• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2023

Dairy products are extensively used as carriers of probiotic strains that have potential health benefits. Assessment of the viability of probiotic strains during manufacturing is important to ensure that products meet recommended levels. Hence, the method for accurately quantifying lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in probiotic or dairy products is required. The present study aims to examine the performance of de-Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS), plate count agar with bromocresol purple (PCA with BCP), and glucose blood liver (BL) agars recommended in the Korea Food Code guidelines for counting LAB. Analysis of the performance of culture media containing 19 lactic acid bacterial species commonly encountered in probiotic and dairy products showed no statistically significant difference between 18 reference strains and three culture media (p > 0.01). Furthermore, the suitability of three culture media was verified for the quantitative assessment of LAB in 25 probiotic and dairy products. The number of LAB in three culture media was determined to be more than 10⁷ colony-forming unit (CFU)/ml for fermented milk products and 10⁸ CFU/ml for condensed fermented milk and probiotic products, indicating that they all satisfied the Korea Food Code guidelines. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference in the amount of LAB counted in all three culture media, suggesting that they can be used to isolate or enumerate LAB in commercial products. Finally, three culture media will be useful for isolating and enumerating LAB from fermented foods as well as gut microflora.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1752-1760
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• 2005

In this experiment, the effects of cage density (CD) and probiotic supplementation (PS) on laying performance, metabolic profile, and egg quality in peak-producing hens were evaluated. After blocking according to the cage location, Lohman layers (n = 180, 46 wks of age) were allocated randomly to two levels of CD (540 vs. 360 $cm^2$/hen) and three levels of PS (0, 0.15, and 0.30%). Probiotic contained Enterococcus faecium culture (10${\times}$10$^9$ cfu/g). Egg production (EP) and feed consumption (FC) were measured daily; egg weight (EW) was measured bi-weekly; BW was measured before and after the experiment; and blood samples were obtained at the end of the experiment. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Increasing CD decreased FC (125.0 vs. 120.8 g/d, p<0.0001) and FCR (1.93 vs. 1.87, p<0.0001) and did not alter EP, EW, and BW. Increasing level of PS linearly decreased FC (p<0.02) and FCR (p<0.006). Averages were 123.9, 123.2, and 121.6 g/d for FC and 1.91, 1.92, and 1.86 for FCR in hens supplemented with 0, 0.15, and 0.30% probiotic, respectively. Hens placed in high-density cages had greater serum corticosterone concentration than hens placed in normal-density cages (12.8 vs. 11.3 $\mu$g/dL, p<0.04); CD did not affect concentrations of other metabolites. Increasing level of PS linearly increased serum glucose, albumin, and creatine concentrations and quadratically increased total protein, globulin, Ca, and P concentrations. Average concentrations (mg/dL) were 260, 297, and 305 for glucose; 6.28, 8.09, and 7.58 for total protein; 1.98, 2.48, and 2.38 for albumin; 4.30, 5.62, and 5.19 for globulin; 0.40, 0.52, and 0.54 for creatine; 16.0, 16.5, and 16.3 for Ca; and 6.27, 8.14, and 7.17 for P in hens supplemented with 0, 0.15, and 0.30% probiotic, respectively. There was no effect of CD on egg quality. Increasing level of PS linearly improved yolk color (YC) and quadratically increased albumen index (AI) and Haugh unit (HU). The mean values were 9.67, 9.75, and 10.58 for YC; 8.94, 6.93, and 8.72% for AI; and 85.6, 74.9, and 82.9 for HU for hens supplemented with 0, 0.15, and 0.30% probiotic, respectively. There was also CD by PS effect on FC, EP, and serum glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatine, Ca and P concentrations. In conclusion, increased CD partially depressed laying performance and caused stress. Probiotic supplementation improved laying performance and metabolic profile. It also partially alleviated the adverse effects of stress resulting from increased caging density.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2010

Probiotics beneficially affect the health of the host via various mechanisms in the intestine. Recent developments in probiotic products have mainly been made to maximize probiotic effects in human. In this regard, probiotic products containing doubly coated or encapsulated cells, multi-species probiotics, or high viable cell number (1010 viable cells/gram or more) have been developed and are already available in the market. Until now, the majority of probiotics contain live cells but little attention has been paid to other alternative products such as heat-killed cell or bacteriocin-containing ones, which could have broad applications due to advantages over live cell-based probiotics, such as safety and stability. In addition, genetically engineered lactic acid bacteria could be of great importance in the field of alimentary health if they are carefully designed for biological safety. Although a number of probiotics are marketed by claiming health benefits, regulations for health claims will be more stringent. Therefore sufficient scientific and clinical evidences supporting the safety and efficacy of the potential probiotic strain will be required by the regulatory authority for a health claim, which thus may have a huge impact on the future probiotic market.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2016

The probiotic effects of kimchi lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus plantarum (Lab. plantarum) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides (Leu. mesenteroides), were studied. Lab. plantarum KCCM 11352P (LPpnu) and Leu. mesenteroides KCCM 11353P (LMpnu) were isolated from kimchi and were the predominant LAB. We compared their probiotic effects with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LRgg), a well-known probiotic LAB. LPpnu showed better probiotic activities than LRgg. LMpnu also exhibited almost equal activities as LRgg. These two kimchi LAB strains exhibited resistance to gastric and bile acid, adhesion to intestines, and thermal stability. In particular, LPpnu showed excellent probiotic properties. In addition, LPpnu showed greater antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH radicals or hydroxyl radicals than LMpnu or LRgg. LPpnu also inhibited growth of HT-29 human colon cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, increasing Bax and suppressing Bcl-2 expression compared to LMpnu or LRgg. Taken together, LPpnu and LMpnu could be used as probiotics, and LPpnu exhibited the most beneficial probiotic activities with anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2014

their survival rates could be affected by various factors such as diet, stress, senescence, and antibiotics. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of various spices (garlic, ginger, scallion, onion, Chungyang red pepper, and red pepper) which have antimicrobial properties and used frequently in Korean diet, and propolis on probiotics isolated from Koreans. As a result, most Korean probiotic strains were resistant to all spices tested and propolis, and the growth rates of some Korean probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Streptococcus thermophiles) were even increased by specific spices or propolis. But on the other hand, the growth rates of most of european probiotic strains were reduced by various spices or propolis, and the growth rates of a few european probiotic strains (L. helveticus, S. thermophiles) were greatly decreased in the presence of specific spices. Likewise, all commercial probiotic products including Korean probiotic strains were rarely affected by spices tested. However, european probiotic product tended to be greatly reduced by garlic, onion, scallion, and propolis. Therefore, these results indicate that probiotic strains isolated from Korean have the strong viability and resistance to various spices with antimicrobial properties, so that they might be appropriate for Korean intestine.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2018

Purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors affecting the production of antibacterial substances and histamine in rennet curd prepared by inoculation of histamine-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and probiotic LAB. Probiotic Lactobacillus sakei PIL52 and Lactobacillus plantarum FIL20 produced strong antimicrobial agents against histamine-producing bacteria Lactobacillus brevis LAS129, Enterococcus faecium SBP12, and Enterococcus faecalis SBP58. The lactic acid and crude bacteriocin produced from the probiotic LAB inhibited histamine-producing bacteria in a concentration-dependent manner. As the number of probiotic LAB inoculated for the production of rennet curd increased, the antibacterial activity against histamine-producing bacteria was elevated due to the increased amount of lactic acid and crude bacteriocin in the sample. The growth of probiotic LAB as well as histamine-producing bacteria was inhibited by addition of 10% NaCl, thus the antibacterial substances and histamine contents in rennet curd were significantly lower than those of the control (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the histamine content was not significantly increased when the rennet curd prepared by mixing probiotic LAB and histamine-producing bacteria was stored at $25^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. However, the amount of histamine detected in the rennet curd was significantly (P < 0.05) increased because the antibacterial activity of the bacteriocin produced by the probiotic LAB was decreased at $20^{\circ}C$ for 20 days.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.595-602
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• 2021

Human intestinal microbiota play an important role in the regulation of the host's metabolism. There is a close pathological and physiological interaction between dysbiosis of the intestinal microflora and obesity and metabolic syndrome. Akkermansia muciniphila, which was recently isolated from human feces, accounts for about 1-4% of the intestinal microbiota population. The use of A. muciniphila- derived external membrane protein Amuc_1100 and extracellular vesicles (EVs) could be a new strategy for the treatment of obesity. A. muciniphila is considered a next-generation probiotic (NGP) for the treatment of metabolic disorders, such as obesity. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii accounts for about 5% of the intestinal microbiota population in healthy adults and is an indicator of gut health. F. prausnitzii is a butyrate-producing bacterium, with anti-inflammatory effects, and is considered an NGP for the treatment of immune diseases and diabetes. Postbiotics are complex mixtures of metabolites contained in the cell supernatant secreted by probiotics. Parabiotics are microbial cells in which probiotics are inactivated. Paraprobiotics and postbiotics have many advantages over probiotics, such as clear chemical structures, safe dose parameters, and a long shelf life. Thus, they have the potential to replace probiotics. The most natural strategy to restore the imbalance of the intestinal ecosystem normally is to use NGPs among commensal bacteria in the gut. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new foods or drugs such as parabiotics and postbiotics using NGPs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.291-301
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different mixing ratios of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis in diets on nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, and odor gas emissions of growing pigs. A total of four crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) barrows with average body weight (BW) of 41.2 ± 0.7 kg were randomly allotted four diets over four periods in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were as follows: Control (CON, basal diet), CON + 0.2% probiotic complex (L4S6, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis at a 4:6 ratio), CON + 0.2% probiotic complex (L5S5, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis at a 5:5 ratio), CON + 0.2% probiotic complex (L6S4, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis at a 6:4 ratio). Dietary probiotic supplementation showed higher crude protein (CP) digestibility values and lower Escherichia coli counts in fecal samples than the CON group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in NH₃ or H₂S emission until day 3. The positive effect of H₂S and NH₃ emissions was detected earlier with the L4S6 and L5S5 compared to the L6S4, which had a lower ratio of B. subtilis. Both the L4S6 and L5S5 probiotic complexes significantly decreased the fecal H₂S and NH₃ emission in days 4 and 6 (p < 0.05). On day 7, all probiotic complexes decreased (p < 0.05) H₂S and NH₃ emissions than the CON group. Our results agreed that the dietary supplementation of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis complexes in growing pigs can significantly improve CP digestibility and reduce fecal E. coli counts, NH₃ and H₂S emissions. Notably, the higher mixing ratio of Bacillus subtilis in probiotic supplementation is more effective in reducing the odor of manure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1285-1293
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• 2012

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of commercial monostrain and multistrain probiotics in diets on growth performance, intestinal morphology and mucin gene (MUC2) expression in broiler chicks. Three hundred seventy-eight 1-d-old male Arian broiler chicks were allocated in 3 experimental groups for 6 wk. The birds were fed on a corn-soybean based diet and depending on the addition were labeled as follows: control-unsupplemented (C), birds supplemented with Bacillus subtilis (BS) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) based probiotics. Each treatment had 6 replicates of 21 broilers each. Treatment effects on body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and biomarkers such as intestinal goblet cell density, villus length, villus width, and mucin gene expression were determined. Total feed intake did not differ significantly between control birds and those fed a diet with probiotics (p>0.05). However, significant differences in growth performance were found. Final body weight at 42 d of age was higher in birds fed a diet with probiotics compared to those fed a diet without probiotic (p<0.05). Inclusion of Bacillus subtilis based probiotic in the diets also significantly affected feed conversion rate (FCR) compared with control birds (p<0.05). No differences in growth performance were observed in birds fed different types of probiotic supplemented diets. Inclusion of lactic acid bacteria based probiotic in the diets significantly increased goblet cell number and villus length (p<0.05). Furthermore, diets with Bacillus subtilis based probiotics significantly increased gene expression (p<0.05), with higher intestinal MUC2 mRNA in birds fed diet with probiotics compared to those fed the control diet. In BS and LAB probiotic fed chicks, higher growth performance may be related to higher expression of the MUC2 gene in goblet cells and/or morphological change of small intestinal tract. The higher synthesis of the mucin gene after probiotic administration may positively affect bacterial interactions in the intestinal digestive tract, intestinal mucosal cell proliferation and consequently efficient nutrient absorption.