• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.883-898
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Probiotics have been suggested as potent modulators of age-related disorders in immunological functions, yet little is known about sex-dependent effects of probiotic supplements. Therefore, we aimed to investigate sex-dependent effects of probiotics on profiles of the gut microbiota and peripheral immune cells in healthy older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, healthy elderly individuals ≥ 65 yrs old were administered probiotic capsules (or placebo) for 12 wk. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. Peripheral immune cells were profiled using flow cytometry for lymphocytes (natural killer, B, CD4⁺ T, and CD8⁺ T cells), dendritic cells, monocytes, and their subpopulations. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, phylum Firmicutes was significantly reduced in the probiotic group in women, but not in men. At the genus level, sex-specific responses included reductions in the relative abundances of pro-inflammatory gut microbes, including Catabacter and unclassified_Coriobacteriales, and Burkholderia and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, in men and women, respectively. Peripheral immune cell profiling analysis revealed that in men, probiotics significantly reduced the proportions of dendritic cells and CD14⁺ CD16^- monocytes; however, these effects were not observed in women. In contrast, the proportion of total CD4⁺ T cells was significantly reduced in women in the probiotic group. Additionally, serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels showed a decreasing tendency that were positively associated with changes in gut bacteria, including Catabacter (ρ = 0.678, P < 0.05) and Burkholderia (ρ = 0.673, P < 0.05) in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that probiotic supplementation may reduce the incidence of inflammation-related diseases by regulating the profiles of the gut microbiota and peripheral immune cells in healthy elders in a sex-specific manner.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1738-1746
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate quality characteristics of reduced-salt, low-fat pork sausage (PS) using pre-rigor muscle and sea tangle extract (STE) to reduce salt level of sausages during refrigerated storage. Methods: Pork ham was prepared with pre-rigor and post-rigor muscle from the local market. Sausages using post-rigor muscle were manufactured with the 1.5% of salt content, and samples with pre-rigor muscle were processed by different salt concentrations (0.8%). Accordingly, PSs were prepared in 4 treatments (REF, PS with 1.5% of salt using post-rigor muscle; CTL, PS with 0.8% of salt using pre-rigor muscle; TRT1, PS with 0.8% of salt and 5% of STE using pre-rigor muscle; TRT2, PS with 0.8% of salt and 10% of STE using pre-rigor muscle). For the evaluation of quality characteristics and shelf-life of reduced-salt PS, pH and color values, cooking loss (%), expressible moisture (%), textural properties, lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric reactive substances), protein denaturation (volatile basic nitrogen), and microbiological analysis (total plate counts and Enterobacteriaceae counts) were determined. Results: The pH and temperature of pre-rigor raw pork ham were higher than those of post-rigor pork ham. Hardness of TRT2 was higher than that of REF or CTL. TRT2 had higher gumminess and chewiness than CTL. TRT1 and TRT2 had lower volatile basic nitrogen than CTL. Total plate counts of TRT2 were lower than those of CTL. Expressible moisture values of TRT1 and TRT2 were similar to those of REF. The addition of STE into PS improved functional properties and shelf-life of PS. Conclusion: Reduced-salt PS containing pre-rigor muscle and STE had similar functional properties to those of regular-salt ones, while containing approximately 47% less salt compared to regular-salt level.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.365-378
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• 2009

This study performed microbiological hazards analysis in raw food materials, cooking processes, kitchen staff, utensils, and the environment in order to obtain contamination levels of S. aureus in school foodservice operations. S. aureus was not detected in cooked foods offered by the foodservice operations; however, it was found in raw food materials prior to cooking. In the case of vegetables, S. aureus was detected in washed mung bean sprouts, parboiled mung bean sprouts, and bellflower roots both before and after disinfection, at levels of 2.2, 1.0, 1.0, and 1.0 log CFU/g, respectively. For processed foods, S. aureus was detected in one sample of packaged bean curd as well as in mung bean jelly cake at the level of 1.5 log CFU/g. For meat products, S. aureus was detected in beef brisket and chicken at levels of 2.3 and 1.3 log CFU/g, respectively. To determine microbiological hazard data for the hands and gloves of cooking personnel, the staff members were divided into two groups: a group presenting Enterobacteriaceae or coliforms, and another group presenting neither Enterobacteriaceae nor coliforms. The results showed that S. aureus was detected on the hands of staff in each group at levels of 2.0 and 2.1 log CFU/hand, respectively, and at 1.8 and 0.0 log CFU/hand on the gloves of staff in each group, respectively. Among kitchen utensils, as an environmental factor in school foodservice operations, S. aureus was detected on meat knives, mixing bowls, and dish cloths at levels exceeding 1.0 log CFU/hand.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2009

This study investigated the microbial contamination levels of raw meats used for short-ripened salami and changes in the microbial and physico-chemical properties of the product during storage at 10 and $25^{\circ}C$ for up to 120 days. The microbial counts of raw meats ranged between 2 and 4 Log CFU/g. Frozen-thawed sow meat showed higher total aerobe and Enterobacteriaceae counts than fresh chilled pork and pork back fat. Staphylococcus aureus was found in all raw materials except fresh chilled pork samples, and Clostridium perfringens was detected in a sample stored for 21 days at $25^{\circ}C$. The counts of total aerobes, lactic acid bacteria and Staphylococcus spp. decreased more rapidly at $25^{\circ}C$ than at $10^{\circ}C$ when the storage time was extended. The growth of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., Clostridium spp., yeast, and mold were restricted to levels below 2 Log CFU/g during storage. The contents of salt, water, crude protein, crude fat, and ash of salami samples were 3.4, 33.4, 30.8, 32.7, and 4.3%, respectively, which were not affected by storage time or temperature. The pH value of the salami was initially 4.79 and increased to 5.02 and 5.26 after 120 days of storage at 10 and $25^{\circ}C$, respectively, whereas the water activity values decreased from an initial value of 0.91 to 0.90 and 0.88 after 120 days at 10 and $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. The TBA and VBN values increased slowly during storage. The redness value of the salami samples stored at $25^{\circ}C$ decreased more significantly than the samples stored at $10^{\circ}C$. With increased storage time, the values for the rheological characteristics of the salami in terms of hardness, brittleness, elasticity, cohesiveness, gumminess, and adhesiveness tended to decrease more remarkably at $25^{\circ}C$ than at $10^{\circ}C$. Based on sensory evaluation scores, it appears that short-ripened salami is no longer acceptable after 90 days at $10^{\circ}C$ and 30 days at $25^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.407-412
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to shorten the time required for subculture and bacterial identification and obtain a simple and rapid identification method for new test methods for bloodstream infections. The following results were obtained using a mass spectrometer. In Vitek 2, 208 (81.8%) cases were well-identified and 45 isolates were not identified in blood cultures. Among 208 cases, 146 (57.5%) were Gram positive bacteria and 108 (42.5%) were Gram negative bacteria. In total, 233 were identified to the species level and 21 were identified to the genus level. The identification error was found to be Propionibacterium acnes as Clostridium bifermentans. The accuracy of Enterobacteriaceae, glucose non-fermentative bacilli (GNFB), and staphylococci were 81/83 (97.6%), 12/15 (80.0%), and 72/85 (84.7%), respectively. The concordance rate of Vitek 2 and Vitek MS by the direct method was 81.8% and 45 isolates were not identified. Most of the unidentified bacteria were Gram positive bacteria (N=37). The Gram positive bacteria were streptococci (14), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (11), enterococci (3), Staphylococcus aureus (2), Micrococcus spp. (2), Bacillus spp. (2) and Actinomyces odontolyticus, Finegoldia magna, and Peptostreptococcus spp. The results reporting time was reduced to 24~72 hours compared to the conventional method. The rate of identification of the aerobic and anaerobic cultures was similar, but the use of an anaerobic culture did not require a dissolution process, which could shorten the sample preparation time. These results suggest that the method of direct identification in blood cultures is very useful for the treatment of patients. In further studies, it might be necessary to further improve the method for identifying streptococci and CNS, which were lacking in accuracy in this study.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2006

Purpose: Microbial colonization of the intestine begins just after birth and development of the normal flora is a gradual process. The first bacteria colonizing the intestine in newborns are Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus. For several days after birth, the number of Bifidobacterium spp. increase. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of microflora for seven days postnatally in neonatal stool. Methods: Fifteen neonates (breast : formula : mixed feeding 1 : 8 : 6, vaginal delivery : cesarean section 3 : 12) who were born at the Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University were enrolled. First meconium and stools of postnatal 1-, 3-, and 7-day were innoculated. Blood agar plates for total aerobes, trypton bile X-glucuronide agar for E. coli, phenylethyl alcohol agar for gram positive anaerobes, MRS agar for Lactobacillus spp., bifidobacterium selective agar for Bifidobacterium spp. and cefoxitin-cycloserine-fructose agar for Clostridium difficile were used in the general incubator ($CO_2$ free incubator), $CO_2$ incubator or the anaerobic chamber for 48 or 72 hours at $37^{\circ}C$ and then colony forming units were counted. Results: No microflora was identified in the first meconium. Total aerobes, E. coli, and gram positive anaerobes were significantly increased with advancing postnatal days. In only one baby, Lactobacillus acidophilus was detected $2{\times}10^5CFU/g$ in the seven-day stool. Bifidobacterium spp. was detected in two babies. Clostridium difficile was not detected during the seven days. There were no significant differences in the bowel flora depending on the delivery pattern and feeding method. Conclusion: This study shows many changes in the intestinal normal flora in neonatal stool during seven days postnatally. If these findings are confirmed with larger studies, the data may be preliminary findings to support use of probiotics in neonates.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.379-389
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• 2008

This study was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of raw and cooked foods served in the elementary school food service. Raw and cooked food samples were collected from 11 selected elementary schools in both June to July and September to October of 2005. Petrifilm plates were used to determine (in duplicate) total aerobic colony counts (PAC), Enterobacteriaceae (PE), coliform counts (PCC), and E. coli counts (PEC). Heavy contamination of Enterobacteriaceae (from 0.08 to 7.40 log CFU/g) and total coliform (0.50 to 6.52 log CFU/g) were observed in raw materials and cooked foods. Escherichia coli (E. coli) were detected in the sample of currant tomato (3.70 log CFU/g), sesame leaf (3.59 log CFU/g), dropwort (0.20 log CFU/g), crown daisy (3.15 log CFU/g), parsley (3.00 log CFU/g), peeled green onion (1.74 log CFU/g), frozen pork (0.65 log CFU/g), frozen beef (0.20 or 1.50 log CFU/g), chicken (1.78 log CFU/g), and young radish leaf seasoned with soybean paste (1.24 log CFU/g). Multiplex PCR system was used to determine the food-borne pathogens: Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), Shigella spp., B. cereus was detected in 19 samples of raw materials and 8 samples of cooked foods. With regard to quantitative analysis, B. cereus counts exceeded 5.46, 3.48 and 1.79 log CFU/g in sesame leaf, peeled green onion and seasoned mungbean jelly, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on 2 samples of frozen beefs, and its biochemical characteristics of one beef sample was confirmed with API 20E kit (93.7%). L. monocytogenes was detected in fried rice paper dumpling, but the presumptive colonies were not detected onto the conventional plate. C. jejuni was detected in peeled & washed onion.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.605-613
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• 2016

The quality and shelf life of sliced root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Doraji) treated by ozon-microbubble-heat shock (OMH) were investigated by combining modified-atmosphere packaging [MAP, ($50%O_2+15%CO_2+35%N_2$)]. The study was based on microbiological (total viable bacteria, fungi, Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms numbers), physicochemical and sensory changes. OMH treatment was effective in reducing microbial populations of the sliced Doraji, especially Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms reduced by 2 log CFU/g. However OMH-MAP treatment remained the aerobe and fungi numbers. Regarding the color, OMH-MAP delayed the change of Hunter $b^*$ and the sliced Doraji by OMH-MAP treatment exhibited lower decrease of flavor and overall acceptability compared to those by polypropylene packaging after tap water treatment (Control). The OMH and $50%O_2+15%CO_2$ MAP treatment gave better sensory quality and extended shelf-life for sliced Doraji (~3 days longer shelf-life than Control). Flavor was significantly related to overall acceptability at both Control and OMH-MAP, whereas total coliforms prevalence was associated with overall acceptability at only OMH-MAP. Therefore microbubble-heat shock treatment may improve microbial safety and sliced Doraji by OMH treatment can stored under $50%O_2+15%CO_2$ treatment for up to 7 days. Thus, OMH and MAP treatment may be used in maintaining the storage quality and marketability of sliced Doraji.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.83-106
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the probiotics(acid and bile resistance, fermentation properties, viability, cholesterol assimilation, antimicrobial activity, antimutagenicity, and immunoactivation) of the strains of bifidobacteria isolated from healthy Koreans and to investigate the effects of oral administration of Bifidobacterium longum A-2 on the fecal microflora, ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity, pH values, Ammonia concentration. The experimental results are summarized as follows: The probiotics were tested for 23 strains including three commer챠al strains as controls. Compared to other strains, strains of A-2 and A-9 showed more acid resistance whereas A-2, A-5, A-13, A-14, A-18 and A-22 showed excellent bile resistances. The properties of bifidobacteria during fermentation were tested. Strains of A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-6, and A-23 resulted in less than pH 4.5 and titratable acidity over 0.90 after 24 hr of fermentation. When the strains of A-2 was grown with glucose, maltose, and fructooligosaccharide, the acetic acid production were higher than with sorbitol and mannitol. The storage stability of the strains of A-2 and A-22 were tesed, indicating the strain A-2 was more stable over 10 days of storage at both $4^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$ than A-22. The strains of A-8, A-10, A-11, A-12 and A-20 assimilated more than 30% of cholesterol included in the media. The strains of A-1 and A-2 showed antimicrobial activity against Sta. aureus. The antimutagenicity of the strains were also tested, showing that the mutation was suppressed more by three strains(A-2, A-12, and A-23). In addition, strain A-5 improved immunological activity(phagocytosis, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6) more than other strains. In the effects of oral administration of Bif. longum A-2, the number of fecal bifidobacteria was siginificantly increased(p<0.01) and the level of fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ also was siginificantly reduced(p<0.05). However there were no siginificant differences in the level of Lαctobacilli, Enterobacteriaceae, Clostridium perfringens, pH and ammonia by the administration. The results suggested that Bif. longum A-2 may be met the criteria for probiotics culture.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.2295-2302
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• 2014

The study aims primarily to evaluate the resistance of antibiotics and the prevalence of these enzymes among Escherichia coli the most frequent isolate of Enterobacteriaceae producing Extended-Spectrum ${\beta}$-Lactamase(ESBLs), to differentiate the types of enzymes in these isolates. Total 74(26.2%) Strains of producing ESBLs among the 282 E. coli isolates were isolated from hospitals of Chungcheong area (Daejeon, Chungnam, and Chungbuk) during a 6 month-period from February to July, 2013. 282 E. coli isolates including ESBL shown resistance rates of aztreonam 30.8%, Cefotaxim 30.9%, and Ceftazidime 32.2%, 74 isolates producing ESBLs in E. coli were resistant rates to Aztreonam 58.1%, Cefotaxim 100%, and Ceftazidime 63.5% of ${\beta}$-lactam antibiotics. CTX-M-2 (48 isolates) was the most prevalent type of ESBLs identified. Followed the order of frequency by PER-1 (28 isolates), VEB-1 (26 isolates) and CTX-M-8 (20 isolates), of the 74 isolates, 2 isolates only showed GES-1 in Chungnam province. Accurate identification type of ESBLs would aid in hospital infection control. This would give aid to the physician to prescribe more appropriate antibiotics.