METHODS AND RESULTS: The anti-ageing mechanism of three probiotics strains Lactobacillus fermentum DR9, Lactobacillus paracasei OFS 0291 and L. helveticus OFS 1515 were evaluated on gastrocnemius muscle and tibia of d-galactose-induced ageing rats. Upon senescence induction, aged rats demonstrated reduced antioxidative genes CAT and SOD expression in both bone and muscle compared to the young rats (P
METHODS AND RESULTS: Ara h 2.02 cDNA was cloned into pNZ8048 for heterologous expression in L. lactis. The purified recombinant allergen showed IgE binding comparable with native Ara h 2. Balb/c mice were fed with either recombinant (rLl), nonrecombinant L. lactis (Ll) or NaHCO3 (Sham) prior to sensitization and challenged with rAra h 2.02, whereas the baseline group was only fed with Ll. Allergen-specific immunoglobulin and splenocyte cytokines responses were determined for each mouse. Mice fed with either Ll or rLl showed significant alleviation of IgE and IgG1 compared to the Sham group. Despite no significant decrease in Th2 (IL-4, IL-13, IL-6) or increase in Th1 (IFN-γ) cytokines, both groups showed lower IL-10 level, while the IL-4 : IFN-γ ratio was significantly lower for rLl compared to Ll group.
CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of rLl harbouring Ara h 2.02 demonstrated alleviation of Th2-associated responses in allergen-challenged mice and a possible added allergen-specific prophylactic effect.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Ara h 2.02 coupled with the intrinsic properties of probiotic L. lactis as a delivery vehicle can be explored for the development of a commercially scalable vaccine.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated and examined for acid tolerance, bile salt resistance and hypocholesterolemic properties. Among the isolates, Lactobacillus plantarum TAR4 showed the highest cholesterol reduction ability (48·01%). The focus in the in vivo trial was to elucidate the cholesterol balance from findings pertaining to serum cholesterol reduction in rat model fed with high fat diet via oral administration. Rats fed with high-cholesterol diet supplemented with Lact. plantarum TAR4 showed significant reduction in serum total cholesterol (29·55%), serum triglyceride (45·31%) and liver triglyceride (23·44%) as compared to high-cholesterol diet (HCD) group. There was a significant increment in faecal triglyceride (45·83%) and faecal total bile acid (384·95%) as compared to HCD group.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that probiotic Lact. plantarum TAR4 supplementation reduced the absorption of bile acids for enterohepatic recycling and increased the catabolism of cholesterol to bile acids and not by suppressing the rate of cholesterol synthesis.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Probiotic supplements could provide a new nonpharmacological alternative to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
METHODS: Core flow rate, chitosan coating, and flaxseed mucilage concentration were optimised for the microencapsulation of L. rhamnosus. The microbeads were characterised and evaluated on microencapsulation efficiency and cell released after 6 h of sequential digestion.
RESULTS: The optimised parameters for the L. rhamnosus microencapsulation were 1.0 mL/min core flow rate, 0.4% (w/v) chitosan coating, and 0.4% (w/v) flaxseed mucilage. The L. rhamnosus microbeads with flaxseed mucilage in core and wall materials had a smooth surface with 781.3 µm diameter, the highest microencapsulation efficiency (98.8% w/w), lowest swelling (5196.7% w/w) and erosion ratio (515.5% w/w), and least cell release (<40% w/w) with 9.31 log10 CFU mL-1 after sequential digestion.
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the protective capacity of flaxseed mucilage towards the L. rhamnosus GG during microencapsulation and gastrointestinal environment.