• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 2012

Role of metabolism by intestinal bacteria in arbutin-induced immunotoxicity was investigated in splenocyte cultures. Following an incubation of arbutin with 5 different intestinal bacteria for 24 hr, its aglycone hydroquinone could be produced and detected in the bacterial culture media with different amounts. Toxic effects of activated arbutin by intestinal bacteria on lymphoproliferative response were tested in splenocyte cultures from normal mice. Lipopolysaccharide and concanavalin A were used as mitogens for B- and T-cells, respectively. When bacteria cultured medium with arbutin was treated into the splenocytes for 3 days, the medium cultured with bacteria producing large amounts of hydroquinone induced suppression of lymphoproliferative responses, indicating that metabolic activation by intestinal bacteria might be required in arbutin-induced toxicity. The results indicated that the present testing system might be applied for determining the possible role of metabolism by intestinal bacteria in certain chemical-induced immunotoxicity in animal cell cultures.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.453-458
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• 1994

Intestinal microbial flora comprise one third of the large intestinal contents in human. They play a significant effects through beneficial and harmful action on the human health. This is the first study which examined the composition of the microflora of the general population in Korea. Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, Peptostreptococcus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Clostridium perfringens, total aerobic bacteria and total anaerrobic bacteria were counted using various selective and non-selective media. Among the bacteria studied the number of Bifidobacterium were greatest in breast-fed infants(30-90 days old), whereas Streptocuccus and Bifidobacterium in bottle-fed infants. In 20-40 age group Bacteroides were predominant followed by Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium. In early group(over 65 years old) Bacteroides were predominant followed by Eubacterium and bifidobacterium. The frequency and number of Cl. perfringens were highest in dlderly group. These results confirm that the microfloral pattern in large intestine change during the life cycle of humans.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 2020

Background: Gut microflora contributes to the nutritional metabolism of the host and to strengthen its immune system. However, if the intestinal barrier function of the living body is destroyed by radiation exposure, the intestinal bacteria harm the health of the host and cause sepsis. Therefore, this study aims to trace short-term radiation-induced changes in the mouse gut microflora-dominant bacterial genus, and analyze the degree of intestinal epithelial damage. Materials and Methods: Mice were irradiated with 0, 2, 4, 8 Gy X-rays, and the gut microflora and intestinal epithelial changes were analyzed 72 hours later. Five representative genera of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were analyzed in fecal samples, and the intestine was pathologically analyzed by Hematoxylin-Eosin and Alcian blue staining. In addition, DNA fragmentation was evaluated by the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results and Discussion: The small intestine showed shortened villi and reduced number of goblet cells upon 8 Gy irradiation. The large intestine epithelium showed no significant morphological changes, but the number of goblet cells were reduced in a radiation dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the small intestinal epithelium of 8 Gy-irradiated mice showed significant DNA damaged, whereas the large intestine epithelium was damaged in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, the large intestine epithelium showed less recovery potential upon radiation exposure than the small intestinal epithelium. Analysis of the intestinal flora revealed fluctuations in lactic acid bacteria excretion after irradiation regardless of the morphological changes of intestinal epithelium. Altogether, it became clear that radiation exposure could cause an immediate change of their excretion. Conclusion: This study revealed changes in the intestinal epithelium and intestinal microbiota that may pave the way for the identification of novel biomarkers of radiation-induced gastrointestinal disorders and develop new therapeutic strategies to treat patients with acute radiation syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.981-986
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• 1996

We have conducted this study to examine effect of kimchi intake on the composition of human large intestinal bacteria. Two hundred grams of kimchi were administered to 10 healthy young volunteers (20-30 years old) every day for 2 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of non-intake period. The non-intake-intake cycle was repeated for 10 weeks. Except antibiotics and materials which contain live bacteria, subjects were allowed to eat ad libitum. The composition of intestinal microflora (Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Staphylococcus, Clostridium perfringens) was examined a1 the last day of each period. $\beta-Glucosidase$ and $\beta-glucuronidase$ activities, pH and moisture content of the fecal samples were also measured. During the administration of kimchi, the cell counts of Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc increased significantly (p<0.05), whereas those of other bacteria did not change significantly. The enzyme level of $\beta-glucosidase$ and $\beta-glucuronidase$ decreased during kimchi intake (p<0.05). Results indicate that a portion of lactic acid bacteria present in kimchi can pass human stomach and reside in the large intestinal tract.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1-5
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• 2003

A variety of different spirochaetal bacteria inhabit the large intestines of animals and man. This paper focuses on anaerobic intestinal spirochaetes of the genus Brachyspira (formerly Serpulina). Within the last few years, six new Brachyspira species have been officially name and/or renamed, and two other groups of these bacteria have been given provisional species names (Table 1). (omitted)

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.98-105
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• 1999

Intestinal bacteria comprise one-third of the contents of the large intestine in humans. Their interactions with the gastrointestinal immune system induce characteristic immunological responses which stimulate or suppress the host's defense system. RAW 264.7 murine cell line was used as a macrophage model to assess the effects of the exposure to the isolated human intestinal bacteria, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, Streptococcus, and E. coli, on NO (nitric oxide), $H_2O_2$(hydrogen peroxide), and cytokines IL (interleukin)-6 and TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-a production. RAW 264.7 cells were cultured in the presence of heat-killed bacteria for 24 h at concentrations of 0-$50\mu$g/ml. Our results showed that Bacteroides and E. coli stimulated IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, NO, and $H_2O_2$production at high levels even at $1\mu$g/ml, whereas Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, and Streptococcus showed a low level of stimulation at $1\mu$g/ml, and a gradual increase as the cell concentration increased up to $50\mu$g/ml. This result suggests that gram-negative Bacteroides and E. coli are better able to stimulate macrophage than gram-positive Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Eubacterium. The in vitro approaches employed here should be useful in further characterization of the effects of intestinal bacteria on gastrointestinal and systemic immunity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.603-615
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• 2008

Dietary fiber is an inevitable component in pig diets. In non-ruminants, it may influence many physiological processes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) such as transit time as well as nutrient digestion and absorption. Moreover, dietary fiber is also the main substrate of intestinal bacteria. The bacterial community structure is largely susceptible to changes in the fiber content of a pig's diet. Indeed, bacterial composition in the lower GIT will adapt to the supply of high levels of dietary fiber by increased growth of bacteria with cellulolytic, pectinolytic and hemicellulolytic activities such as Ruminococcus spp., Bacteroides spp. and Clostridium spp. Furthermore, there is growing evidence for growth promotion of beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, by certain types of dietary fiber in the small intestine of pigs. Studies in rats have shown that both phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) play an important role in the fermentative activity and growth of the intestinal microbiota. This can be attributed to the significance of P for the bacterial cell metabolism and to the buffering functions of Ca-phosphate in intestinal digesta. Moreover, under P deficient conditions, ruminal NDF degradation as well as VFA and bacterial ATP production are reduced. Similar studies in pigs are scarce but there is some evidence that dietary fiber may influence the ileal and fecal P digestibility as well as P disappearance in the large intestine, probably due to microbial P requirement for fermentation. On the other hand, fermentation of dietary fiber may improve the availability of minerals such as P and Ca which can be subsequently absorbed and/or utilized by the microbiota of the pig's large intestine.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1295-1303
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• 2013

According to facts revealed up until the present, there are a total of 68 known phyla on earth, including 55 phyla of bacteria and 13 phyla of archaea. The human large intestine has 9 phyla of microorganisms, which is a relatively lower diversity compared to the general environments of soil or sea. The diversity of intestinal microorganisms is affected by the characteristics of the host (genetic background, sex, age, immune system, and gut motility), the diet (non-digestible carbohydrates, fat, prebiotics, probiotics), and the intake of antibiotics, which in turn have an effect on energy storage processes, gene expressions, and even metabolic diseases like obesity. Probiotics are referred to as living microorganisms that improve the intestinal microbiota and contribute to the health of the host; in addition, probiotics usually comprise lactic acid bacteria. Recently, bacteriotherapy using probiotics has been utilized to treat sicknesses like diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. Prebiotics are a food ingredient which can selectively adjust intestinal microorganisms and which comprise inulin, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, and lactulose. In recent days, attention has been paid to the use of dietary cellulose in the large intestine and the production of short chain fatty acids (short-chain fatty acids) in relation to obesity and anticancer. More research into microorganisms in the large intestine is necessary to identify specific microorganism species, which are adjusted by diverse non-digestible carbohydrates, prebiotics, and probiotics in the large intestine and to understand the connection between sicknesses and metabolites like short chain fatty acids produced by these microorganism species.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.443-445
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• 1994

Eubacterium is one of the predominant bacteria in the human large intestine. currently ES (Eubacterium Selective) medium developed by T. Mitsuoka is commonly used as a selective medium. neomycin sulfate which is one of the selective agents of ES medium inhibited about 50% of the growth of Eubacterium isolated, whereas malidixic acid inhibited only 5% while inhibiting other intestinal bacteria. NES medium which replaced neomycin with nalidixic acid in the ES medium was designed and shown to be better for the isolation and enumeration of Eubacterium sp. than ES medium.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.694-697
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• 1993

Soymilk was cultured by various human large intestinal bacteria and lactic acid bacteria; Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Baeteroides fragilis, Eubacterium limosum, Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli. Among them, only B. longum utilized raffinose and stachyose actively which are major oligosaccharides present in soymilk by producing active ${\alpha}-galactosidase$ and produced greatest acid. Number of colony forming unit of B. longum reached $1.5{\times}10^{8}$ after 16 hr culture in soymilk. Also Bifidobacterium longum produced the highest level of ${\alpha}-galactosidase,\;{\beta}-galactosidase\;and\;{\alpha}-galactosidase$, in soymilk during culture.