Effects of skim milk concentrate dry matter and spray drying air temperature on formation of capsules with varying particle size and the survival microbial cultures in a microcapsule matrix

The impact of total solid (TS) content in combination with the feed rate and air inlet temperature on the survival of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 after spray drying in a skim milk matrix has been investigated and correlated with the capsule size. Depending on the experimental conditions, the survival rates ranged from 64 to 0.2%. The higher the air inlet temperature, the lower was the survival rate and an inversely correlation between the TS content and particle size has been determined. These results clearly indicate that process stress analyses and product-related characteristics must not be regarded separately.     

Oligosaccharides prepared by acid hydrolysis of polysaccharides from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) pulp and their prebiotic activities

As a rich source of polysaccharides, pumpkin pulp was used for the production of oligosaccharides. To investigate the prebiotic potential of the oligosaccharides, prepared by acid hydrolysis of polysaccharides from pumpkin pulp, the effect of the oligosaccharides on lactobacilli growth was studied. The oligosaccharides were composed of galactose (99.03%) and glucose (0.97%). The molecular weight distribution of the oligosaccharides showed a larger part of low molecular weight fraction in a range from 5000 to 324 Da than the polysaccharides, which gave the oligosaccharides higher solubility. The oligosaccharides showed good resistance to hydrolysis by artificial human gastric juice and α‐amylase, compared to the reference prebiotic inulin, and considerable capability to stimulate the growth of lactobacilli. In vitro studies showed that the number of lactobacilli was significantly greater than those in control medium when they were cultured in the medium supplemented with the oligosaccharides (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference at the oligosaccharides group and the inulin group (P < 0.05).     

Probiotic potential and sensory properties of coconut flan supplemented with Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium lactis

The effect of probiotic cultures on sensory performance of coconut flan during storage at 5 °C and the viability of these micro organisms for up to 28 days were investigated. Sensory analyses of the product were performed after 7, 14 and 21 days of storage. Coconut flans were produced with no addition of cultures (T1, control), or supplemented with Bifidobacterium lactis (T2), Lactobacillus paracasei (T3) and B. lactis  +  L. paracasei (T4). Populations of L. paracasei and B. lactis as single or in co-culture remained above 7 log CFU g⁻¹ during the entire storage period. Viability of L. paracasei was higher for T3. All products were well accepted and no significant differences ( P  > 0.05) were detected between the coconut flans studied. The addition of L. paracasei and B. lactis to coconut flan resulted in its having great potential as a functional food, which has high sensory acceptability.     

Detection and Identification of Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum Strains by Multiplex PCR Using RAPD-Derived Primers

Lactobacillus plantarum 2035 and Lactobacillus plantarum ACA-DC 2640 are two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains that have been isolated from Feta cheese. Both display significant potential for the production of novel probiotic food products. The aim of the present study was the development of an accurate and efficient method for the molecular detection and identification of the above strains in a single reaction. A multiplex PCR assay was designed for each strain, based on specific primers derived from Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Sequenced Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) analysis. The specificity of the assay was tested with a total of 23 different LAB strains, for L. plantarum 2035 and L. plantarum ACA-DC 2640. The multiplex PCR assay was also successfully applied for the detection of the above cultures in yogurt samples prepared in our lab. The proposed methodology may be applied for monitoring the presence of these strains in food products, thus evaluating their probiotic character. Moreover, our strategy may be adapted for other novel LAB strains with probiotic potential, thus providing a powerful tool for molecular discrimination that could be invaluable to the food industry.     

Probiotic-Induced Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells: A Novel Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are immune-mediated, chronic relapsing diseases with a rising prevalence worldwide in both adult and pediatric populations. Treatment options for immune-mediated diseases, including IBDs, are traditional steroids, immunomodulators, and biologics, none of which are capable of inducing long-lasting remission in all patients. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a fundamental role in inducing tolerance and regulating T cells and their tolerogenic functions. Hence, modulation of intestinal mucosal immunity by DCs could provide a novel, additional tool for the treatment of IBD. Recent evidence indicates that probiotic bacteria might impact immunomodulation both in vitro and in vivo by regulating DCs’ maturation and producing tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) which, in turn, might dampen inflammation. In this review, we will discuss this evidence and the mechanisms of action of probiotics and their metabolites in inducing tolDCs in IBDs and some conditions associated with them.     

Insights into the role of bacteria in vitamin A biosynthesis: Future research opportunities

Abstract

Significant efforts have been made to address the hidden hunger challenges due to iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A since the beginning of the 21st century. Prioritizing the vitamin A deficiency (VAD) disorders, many countries are looking for viable alternative strategies such as biofortification. One of the leading causes of VAD is the poor bioconversion of β-carotene into retinoids. This review is focused on the opportunities of bacterial biosynthesis of retinoids, in particular, through the gut microbiota. The proposed hypothesis starts with the premise that an animal can able to store and timely convert carotenoids into retinoids in the liver and intestinal tissues. This theory is experimental with many scientific insights. The syntrophic metabolism, potential crosstalk of bile acids, lipocalins and lipopolysaccharides of gut microbiota are reported to contribute significantly to the retinoid biosynthesis. The gut bacteria respond to these kinds of factors by genetic restructuring driven mainly by events like horizontal gene transfer. A phylogenetic analysis of β-carotene 15, 15′-mono (di) oxygenase enzymes among a selected group of prokaryotes and eukaryotes was carried out to validate the hypotheses. Shedding light on the probiotic strategies through non-genetically modified organism such as gut bacteria capable of synthesizing vitamin A would address the VAD disorders.     

蛋白质及果蔬汁等益生菌增菌物质研究进展

综述了蛋白质及其水解物、果蔬汁等益生菌增菌物质的研究进展，这对如何提高益生菌功能性食品中益生菌的数量有一定的指导意义。     

益生菌及其在食品中应用进展

益生菌能够促进人体健康，在食品工业中有广泛的应用。该文综述了益生菌的概念、国内外研究现状、安全性和必备条件及其在食品加工中的应用。     

益生素和益生元在水产养殖中应用新进展

经过近20年的研究和实践,益生素和益生元在水产养殖场和鱼苗繁殖场的规模化使用已成为现实。目前研究主要集中在环境友好型菌类/群的选择,及抗生素替代产品的选择。益生菌和益生素主要为宿主肠道菌群提供直接或间接的选择性优化产品,可能的作用机制是增加胃肠道有益菌的数量(如乳酸菌和其它有益杆菌),产生特殊的抑制化合物,并对潜在的病原菌产生抑制,抑制毒力基因的表达,增强机体的免疫反应,改善胃肠形态和提高消化机能。因此,益生素和益生菌的使用可提高鱼体健康状况,提高鱼体抗病力,促进生长性能,改善体组成,降低畸形率和保持更好的胃肠道微生态平衡。目前大量的研究正在证实益生素和益生元在水产养殖上应用的可靠性,但目前研究中的产品使用方案与养殖实践中的使用方案存在较大的差异。因此,制定合适的使用方案对于商业水平的应用显得至关重要。未来研究应集中于益生素和益生元的使用方案上。     

益生菌发酵牛初乳对致病菌抑制作用的研究

研究了益生菌发酵牛初乳对致病性大肠杆菌及幽门螺旋杆菌的抑制作用。结果表明,初乳经益生菌发酵,导致初乳pH值降低,初乳IgG活性也相应降低,在pH值为4.6时,IgG活性仅为初乳的25%。不同益生菌发酵初乳在不同pH值对大肠杆菌及幽门螺旋杆菌均有抑制作用,且嗜酸乳杆菌发酵初乳抑制作用最强,对大肠杆菌的抑制率最高达83.2%,对幽门螺旋杆菌抑菌圈直径最大达17.2mm,达到高度敏感,分别较初乳的抑制作用提高47.52%和52.21%。不同益生菌发酵初乳的抑菌作用依次为嗜酸乳杆菌>双歧杆菌>混合乳酸菌>德氏乳杆菌保加利亚亚种>嗜热链球菌。