Lactiplantibacillusplantarum APsulloc331261 (GTB1™) promotes butyrate production to suppress mucin hypersecretion in a murine allergic airway inflammation model

IntroductionAllergic airway diseases are one of the serious health problems in worldwide and allergic airway inflammation is a prerequisite led to the exacerbated situation such as mucus hypersecretion, epithelial barrier damage and microbiota dysbiosis. Because of side effects and low efficiencies of current therapeutics, the need for novel alternatives has been urged. Probiotics in which have diverse and beneficial modulatory effects have been applied to the airway inflammation model and the underlying mechanism needs to be investigated.MethodsWe aimed to evaluate whether our target strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum APsulloc331261 (GTB1TM) isolated from green tea, can ameliorate allergic airway inflammation in mice and to figure out the mechanism. We induced allergic airway inflammation to mice by ovalbumin (OVA) and administered GTB1 orally and the immune and epithelial barrier markers were assessed. The gut metabolite and microbiota were also analysed, and the in vitro cell-line experiment was introduced to confirm the hypothesis of the study.ResultsGTB1 ameliorated type 2 inflammation and suppressed mucin hypersecretion with the inhibition of MUC5AC in inflamed mice. Moreover, GTB1 increased the butyrate production and the relative abundance of butyrate producer, Clostridium cluster IV. We assumed that butyrate may have a potential role and investigated the effect of butyrate in mucin regulation via human airway epithelial cell line, A549. Butyrate significantly reduced the gene expression of MUC5AC in A549 cells suggesting its regulatory role in mucus production.ConclusionTherefore, our study demonstrates that the oral administration of GTB1 can ameliorate allergic airway inflammation and mucin hypersecretion by butyrate production

International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and related organisms. Minutes of the closed meeting by videoconference, 3 September 2020

International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and related organisms. Minutes of the closed meeting by videoconference, 3 September 202

Autoinducer-2 Quorum Sensing Influences Viability of Escherichia coli O157:H7 under Osmotic and In Vitro Gastrointestinal Stress Conditions

Bacteria use autoinducer molecules to communicate both at intra-species and inter-species levels by quorum sensing. One such cell density-dependent signaling system is the luxS-mediated universal quorum sensing using autoinducer-2 (AI-2). Virulence of several pathogens is determined by an AI-2 system and is related to colonization and infection of the host. From this concept, numerous papers have suggested that AI-2 inhibition is an important strategy toward designing of new antimicrobial agents. However, recent studies indicate that the AI-2 system is also involved in adaptation and survival under environmental stress conditions. Therefore, we hypothesized that interaction between quorum sensing and environmental conditions may be critical in influencing predicted results in a control and when combating of target pathogens. We investigated the growth of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) and its luxS-deficient (non AI-2 producing) mutant strain under various stress conditions, and found significant differences in the growth rate under osmotic stress. Moreover, we could also show the impact of the AI-2 molecule on viability in the gastrointestinal tract model representing a complex environmental condition. Differences in vital responses of the strains suggest that AI-2 quorum sensing has a significant influence on the viability of EHEC under environmental stress conditions

Taxonomic study of Weissella confusa and description of Weissella cibaria sp. nov., detected in food and clinical samples

http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/A taxonomic study was conducted in order to clarify the relationships of two bacterial populations belonging to the genus Weissella. A total of 39 strains originating mainly from Malaysian foods (22 strains) and clinical samples from humans (9 strains) and animals (6 strains) were analysed using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The methods included classical phenotyping, whole-cell protein electrophoresis, 16S and 23S rDNA RFLP (ribotyping), the determination of 16S rDNA sequence homologies, and DNA-DNA reassociation levels. Based on the results, the strains were considered to represent two different species, Weissella confusa and a novel Weissella species, for which we propose the name Weissella cibaria sp. nov. W. confusa possessed the highest 16S rDNA sequence similarity to W. cibaria sp. nov. but the DNA-DNA reassociation experiment showed hybridisation levels below 49% between the strains studied. The numerical analyses of W. confusa and W. cibaria sp. nov. strains did not reveal any specific clustering with respect to the origin of the strains. Based on whole cell protein electrophoresis, ClaI and HindIII ribotyping patterns, food and clinical isolates were randomly located in the two species-specific clusters obtained

Characterization of Leuconostoc gasicomitatum sp. nov., Associated with Spoiled Raw Tomato-Marinated Broiler Meat Strips Packaged under Modified-Atmosphere Conditions

http://aem.asm.org/Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) associated with gaseous spoilage of modified-atmosphere-packaged, raw, tomatomarinated broiler meat strips were identified on the basis of a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) (ribotyping) database containing DNAs coding for 16S and 23S rRNAs (rDNAs). A mixed LAB population dominated by a Leuconostoc species resembling Leuconostoc gelidum caused the spoilage of the product. Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus curvatus, and a gram-positive rod phenotypically similar to heterofermentative Lactobacillus species were the other main organisms detected. An increase in pH together with the extreme bulging of packages suggested a rare LAB spoilage type called “protein swell.” This spoilage is characterized by excessive production of gas due to amino acid decarboxylation, and the rise in pH is attributed to the subsequent deamination of amino acids. Protein swell has not previously been associated with any kind of meat product. A polyphasic approach, including classical phenotyping, whole-cell protein electrophoresis, 16 and 23S rDNA RFLP, 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and DNA-DNA reassociation analysis, was used for the identification of the dominant Leuconostoc species. In addition to the RFLP analysis, phenotyping, whole-cell protein analysis, and 16S rDNA sequence homology indicated that L. gelidum was most similar to the spoilage-associated species. The two spoilage strains studied possessed 98.8 and 99.0% 16S rDNA sequence homology with the L. gelidum type strain. DNA-DNA reassociation, however, clearly distinguished the two species. The same strains showed only 22 and 34% hybridization with the L. gelidum type strain. These results warrant a separate species status, and we propose the name Leuconostoc gasicomitatum sp. nov. for this spoilage-associated Leuconostoc species

Characterization of Leuconostoc gasicomitatum sp. nov., Associated with Spoiled Raw Tomato-Marinated Broiler Meat Strips Packaged under Modified-Atmosphere Conditions

http://aem.asm.org/Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) associated with gaseous spoilage of modified-atmosphere-packaged, raw, tomatomarinated broiler meat strips were identified on the basis of a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) (ribotyping) database containing DNAs coding for 16S and 23S rRNAs (rDNAs). A mixed LAB population dominated by a Leuconostoc species resembling Leuconostoc gelidum caused the spoilage of the product. Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus curvatus, and a gram-positive rod phenotypically similar to heterofermentative Lactobacillus species were the other main organisms detected. An increase in pH together with the extreme bulging of packages suggested a rare LAB spoilage type called “protein swell.” This spoilage is characterized by excessive production of gas due to amino acid decarboxylation, and the rise in pH is attributed to the subsequent deamination of amino acids. Protein swell has not previously been associated with any kind of meat product. A polyphasic approach, including classical phenotyping, whole-cell protein electrophoresis, 16 and 23S rDNA RFLP, 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and DNA-DNA reassociation analysis, was used for the identification of the dominant Leuconostoc species. In addition to the RFLP analysis, phenotyping, whole-cell protein analysis, and 16S rDNA sequence homology indicated that L. gelidum was most similar to the spoilage-associated species. The two spoilage strains studied possessed 98.8 and 99.0% 16S rDNA sequence homology with the L. gelidum type strain. DNA-DNA reassociation, however, clearly distinguished the two species. The same strains showed only 22 and 34% hybridization with the L. gelidum type strain. These results warrant a separate species status, and we propose the name Leuconostoc gasicomitatum sp. nov. for this spoilage-associated Leuconostoc species

Intraspecies Genomic Groups in Enterococcus faecium and Their Correlation with Origin and Pathogenicity

http://aem.asm.org/Seventy-eight Enterococcus faecium strains from various sources were characterized by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of SmaI restriction patterns. Two main genomic groups (I and II) were obtained in both RAPD-PCR and AFLP analyses. DNA-DNA hybridization values between representative strains of both groups demonstrated a mean DNA-DNA reassociation level of 71%. PFGE analysis revealed high genetic strain diversity within the two genomic groups. Only group I contained strains originating from human clinical samples or strains that were vancomycin-resistant or beta-hemolytic. No differentiating phenotypic features between groups I and II were found using the rapid ID 32 STREP system. The two groups could be further subdivided into, respectively, four and three subclusters in both RAPD-PCR and AFLP analyses, and a high correlation was seen between the subclusters generated by these two methods. Subclusters of group I were to some extent correlated with origin, pathogenicity, and bacteriocinogeny of the strains. Host specificity of E. faecium strains was not confirmed

Lactic acid bacteria : biodiversity and taxonomy/ Edit.: Wilhelm H. Holzapfel; Brian J.B. Wood

xx, 606 hal.: ill, tab.; 28 cm

Lactic acid bacteria : biodiversity and taxonomy/ Edit.: Wilhelm H. Holzapfel; Brian J.B. Wood

xx, 606 hal.: ill, tab.; 28 cm

Die liedere van S. le Roux Marais : 'n geannoteerde katalogus

Proefskrif (D. Phil.) -- Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 1992.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die besluit om 'n studie van s le Roux Marais te maak is gestimuleer deur die belangstelling en waardering wat gehore in die bui teland vir die komponis se liedere ui tgespreek het. Die hoeveelheid wetenskaplike navorsing wat tot dusver oor sy musiek gedoen is, is beperk en nie vry van vooroordeel nie. Hierdie studie het tot 'n herontdekking van vele van sy liedere gelei en in sekere opsigte ook tot 'n herwaardering van sy kuns. Besonderhede oor Marais se lewensgeskiedenis was tot dusver slegs onvolledig beskikbaar. Om 'n beter begrip van die komponis se musiek te verkry was di t noodsaaklik om eers sy biograf ie op te teken. Hierdie inligting gee insig in sy werksomstandighede as musiekonderwyser en pianis, as orrelis en koorleier, as skilder en komponis - en ook as mens. 'n Volledige lys van sy werke was ook tot dusver nie opgestel nie. Dit word vir die eerste keer in hierdie proefskrif gedoen. Marais was in die eerste plek 'n liederekomponis. Hy het egter ook 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid koormusiek, etlike stukke vir klavier, vir orrel, sowel as drie operettes gekomponeer. Marais se oeuvre hang nou saam met die ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse taal. Veral aan die begin van sy loopbaan was hy 'n baie aktuele komponis: heelwat van sy toonsettings het kort na die ontstaan van die betrokke gedigte die lig gesien. Op die manier het hy 'n belangrike bydrae tot die Afrikaanse liedereskat en die Afrikaanse kultuur in die algemeen gelewer. Die katalogus in Hoofstuk 5 is as 'n handleiding bedoel vir diegene wat vinnig en doeltreffend informasie oor 'n spesifieke lied wil he. Elke lied is aan die hand van verskillende hoofpunte ontleed, en die inligting word in 'n tienpuntesisteem met 'n beskrywing weergegee. Die opset van elke beskrywing is ui t die aard van die saak by elke lied verskillend. Ter wille van volledigheid is informasie oor Marais se ander werke as Hoofstuk 6 ingesluit. 'n Samevatting van sy komposisiestyl word in Hoofstuk 7 aangebied en sluit die proefskrif af. Marais was geinteresseerd in kuns in die algemeen. Sy eerste groot lief de was die musiek en hy het meer as 150 werke gekomponeer. Sy tweede liefde was die skilderkuns ~n hy het tussen 120 en 130 skilderye, meestal stillewes en blomstudies, gemaak. Marais was 'n instinktiewe komponis. 'n Ontledende aard, formele tegnieke en woordgetroue verklanking is vreemd aan sy styl. Hy gebruik 'n soort neo-romantiese idioom, en die beste eienskap van sy musiek is sy melodiee. Hulle is byna altyd gelaai met gevoel en warmte. aanspreek. Hulle is daarom verstaanbaar en kan 'n wye publiek Onder sy tydgenote wat dieselfde idioom gebruik het, verteenwoordig Marais se musiek 'n hoogtepunt. Marais is reeds dee! van die kultuurgeskiedenis van Suid-Afrika. Van sy bekendste liedere het volksbesit geword. Solank Afrikaans bestaan, sal sy liedere gesing word.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The decision to embark on a research project on s le Roux Marais was influenced and stimulated by the interest and appreciation expressed by overseas audiences for this particular South African composer's songs. The existing research on his music is very limited and not devoid of prejudice. This study has led to a rediscovery of many of his songs, and to a certain extent, to a new appreciation of his art. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the composer it was necessary to write a more detailed biography than the rather inadequate ones available. This research offers insight into his work as music educator, pianist, organist, choir master, painter and composer - and also about him as a person. For the first time a complete list of his works is given in this dissertation. He was primarily a composer of songs. He did, however, also compose a fair amount of choral music, several pieces for piano, for organ, and three operettas. Marais' works are closely associated with the development of the Afrikaans language. At the beginning of his career it was especially noticeable that he was a very up to date composer: many of his songs appeared shortly after the specific poems were written, and in this respect he made an important contribution to the Afrikaans culture. The catalogue in Chapter 5 is meant to serve as a guide for those who need relevant information about specific songs. The structure of every song is analysed according to specific aspects, and the information is presented according to a ten point system, followed by a discussion, since each song is essentially different. For the sake of completeness information about Marais' other works is included in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 draws conclusions regarding his compositional style and completes the dissertation. Marais was interested in the arts in general. Music was his first big love and he composed more than 150 works. His second love was painting. He painted between 120 and 130 works, mostly still-life presentations and flower studies. Marais composed by instinct rather than by design. An analytical nature, formal techniques, or word-painting are not major elements of his style. His idiom can be described as neo-romantic, and the most outstanding characteristic of his music is his melodies. They are almost always full of feeling and warmth. They are, therefore, easily understandable and readily accessible to a wide public. Marais was foremost among his contemporaries who used the same idiom. Marais is already part of the cultural history of South Africa. So much so that some of his songs have become an integral part of South Africa's national heritage. As long as the Afrikaans language exists, his songs will be sung