Potent Anticariogenic Activity of Aceriphyllum rossii and Its Components,Aceriphyllic Acid A and 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic Acid

ABSTRACT: Aceriphyllum rossii Engler (Saxifragaceae) have been used as a nutritious food in Korea. We found that the methanol extract of A. rossii root and its components, aceriphyllic acid A and 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid, potently inhibited the growth of the key cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, with MIC of 2 to 4 μg/mL. They also showed antibacterial activity against other cariogenic bacteria such as S. oralis, S. sobrinus, and S. salivarius with the similar potency . In the time-kill study, aceriphyllic acid A reduced the viable counts of S. mutans by 90% in 1 min at 8 μg/mL, indicating that aceriphyllic acid A had the fast bacteriostatic activity. Severe damages of the cell surface of S. mutans by aceriphyllic acid A were observed by transmission electron microscopy, suggesting with its fast antibacterial activity that its mechanism of action might be membrane disruption. These results suggest that the methanol extract of A. rossii root and its components, aceriphyllic acid A and 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid, could have the great potential as natural agents for preventing dental caries.     

Synthesis and utilisation of folate by yoghurt starter cultures and probiotic bacteria

Thirty-two bacterial isolates from species commonly used in yoghurts and fermented milks were examined for their ability to synthesise or utilise folate during fermentation of skim milk. The organisms examined included the traditional yoghurt starter cultures, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, and probiotic lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and Enterococcus faecium. Folate was synthesised by S. thermophilus, bifidobacteria, and E. faecium. S. thermophilus was the dominant producer, elevating folate levels in skim milk from 11.5 ng g⁻¹ to between 40 and 50 ng g⁻¹. Generally, lactobacilli depleted the available folate in the skim milk. Fermentations with mixed cultures showed that folate production and utilisation by the cultures was additive. Fermentations using a combination of Bifidobacterium animalis and S. thermophilus resulted in a six-fold increase in folate concentration. Although increased folate levels in yoghurts and fermented milks are possible through judicious selection of inoculum species, the folate levels remain relatively low in terms of recommended daily allowance.     

The influence of metallic surface wettability on bacterial adhesion

The wettability of AISI 304 stainless steel with 2B and 2RB surface finishes expressed in terms of the solid surface free energy was investigated with respect to the cleaning process. It was shown that cleaning affects the wettability of a solid surface. Depending on the cleaning method, ranged from 43.4 to 277.8 mJ m^-2 for the 2RB surface and from 34.4 to 122.8 mJ m ² for the 2B surface. There was no direct relationship between the number of adhering bacteria and or the wettability of solids. However, it was found that the adhesion of Streptococcus thermophilus was driven by a balance between and The experimental results are as expected based on thermodynamic predictions when the spreading pressure is accounted for in the surface free energy of bacteria, determination.     

Disinfection of Dental Instruments Contaminated with Streptococcus mutans Using Ozonated Water Alone or Combined with Ultrasound

Ozone gas diluted in water has been shown to produce significant results in terms of the elimination of microorganisms. Streptococcus mutans is the etiologic agent of dental caries. Methods using water containing ozone and an ultrasonic cleaner were employed for the disinfection of a curette. Streptococcus mutans was grown in a selective medium. The curette was submitted to disinfection by water containing ozone, by ultrasound, and then both techniques were combined. The results show that either method produced a significant microbial reduction, but the efficacy of both methods combined was greater. This method of disinfection proved to be both viable and cheap.     

22F型肺炎球菌荚膜多糖的活化及其多糖蛋白结合物的免疫原性

目的用不同活化剂进行22F型肺炎球菌荚膜多糖(type 22F streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide)的活化,并探讨其多糖蛋白结合物的免疫原性。方法分别用溴化氰(cyanogen bromide,CNBr)和1-氰基-4-二甲氨基吡啶四氟硼酸酯(1-cyano-4-dimethylaminopyridinium tetrafluoroborate,CDAP)作为22F型肺炎球菌荚膜多糖的活化剂,1,6-己二酰肼(1,6-adipic acid dihydrazide,ADH)作为链接剂,制备22F型肺炎荚膜多糖衍生物(3批Pn22FpsADH1和3批Pn22Fps-ADH2);在碳二亚胺[N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride,EDAC]的作用下,将衍生物与破伤风类毒素(tetanus toxoid,TT)共价结合,经凝胶过滤柱层析纯化,得到22F型肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖蛋白结合物(3批Pn22Fps-TT1和3批Pn22Fps-TT2);并对其生化指标、血清学特异性、免疫原性及异常毒性进行检测。结果衍生物Pn22Fps-ADH2的衍生率及回收率均略高于Pn22Fps-ADH1;结合物Pn22Fps-TT2的生化指标检测结果相对Pn22Fps-TT1较好;结合物Pn22Fps-TT1和Pn22Fps-TT2均可与22F型肺炎球菌诊断血清特异性结合;结合物Pn22Fps-TT1和Pn22Fps-TT2均具有良好的免疫原性;无异常毒性。结论 CNBr和CDAP均可作为22F型肺炎球菌荚膜多糖活化剂,经活化和结合反应,其抗原位点得到较好保留,但CDAP作为结合疫苗多糖的活化试剂效果更佳。     

Adjuvant Immune Enhancement of Subunit Vaccine Encoding pSCPI of Streptococcus iniae in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is an important agricultural fish that has been plagued by Streptococcus iniae (S. iniae) infections in recent years, some of them severe. C5a peptidase is an important virulent factor of S. iniae. In this study, the subunit vaccine containing the truncated part of C5a peptidase (pSCPI) was mixed with aluminum hydroxide gel (AH), propolis adjuvant (PA), and Freund’s Incomplete Adjuvant (FIA). The immunogenicity of the pSCPI was detected by Western-blot in vitro. The relative percent survival (RPS), lysozyme activity, antibody titers, and the expression of the related immune genes were monitored in vivo to evaluate the immune effects of the three different adjuvants. The results showed that pSCPI exerted moderate immune protection (RPS = 46.43%), whereas each of the three adjuvants improved the immune protection of pSCPI. The immunoprotection of pSCPI + AH, pSCPI + PA, and pSCPI + FIA was characterized by RPS values of 67.86%, 75.00% and, 85.71%, respectively. Further, each of the three different adjuvanted pSCPIs stimulated higher levels of lysozyme activity and antibody titers than the unadjuvanted pSCPI and/or PBS buffer. In addition, pSCPI + FIA and pSCPI + PA induced expression of the related immune genes under investigation, which was substantially higher than the levels stimulated by PBS. pSCPI + AH significantly stimulated the induction of MHC II β, CD4-L2, and IFN-γ, while it induced slightly higher production of TNF-α and even led to a decrease in the levels of IL-1β, MHC I α, and CD8 α. Therefore, we conclude that compared with the other two adjuvants, FIA combined with pSCPI is a more promising candidate adjuvant against S. iniae in channel catfish.     

Inhibition of Gallic Acid on the Growth and Biofilm Formation of Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans

New strategies for biofilm inhibition are becoming highly necessary because of the concerns to synthetic additives. As gallic acid (GA) is a hydrolysated natural product of tannin in Chinese gall, this research studied the effects of GA on the growth and biofilm formation of bacteria (Escherichia coli [Gram‐negative] and Streptococcus mutans [Gram‐positive]) under different conditions, such as nutrient levels, temperatures (25 and 37 °C) and incubation times (24 and 48 h). The minimum antimicrobial concentration of GA against the two pathogenic organisms was determined as 8 mg/mL. GA significantly affected the growth curves of both test strains at 25 and 37 °C. The nutrient level, temperature, and treatment time influenced the inhibition activity of GA on both growth and biofim formation of tested pathogens. The inhibition effect of GA on biofilm could be due to other factors in addition to the antibacterial effect. Overall, GA was most effective against cultures incubated at 37 °C for 24 h and at 25 °C for 48 h in various concentrations of nutrients and in vegetable wash waters, which indicated the potential of GA as emergent sources of biofilm control products.     

Extended ceftiofur therapy for treatment of experimentally-induced Streptococcus uberis mastitis in lactating dairy cattle

Streptococcus uberis is an important cause of mastitis in dairy cows throughout the world, particularly during the dry period, the period around calving, and during early lactation. Strategies for controlling Strep. uberis mastitis are poorly defined and are currently inadequate. Objectives of the present study were to evaluate efficacy of ceftiofur, a new broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic, for treatment of experimentally induced Strep. uberis intramammary infections (IMI) in lactating dairy cows during early lactation and to determine whether extended therapy regimens enhanced efficacy of ceftiofur. Efficacy of extended ceftiofur intramammary therapy regimens was investigated in 37 mammary quarters of 23 dairy cows that developed clinical mastitis following experimental infection with Strep. uberis during early lactation. Cows that developed clinical mastitis during the challenge period were allocated randomly to 3 groups representing 3 different ceftiofur treatment regimens: 2-d (n = 7 mammary quarters), 5-d (n = 16 mammary quarters), and 8-d (n = 14 mammary quarters) treatment regimens. For all groups, 125 mg of ceftiofur hydrochloride was administered via intramammary infusion. A bacteriological cure was defined as an experimentally infected quarter that was treated and was bacteriologically negative for the presence of Strep. uberis at 7, 14, 21, and 28 d posttreatment. Percentage of Strep. uberis IMI eliminated was 43, 88, and 100% for the 2-, 5-, and 8-d ceftiofur treatment regimens, respectively. Both the 5- and 8-d ceftiofur extended therapy treatment regimens had significantly higher bacterial cure rates than the standard 2-d ceftiofur treatment regimen. The bacterial cure rate of the 8-d ceftiofur extended therapy group was marginally better (P = 0.052) than the 5-d ceftiofur extended therapy group. Results of this study indicate that ceftiofur therapy was effective for eliminating Strep. uberis experimental IMI, and 5- and 8-d extended ceftiofur therapy regimens were more effective than the standard 2-d treatment.     

低温长时间发酵酸乳加工关键技术及品质研究

选用乳酸链球菌和保加利亚乳杆菌制作低温长时间发酵酸乳,利用DPS软件设计正交实验优化酸乳生产工艺,并对发酵结束和经4℃、后熟24h后以及4℃、冷藏3d后酸乳的酸度、pH值、纯蛋白、游离氨基酸、脂肪、双乙酰、乙醛、乳酸菌活菌数量等质量指标和风味成分进行分析检测。结果表明,最佳工艺为乳酸链球菌和保加利亚乳杆菌二4∶1,接种量3%,添加蔗糖8%,34℃培养10h左右。低温长时间发酵酸乳的酸度为69·35°T,乙醛含量为14·46mg/kg,双乙酰含量为4·72mg/kg,乳酸菌活菌数为7·15×109cfu/mL。经感官评定,酸乳的凝乳组织状态均匀细腻,香气浓郁纯正,酸甜适口,品质优良。