, 16 genera were detected. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in all inoculated treatments was higher than in the control. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the treatments containing L. curvatus was higher than in the Ln. mesenteroides-only treatment. The relative abundance of Leuconostoc in the Ln. mesenteroides-containing treatments increased continuously throughout the fermentation. Leuconostoc was highest in the Ln. mesenteroides-only treatment. According to the qPCR results, L. curvatus and/or Ln. mesenteroides inoculations could effectively inhabit the fermentation system. L. curvatus dominated the fermentation in the inoculated treatments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.483-487
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• 2016

The triglyceride-lowering effect of probiotics Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 and Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 were investigated. Male SD Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups and fed high-fat diet (HFD), HFD and probiotics (5 × 10⁹ CFU/day of L. plantarum KY1032 and 5 × 10⁹ CFU/day of L. curvatus HY7601), or normal diet for 6 weeks. Probiotic treatment significantly lowered the elevated plasma triglyceride and increased plasma free fatty acid, glycerol, and plasma apolipoprotein A-V (ApoA-V) levels. The probiotic-treated group showed elevated hepatic mRNA expression of PPARα, bile acid receptor (FXR), and ApoA-V. These results demonstrate that L. plantarum KY1032 and L. curvatus HY7601 lower triglycerides in hypertriglyceridemic rats by upregulating ApoA-V, PPARα, and FXR.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.256-267
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• 2019

The use of low-cost substrates represents one key issue to make single cell oil production sustainable. Among low-input crops, Arundo donax L. is a perennial herbaceous rhizomatous grass containing both C5 and C6 carbohydrates. The scope of the present work was to investigate and optimize the production of lipids by the oleaginous yeast Cutaneotrichosporon curvatus from undetoxified lignocellulosic hydrolysates of steam-pretreated A. donax. The growth of C. curvatus was first optimized in synthetic media, similar in terms of sugar concentration to hydrolysates, by applying the response surface methodology (RSM) analysis. Then the bioconversion of undetoxified hydrolysates was investigated. A fed-batch process for the fermentation of A. donax hydrolysates was finally implemented in a 2-L bioreactor. Under optimized conditions, the total lipid content was 64% of the dry cell weight and the lipid yield was 63% of the theoretical. The fatty acid profile of C. curvatus triglycerides contained 27% palmitic acid, 33% oleic acid and 32% linoleic acid. These results proved the potential of lipid production from A. donax, which is particularly important for their consideration as substitutes for vegetable oils in many applications such as biodiesel or bioplastics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.358-366
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• 2024

The lactic acid bacteria, including Latilactobacillus sakei and Latilactobacillus curvatus, have been widely studied for their preventive and therapeutic effects. In this study, the underlying mechanism of action for the antioxidant and immunostimulatory effects of two strains of heat-treated paraprobiotics was examined. Heat-treated L. sakei KU15041 and L. curvatus KU15003 showed higher radical scavenging activity in both the 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assays than the commercial probiotic strain LGG. In addition, treatment with these two strains exhibited immunostimulatory effects in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with L. curvatus KU15003 showing a slightly higher effect. Additionally, they promoted phagocytosis and NO production in RAW 264.7 cells without any cytotoxicity. Moreover, the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 was upregulated. These strains resulted in an increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways were stimulated by these strains. These findings suggest the potential of using L. sakei KU15041 and L. curvatus KU15003 in food or by themselves as probiotics with antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties.