• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.152-159
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• 2019

The oral care probiotic strain Weissella cibaria CMU (oraCMU) inhibits volatile sulphur compounds associated with halitosis, presumably by inhibiting the growth of associated oral pathogens. In the present study, we investigated whether oraCMU inhibits the production of these compounds by suppressing the expression of mgl. This gene encodes L-methionine-α-deamino-γ-mercaptomethane-lyase (METase) and is involved in the production of methyl mercaptan (CH₃SH) by Porphyromonas gingivalis. Therefore, we specifically investigated the effects of oraCMU on the growth, CH₃SH production, METase activity, and mgl expression of P. gingivalis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of cell-free supernatant and secreted proteins from oraCMU were 125 mg/mL and 800 ㎍/mL, respectively. At sub-minimum inhibitory concentration levels, these metabolites inhibited CH₃SH production, but they also reduced P. gingivalis viability. Only heat-killed oraCMU decreased CH₃SH production without affecting P. gingivalis viability. Heat-killed oraCMU also inhibited METase activity toward L-methionine and mgl mRNA expression (p < 0.05). In summary, we demonstrated the inhibition of volatile sulphur compounds via the antimicrobial action of oraCMU and, for the first time, the inhibition of such compounds by heat-killed oraCMU, which occurred at the molecular level.

• 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.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2013

IL-23 and IL-12 are structurally similar and critical for the generation of efficient cellular immune responses. Toxoplasma gondii induces a strong cell-mediated immune response. However, little is known about IL-23 secretion profiles in T. gondii-infected immune cells in connection with IL-12. We compared the patterns of IL-23 and IL-12 production by THP-1 human monocytic cells in response to stimulation with live or heat-killed T. gondii tachyzoites, or with equivalent quantities of either T. gondii excretory/secretory proteins (ESP) or soluble tachyzoite antigen (STAg). IL-23 and IL-12 were significantly increased from 6 hr after stimulation with T. gondii antigens, and their secretions were increased with parasite dose-dependent manner. IL-23 concentrations were significantly higher than those of IL-12 at the same multiplicity of infection. IL-23 secretion induced by live parasites was significantly higher than that by heat-killed parasites, ESP, or STAg, whereas IL-12 secretion by live parasite was similar to those of ESP or STAg. However, the lowest levels of both cytokines were at stimulation with heat-killed parasites. These data indicate that IL-23 secretion patterns by stimulation with various kinds of T. gondii antigens at THP-1 monocytic cells are similar to those of IL-12, even though the levels of IL-23 induction were significantly higher than those of IL-12. The detailed kinetics induced by each T. gondii antigen were different from each other.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.998-1001
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• 2002

Potential antitumor activity of Lactobacillus plantarum cytoplasm was examined using F9 teratocarcinoma-bearing BALB/C mice. The cytoplasmic fraction of L. plantarum was separated by sonication followed by ultracentrifugation. The fraction at a dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg/day was orally administered for 7 consecutive days before or after tumor inoculation to 16 mice. As a control, heat-killed whole cell was used at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day. Upon oral administrations of both the cytoplasm and heat-killed whole cell, when performed after and before tumor inoculation, the survival of F9-bearing mice prolonged more effectively. Administration of the cytoplasm after tumor inoculation extended the average survival days by 30 and $40\%$ at daily dosages of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively. This result suggests that the cytoplasmic fraction of L. plantarum has strong antitumor activity against mouse F9 teratocarcinoma in vivo.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.786-790
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• 2006

Cellular components of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (heat-killed whole cells, cytoplasm, and cell walls) were tested for their in vivo immunopotentiating activity. Peritoneal macrophages from mice orally administered with heat-killed whole cells exhibited significantly greater phagocytic activity than the groups administered with cell-wall fraction or cytoplasm fraction. The cytotoxicity of natural-killer cells was the highest in the group administered with whole cells, and the production of cytokines ($IFN-\gamma$, IL-2, and IL-12) in spleen cells was significantly higher, when cellular components were injected, and it tended to be higher in the cell-wall and cytoplasm groups than in the whole-cell group. Interestingly, the cytokine production of Peyer's patch cells was high, when cytoplasm fractions were administered. These results demonstrate that whole cells and cytoplasm and cell-wall fractions of L. lactis ssp. lactis have immunopotentiating activities, which are related to the stimulation of Peyer's patches.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.202-206
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• 2003

To determine the effect of immunopotentiating activity of cellular components of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, the immune function was analyzed in vitro using mice cells. When stimulated with mitogens, productions of $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-12, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-6 were enhanced in spleen cells treated with cellular components, with IL-4 production being the highest in spleen cells treated with cytoplasm fraction. Without mitogen stimulation, the productions of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-12 were the highest in spleen cells treated with heat-killed whole cell. $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 productions were also high in spleen cells treated with all cellular components. Only heat-killed whole cell showed significant enhancement in natural killer cell activity. In peritoneal exudates cells, $TNF-{\alpha}$ production was enhanced significantly by all cellular components of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis These results indicate that the cellular components of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis are capable of stimulating immune cells to produce cytokines, and that both their cell walls and cytoplasm fraction contribute to these capacities.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.37 no.1 s.109
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• pp.47-52
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• 2005

Enzymatic pulping properties of mixed office waste paper in standard disintegrator were investigated for successful enzymatic deinking of mixed office waste paper. Enzymatic pulping need more revolution in standard disintegrator than alkaline pulping and Cellusoft need more revolution than Denimax. The freeness of disintegrated pulp with enzyme was higher than those of disintegrated pulps with alkaline and heat killed enzyme. The freeness of disintegrated pulp with Denimax was higher than that of disintegrated pulp with Cellusoft. The freeness of disintegrated pulps were increased with a dosage of enzymes. The mechanical properties of disintegrated pulp were improved with enzyme addition comparing with heat killed enzyme. The tensile and burst index of hand sheet of disintegrated pulps with acidic Cellusoft were higher than that of others.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.55-72
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• 2017

The second article of 'Effects of heat treatment on the nutritional quality of milk,' titled 'Destruction of microorganisms in milk by heat treatment' and authored by Dr. Seong Kwan Cha, who worked at the Korea Food Research Institute, covers the heat-stable microorganisms that exist in milk after pasteurization. The article focusses on the microbiological quality of raw milk and market milk following heat treatment, and is divided into four sub-topics: microbiological quality of raw milk, survey and measurement of microorganisms killed in raw milk, effect on psychrophilic and mesophilic microorganisms, and effect of heat treatment methods on thermoduric microorganisms. Bacillus spp. and Clostridium spp. are sporeforming gram-positive organisms commonly found in soil, vegetables, grains, and raw and pasteurized milk that can survive most food processing methods. Since spores cannot be inactivated by LTLT (low temperature long time) or HTST (high temperature short time) milk pasteurization methods, they are often responsible for food poisoning. However, UHT (ultra high temperature) processing completely kills the spores in raw milk by heating it to temperatures above $130^{\circ}C$ for a few seconds, and thus, the UHT method is popularly used for milk processing worldwide.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.205-212
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• 2013

Dectin-1, which specifically recognizes ${\beta}$-glucan of fungal cell walls, is a non-Toll-like receptor (TLR) pattern recognition receptor and a representative of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs). The importance of Dectin-1 in innate immune cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages, has previously been well studied. However, the function of Dectin-1 in B cells is very poorly understood. To determine the role of Dectin-1 in B cell activation, we first investigated whether mouse B cells express Dectin-1 and then assessed the effect of Dectin-1 stimulation on B cell proliferation and antibody production. Mouse B cells express mRNAs encoding CLRs, including Dectin-1, and surface Dectin-1 was expressed in B cells of C57BL/6 rather than BALB/c strain. Dectin-1 agonists, heat-killed Candida albicans (HKCA) and heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae (HKSC), alone induced B cell proliferation but not antibody production. Interestingly, HKSC, HKCA, and depleted zymosan (a selective Dectin-1 agonist) selectively enhanced LPS-driven IgG1 production. Taken together, these results suggest that, during fungal infection, ${\beta}$-glucan-stimulated Dectin-1 may cooperate with TLR4 to specifically enhance IgG1 production by mouse B cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1517-1526
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• 2016

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented foods have potential as a treatment for immune-related disorders and the use of LAB has been increasing worldwide. In this study, the differential cytokine regulatory effect was examined with three isolates of lactobacilli strains; namely, Lactobacillus plantarum K55-5 isolated from dairy product, and L. sakei K101 and L. plantarum K8 previously isolated from kimchi (a Korean traditional fermented vegetable). Production of cytokines such as IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α was significantly increased in L. sakei K101- and L. plantarum K55-5-treated splenocytes as compared with controls. The oral administration of L. sakei K101 and L. plantarum K55-5 increased cytokine production in the immunosuppressed mouse splenocytes and blood. NK cell cytotoxic activity was also increased in L. sakei K101- and L. plantarum K55-5-fed mice. On the other hand, L. plantarum K8 did not affect cytokine induction in all the experiments performed in this study. The cytokine-inducing effect of L. plantarum K55-5 was significantly increased by lysates of heat-killed bacteria as compared with live, heat-killed, or supernatant of cell lysates. TNF-α production by lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) isolated from the three isolates of lactobacilli was compared, and it was found that K55-5 LTA had a highest cytokine-inducing ability, which was mediated by TLR2-mediated NF-κB and ERK activation. Taken together, our study suggests that L. plantarum K55-5 and L. sakei K101 can be used for the treatment of immunosuppressed disorders.