Technological characterisation of probiotic lactic acid bacteria as starter cultures for dry fermented sausages

The objective of this study was to investigate probiotic microorganisms for use as starter cultures in dry fermented sausages production. A total of eight strains were studied evaluating technological and safety characteristics including the ability to grow, lactic acid production, gas formation, catalase activity, nitrate reductase activity, proteolytic activity, lipolytic activity, hydrogen peroxide production, salt tolerance, performance at low temperatures, decarboxylation of amino acids and antimicrobial activity against pathogens associated with the product. Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011, L. rhamnosus Lr-32, Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37, Lactobacillus casei Shirota and Enterococcus faecium MXVK29 were good candidates for use as fermented sausages starters cultures because they showed the best technological and safety properties since they did not demonstrate amino acid decarboxylation but showed antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Dublin and Staphylococcus aureus. L. rhamnosus Lr-32 was the strain best tolerating the levels of salt, nitrate and low pH during the simulated stages of fermentation and ripening of sausage. The strain was thus the most promising of the tested probiotics as sausage starter culture. The findings warrant studies in a meat matrix, such as that of raw-cured sausage, to evaluate the effects of L. rhamnosus Lr-32 under actual conditions.Fil: Agüero, Nadia de Lourdes. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Frizzo, Laureano Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Ouwehand, Arthur C.. No especifíca;Fil: Aleu, Gonzalo. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Rosmini, Marcelo Raul. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Salud Pública Veterinaria; Argentin

Viability of Lactobacillus paraplantarum DSM 14485 in human gastrointestinal tract and its molecular and biochemical identification after fermented vegetable consumption

Abstract In this study the viability of a potentially probiotic Lactobacillus paraplantarum DSM 14485 in the intestinal tract of 22 healthy test subjects was qualitatively assessed in a randomised double blinded cross-over study design lasting 2 x 4 weeks (interventions I and II) with a 4-week washout period. The subjects were given in their diet either spontaneously fermented vegetables (SF) or vegetables fermented by starter bacteria which contained  Lb. paraplantarum DSM 14485 (P). The numbers of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fecal samples were at the level of 105 cfu g-1 in both groups. The presence of Lb. paraplantarum DSM 14485 was confirmed by biochemical and molecular methods. We were able to show that Lb. paraplantarum DSM 14485, isolated from spontaneously fermented cucumbers, was viable in the intestine of ten test subjects after taking P-diet when the numbers of LAB were sufficiently high in the product

Streptococcus alactolyticus is the dominating culturable lactic acid bacterium species in canine jejunum and feces of four fistulated dogs

http://www.elsevier.com/locate/issn/03781097Canine intestinal lactic acid bacterium (LAB) population in four fistulated dogs was cultured and enumerated using MRS agar. LAB levels ranging from 1.4×106 to 1.5×107 CFU ml-1 were obtained in jejunal chyme. In the fecal samples 7.0×107 and 2.0×108 CFU g-1 were detected. Thirty randomly selected isolates growing in the highest sample dilutions were identified to species level using numerical analysis of 16 and 23 S rDNA RFLP patterns (ribotyping) and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. According to these results, Streptococcus alactolyticus was the dominant culturable LAB species in both faeces and jejunal chyme. In addition, Lactobacillus murinus and Lactobacillus reuteri were detected

Understanding mode of action can drive the translational pipeline towards more reliable health benefits for probiotics

The different levels of knowledge described in a translational pipeline (the connection of molecular mechanisms with pre-clinical physiological and human health effects) are not complete for many probiotics. At present, we are not in a position to fully understand the mechanistic basis of many well established probiotic health benefits which, in turn, limits our ability to use mechanisms to predict which probiotics are likely to be effective in any given population. Here we suggest that this concept of a translation pipeline connecting mechanistic insights to probiotic efficacy can support the selection and production of improved probiotic products. Such a conceptual pipeline would also provide a framework for the design of clinical trials to convincingly demonstrate the benefit of probiotics to human health in well-defined subpopulations.Peer reviewe

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis HN019 presents antimicrobial potential against periodontopathogens and modulates the immunological response of oral mucosa in periodontitis patients

Objective To evaluate the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (HN019) on clinical periodontal parameters (plaque accumulation and gingival bleeding), on immunocompetence of gingival tissues [expression of beta-defensin (BD)-3, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), cluster of differentiation(CD)-57 and CD-4], and on immunological properties of saliva (IgA levels) in non-surgical periodontal therapy in generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP) patients. Adhesion to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) and the antimicrobial properties of HN019 were also investigated. Materials and methods Thirty patients were recruited and monitored clinically at baseline (before scaling and root planing-SRP) and after 30 and 90 days. Patients were randomly assigned to Test (SRP +Probiotic, n = 15) or Control (SRP+Placebo, n = 15) group. Probiotic lozenges were used for 30 days. Gingival tissues and saliva were immunologically analyzed. The adhesion of HN019 with or without Porphyromonas gingivalis in BEC and its antimicrobial properties were investigated in in vitro assays. Data were statistically analyzed (p<0.05). Results Test group presented lower plaque index (30 days) and lower marginal gingival bleeding (90 days) when compared with Control group. Higher BD-3, TLR4 and CD-4 expressions were observed in gingival tissues in Test group than in Control group. HN019 reduced the adhesion of P. gingivalis to BEC and showed antimicrobial potential against periodontopathogens. Conclusion Immunological and antimicrobial properties of B. lactis HN019 make it a potential probiotic to be used in non-surgical periodontal therapy of patients with GCP.Fil: Invernici, Marcos M.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Furlaneto, Flávia A. C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Salvador, Sérgio L. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Ouwehand, Arthur C.. Dupont, Nutrition and Health; FinlandiaFil: Salminen, Seppo. University of Turku. Functional Foods Forum; FinlandiaFil: Mantziari, Anastasia. University of Turku. Functional Foods Forum; FinlandiaFil: Vinderola, Celso Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Lactología Industrial. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Instituto de Lactología Industrial; ArgentinaFil: Ervolino, Edilson. São Paulo State University. Division of Histology, Department of Basic Sciences, Dental School of Araçatuba; BrasilFil: Santana, Sandro Isaías. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Silva, Pedro Henrique Felix. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Messora, Michel R.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 on gastrointestinal inflammation induced by a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial

Aims Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause damage to the gastric and duodenal mucosa. Some probiotics have proven useful in ameliorating the harmful side-effects of NSAIDs. Our aim was to evaluate whether oral administration of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 (B420) can attenuate the increase of calprotectin excretion into faeces induced by intake of diclofenac sustained-release tablets.Methods A double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled and randomized clinical study was performed in 50 healthy male and female volunteers aged 20-40 years, in Finland. Study participation consisted of 4 phases: run-in, intervention with B420 or placebo, B420 or placebo + NSAID treatment, and follow-up. The primary outcome was the concentration of calprotectin in faeces. Secondary outcomes were haemoglobin and microbial DNA in faeces and blood haemoglobin levels.Results Intake of diclofenac increased the faecal excretion of calprotectin in both groups. The observed increases were 48.19 +/- 61.55 mu g/g faeces (mean +/- standard deviation) in the B420 group and 31.30 +/- 39.56 mu g/g in the placebo group (difference estimate 16.90; 95% confidence interval: -14.00, 47.77; P = .276). There were no significant differences between the treatment groups in changes of faecal or blood haemoglobin. Faecal B. lactis DNA was much more abundant in the B420 group compared to the placebo group (ANOVA estimate for treatment difference 0.85 x 109/g faeces; 95% confidence interval: 0.50 x 109, 1.21 x 109; P Conclusions Short-term administration of the probiotic B420 did not protect the healthy adult study participants from diclofenac-induced gastrointestinal inflammation as determined by analysis of faecal calprotectin levels.</p

Monitoring immune modulation by nutrition in the general population: identifying and substantiating effects on human health

Optimal functioning of the immune system is crucial to human health, and nutrition is one of the major exogenous factors modulating different aspects of immune function. Currently, no single marker is available to predict the effect of a dietary intervention on different aspects of immune function. To provide further guidance on the assessment and interpretation of the modulation of immune functions due to nutrition in the general population, International Life Sciences Institute Europe commissioned a group of experts from academia, government and the food industry to prepare a guidance document. A draft of this paper was refined at a workshop involving additional experts. First, the expert group defined criteria to evaluate the usefulness of immune function markers. Over seventy-five markers were scored within the context of three distinct immune system functions: defence against pathogens; avoidance or mitigation of allergy; control of low-grade (metabolic) inflammation. The most useful markers were subsequently classified depending on whether they by themselves signify clinical relevance and/or involvement of immune function. Next, five theoretical scenarios were drafted describing potential changes in the values of markers compared with a relevant reference range. Finally, all elements were combined, providing a framework to aid the design and interpretation of studies assessing the effects of nutrition on immune function. This stepwise approach offers a clear rationale for selecting markers for future trials and provides a framework for the interpretation of outcomes. A similar stepwise approach may also be useful to rationalise the selection and interpretation of markers for other physiological processes critical to the maintenance of health and well-bein