• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.155-166
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• 2019

Bacteria from the genus Lactobacillus are important for the production of fermented food and dairy products, and as symbionts in human and animals. Lactobacillus acidophilus has widely been used in the production of yogurt, health foods, and even medicines. The efficacy of L. acidophilus has been proven with regards to the reduction of cholesterol, prevention and treatment of diarrhea, modulation of the immune system, suppression of cancer, etc. Using molecular biology tools, Lactobacillus acidophilus has now been reclassified into six species: L. acidophilus, L. amylovorus, L. crispatus, L gallinarium, L. gasseri, and L. johnsonii. Thus, since L. acidophilus has now been marked as a newly defined species, caution is advised when reading future publications regarding this bacterium. In this article, the results of the reclassification of L. acidophilus are mentioned after an analysis of its field inheritance was performed by my research team. Especially, L. amylovorus KU4 (formerly named as L. acidophilus KU4; KCCM 10975P) is a novel probiotic strain that is isolated from humans; it has the ability to reduce cholesterol. It has also been reported as a microorganism that effectively inhibits the growth of pathogenic E. coli. However, this Korean patent (No 10-1541280) refers to a strain obtained from calves; the origin of this strain was incorrectly labeled. Furthermore, after the discovery of L. acidophilus in 1900, its role in intestinal microbiological research was described and its utilization as a probiotic was presented.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.863-868
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• 2004

Lectin activities and chemical characteristics of Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. originating from the porcine cecal mucosal layer were studied based on hemagglutination assay (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition assay (HIA). Although all the bacterial strains were able to agglutinate erythrocytes of porcine or rabbit origin, much higher HA titers were consistently observed for Lactobacillus spp. than for E. coli or for Bifidobacterium spp. A remarkable reduction in HA titers occurred by the treatment of E. coli and Lactobacillus spp. with protease or trypsin and of Bifidobacterium spp. with protease, trypsin or periodate. There were no significant effects on the HA titers of the three groups of bacteria after the treatment with lipase. Hemagglutination of E. coli was strongly inhibited by D (+)-mannose and D (+)-galactose; Lactobacillus spp. by $\alpha$-L-rhamnose and methyl-$\beta$-galactopyranoside; Bifidobacterium spp. by D (+)-alactose, $\alpha$-L-rhamnose, $\alpha$-L-fucose, L (+)-arabinose, D (+)-mannose, D (-)-fructose at a relatively low concentration (1.43 to 3.75 mg/ml). These results, combined with the enhanced HA activities of the three bacterial strains by modification of rabbit erythrocytes with neuraminidase and abolished HA activity of E. coli after treatment with $\beta$-galactosidase, indicate that it might be the glycoproteinous substances surrounding the surface of the bacterial cells that are responsible for the adhesions of these microorganisms by recognizing the specific receptors on the red blood cell.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.490-495
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• 2007

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are beneficial for the gastrointestinal tract and reinforce immunity in human health. Recently, many functional products using the lactic acid bacteria have been developed. Among these LAB, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium bifidum are frequently used for probiotic products. In order to monitor these LAB in commercial probiotic products, a multiplex PCR method was developed. We designed four species-specific primer pairs for multiplex PCR from the 16S rRNA, 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, and 23S rRNA genes in Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Using these primer pairs, 4 different LAB were detected with high specificity in functional foods. We suggest that the multiplex PCR method developed in this study would be an efficient tool for simple, rapid, and reliable identification of LAB used as probiotic strains.

• 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.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2011

Kimchi is a group of traditional fermented vegetable foods in Korea and known to be the product of a natural mixed-fermentation process carried out principally by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). According to microbial results based on conventional identification, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus plantarum were considered to be responsible for the good taste and over-ripening of kimchi, respectively. However, with the application of phylogenetic identification, based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene similarities, a variety of Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus species not detected in the previous studies have been isolated, together with a species in the genus Weissella. Additionally, Lactobacillus sakei has been accepted as the most populous LAB in over-ripened kimchi. In this study, Leuconostoc and Weissella species inhibiting the growth of Lb. sakei were isolated from kimchi for future applications to do with kimchi fermentation. From 25 kimchi samples, 378 strains in the genera Leuconostoc and Weissella were isolated and 68 strains identified as Lc. mesenteroides, Lc. citreum, Lc. lactis, W. cibaria, W. confusa, and W. paramesenteroides exhibited growth inhibition against Lb. sakei. Most of the strains also had antagonistic activities against Lb. brevis, Lb. curvatus, Lb. paraplantarum, Lb. pentosus, and Lb. plantarum. Their antagonistic activities against Lb. sakei were more remarkable at lower temperatures of incubation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2014

Halitosis is caused by consumption of certain foods or drinks and production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) by periodontopathogens. VSCs-related halitosis is not easily removed using mechanical or chemical therapies such as dental floss, plaque control and mouth rinse. Lactobacillus are known to be probiotics and stimulate immune systems of human. Furthermore, L. casei ATCC 334 and L. rhamnosus GG have an effect on protection of dental caries in vitro studies. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of Lactobacillus on halitosis by Fusobacterium nucleatum- and Porphyromonas gingivalis-producing VSCs and to analyze inhibitory mechanism. The periodontopathogens were cultivated in the presence or the absence Lactobacillus, and the level of VSCs was measured by gas chromatograph. For analysis of inhibitory mechanisms, the susceptibility assay of the spent culture medium of Lactobacillus against F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis was investigated. Also, the spent culture medium of Lactobacillus and periodontopathogens were mixed, and the emission of VSCs from the spent culture medium was measured by gas chromatograph. L. casei and L. rhamnosus significantly reduced production of VSCs. L. casei and L. rhamnosus exhibited strong antibacterial activity against F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. The spent culture medium of L. casei inhibited to emit gaseous hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide from the spent culture medium of periodontopathogens. However, the spent medium of L. rhamnosus repressed only dimethyl sulfide. L. casei ATCC 334 may improve halitosis by growth inhibition of periodontopathogens and reduction of VSCs emission.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.633-645
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• 2015

This study investigates the genotoxicity of crude antifungal compounds produced by Lactobacillus plantarum AF1 (L.plantarum AF1) and Lactobacillus plantarum HD1 (L. plantarum HD1) isolated from kimchi. The genetic toxicity of crude antifungal compounds was evaluated in bacterial reverse mutation in Salmonella and Escherichia spp., chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster lung cells, and micronucleous formations in mice. In bacterial reversion assays with Salmonella Typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and WP2uvrA, crude antifungal compounds did not increase the number of revertant colonies in both the absence and presence of the 59 metabolic activation system. In the chromosome aberration test with Chinese hamster lung cells, crude antifungal compounds showed no increase in the frequency of chromosome aberrations in the short-period test with/without the S9 mix or in the continuos test. In the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay, crude antifungal compounds showed no increase in the frequency of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei. The results show that crude antifungal compounds produced by L. plantarum AF1 and L. plantarum HD1 did not induce any genotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.586-591
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• 1992

The oligosaccharide metabolism in soymilk was investigated by mixed culture with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Saccharomyces uvarum. When Saccharomyces uvarum was cultured in soywhey, change of oligosaccharide could be shown apparently. However, Lactobacillus acidophilus could not utilize oligosaccharide in soywhey for growth and lactic acid production. During the fermentation of mixed culture with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Saccharomyces uvarum, Saccaharomyces uvarum was supposed to convert oligosaccharide to monosaccharide first and then Lactobacillus acidophilus to convert these produced monosaccharide to lactic acid.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.233-237
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• 1999

The bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus sp. GM7311 was purified by sequential steps including n-propanol/acetone treatment, CM-cellulose chromatography, and gel filtration on Sephacryl HR-100. The relative activity of bacteriocin increased 493-fold after final purification step with a recovery of 8.3%. Two protein bands of ca. 8,200 and 2,500 were detected by SDSPAGE of bacteriocin purified through CM-cellulose and sephacryl HR-100 chromatography and both of them had bacteriocin activity.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 1981

Lactobacillus species isolated from posterior fornix of the vagina of 410 Korean women, who visited several local clinics and the Family Health Clinic of the Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Seoul National University in Seoul were identified by their physiological and biochemical characteristics. And the results were as follows. 1) Of the 410 women 297(72.4%) gave the positive culture for Lactobacillus. 2) Isolated 200 strains were differentiated into following species. L. salivarius(43 strains, 18.7%) and L. leichmannii(42, 18.3%) were the most common species followed by L. plantarum(34, 14.8%) L.brevis(22, 9.6%), L. fermenti(19, 8.3%), L. cellobiosus(15, 6.5%), L. acidophilus(14, 6.1%), L. delbrueckii(10, 4.3%) and L. casei(1, 0.4%) and there were 30 strains(13%) which could not have been identified by the methods employed in this study. 3) Age seems to have no influence on the distribution of Lactobacillus species in vagina and it seems like that the overall distribution of Lactobacillus species in vagina does not change during the active reproductive period of women.