Probio-Ichnos: A Database of Microorganisms with In Vitro Probiotic Properties.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, exert health benefits on the host by regulating intestinal and extraintestinal homeostasis. Common probiotic microorganisms include lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeasts, and Bacillus species. Here, we present Probio-ichnos, the first manually curated, literature-based database that collects and comprehensively presents information on the microbial strains exhibiting in vitro probiotic characteristics (i.

Exploration of spp. Genome in Search of Antibiotic Resistance.

The study investigates the antibiotic resistance (AR) profiles and genetic determinants in three strains of guaiacol-producing spp. isolated from orchard soil and pears. Their phenotypic characteristics, such as spore formation; resistance to different factors, including drugs or disinfectants; or production of off-flavor compounds, can affect the taste and aroma of spoiled products.

Investigation of Potential Gut Health Biomarkers in Broiler Chicks Challenged by and Submitted to a Continuous Water Disinfection Program.

The exploration of novel biomarkers to assess poultry health is of paramount importance, not only to enhance our understanding of the pathogenicity of zoonotic agents but also to evaluate the efficacy of novel treatments as alternatives to antibiotics. The present study aimed to investigate potential gut health biomarkers in broiler chicks challenged by and subjected to a continuous water disinfection program. A total of 144 one-day-old hatched broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with four replicates each, according to the following experimental design: Group A received untreated drinking water; Group B received drinking water treated with 0.

Dissecting the Genetic Basis of the Technological, Functional, and Safety Characteristics of SRX10.

Nonstarter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) are major contributors to the unique characteristics (e.g., aroma, flavor, texture) of dairy and nondairy fermented products.

Shaping the Future of Probiotics: Novel Methodologies, Applications, and Mechanisms of Action.

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that, when consumed in appropriate amounts, can promote host homeostasis, and induce health-promoting effects [...

Development of a Multiplex PCR Assay for Efficient Detection of Two Potential Probiotic Strains Using Whole Genome-Based Primers.

Probiotics are microorganisms that exert strain-specific health-promoting effects on the host. Τhey are employed in the production of functional dairy or non-dairy food products; still, their detection in these complex matrices is a challenging task. Several culture-dependent and culture-independent methods have been developed in this direction; however, they present low discrimination at the strain level.

Application of multi-functional lactic acid bacteria strains in a pilot scale feta cheese production.

Feta cheese is the most recognized Greek Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product in the world. The addition of selected autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to cheese milk as adjunct cultures is gaining more attention, since they can impact the nutritional, technological and sensory properties of cheeses, as well as improve the safety of the product. The aim of this study was to produce Feta cheese with enhanced quality and safety, and distinctive organoleptic characteristics by applying autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with multi-functional properties as adjunct cultures.

Depiction of the In Vitro and Genomic Basis of Resistance to Hop and High Hydrostatic Pressure of Isolated from Spoiled Beer.

Among the beer-spoiling microorganisms, the dominant ones belong to the genera , , , and . It is assumed that resistance to hop bitters correlates with resistance to other factors and can significantly impact the brewing industry. Beer preservation with high hydrostatic pressure eliminates the spoiling microorganisms while preserving all desired properties of the beer.

Expression and purification of human interferon alpha 2a (IFNα2a) in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

Human interferon alpha 2a (IFNα2a) is a secreted glycoprotein that exerts a wide spectrum of biological effects, such as triggering of antiviral, antitumor and immunosuppressive responses. IFNα2a is used as pharmaceutical polypeptide in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, chronic myelogenous leukemia, advanced renal cell carcinoma, and metastatic malignant melanoma. So far, the pharmaceutical polypeptide of this cytokine is produced in prokaryotic expression systems (E.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Cancer Immunotherapy: Current Knowledge and Future Directions.

Cancer immunotherapy is a treatment modality that aims to stimulate the anti-tumor immunity of the host to elicit favorable clinical outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) gained traction due to the lasting effects and better tolerance in patients carrying solid tumors in comparison to conventional treatment. However, a significant portion of patients may present primary or acquired resistance (non-responders), and thus, they may have limited therapeutic outcomes.

Genetic and phenotypic assessment of the antimicrobial activity of three potential probiotic lactobacilli against human enteropathogenic bacteria.

Introduction: Lactobacilli are avid producers of antimicrobial compounds responsible for their adaptation and survival in microbe-rich matrices. The bactericidal or bacteriostatic ability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can be exploited for the identification of novel antimicrobial compounds to be incorporated in functional foodstuffs or pharmaceutical supplements. In this study, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of L33, L125 and SP5, previously isolated form fermented products, were examined, against clinical isolates of , subsp.

Genomic Analysis and In Vitro Investigation of the Hop Resistance Phenotype of Two Novel Strains, Isolated from Spoiled Beer.

is an important beer-spoiling species, exhibiting high hop tolerance. Here, we present the annotated whole genome sequence of two recently isolated strains, KKP 3565 and KKP 3566. Firstly, to study the genetic basis of the persistence of the two isolates in beer, a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis ensued.

Chemical Profiling, Antiproliferative and Antimigratory Capacity of Extracts in an In Vitro Platform of Various Human Cancer Cell Lines.

is a Balkan endemic plant that belongs to the family, and is believed to have medicinal use and health-promoting properties. This study aimed to () prepare aqueous (HAE) and ethanolic (HEE) extracts from the leaves of from in vitro propagated plants, () screen for their potential antiproliferative and antimigratory activities, and () chemically characterize both HAE and HEE by identifying compounds which may contribute to their observed bioactivity thereby further supporting their potential use in biomedical applications. The antiproliferative activity of both extracts was assessed against six human cancer cell lines by employing the sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay.

Genomic Insight Into SP5, Reveals Genes and Gene Clusters of Probiotic Interest and Biotechnological Potential.

The species is comprised by nomadic bacteria inhabiting a wide variety of ecological niches, from fermented foodstuffs to host-associated microenvironments. SP5 is a novel strain, originally isolated from kefir grains that presents desirable probiotic and biotechnological attributes. In this study, we applied genomic tools to further characterize the probiotic and biotechnological potential of the strain.

Evaluating the Role of Probiotics in the Prevention and Management of Age-Related Diseases.

The human lifespan has been significantly increased due to scientific advancements in the management of disease; however, the health span of the aging population does not follow the same trend. Aging is the major risk factor for multimorbidity that is derived from the progressive loss of homeostasis, immunological and stem cell exhaustion, as well as exacerbated inflammation responses. Age-related diseases presenting with high frequencies include neurodegenerative, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, metabolic diseases and cancer.

Mapping the Key Technological and Functional Characteristics of Indigenous Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Greek Traditional Dairy Products.

The aim of the current study was to isolate indigenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from traditional Greek cheeses and assess their biochemical, technological, and functional characteristics, so as to develop novel cultures with multi-functional properties. Hence, 109 LAB isolates were recovered from traditional fresh cheeses and were evaluated in vitro for their gas production; proteolytic, lipolytic, and haemolytic activity; exopolysaccharide production (EPS); enzymatic potential; and ability to grow at 6.5% NaCl and at different pH, temperature, and anaerobic conditions.

The Clash of Microbiomes: From the Food Matrix to the Host Gut.

Food fermentation has led to the improvement of the safety characteristics of raw materials and the production of new foodstuffs with elevated organoleptic characteristics. The empirical observation that these products could have a potential health benefit has garnered the attention of the scientific community. Therefore, several studies have been conducted in animal and human hosts to decipher which of these products may have a beneficial outcome against specific ailments.

Genomic and Phylogenetic Analysis of L125, and Evaluation of Its Anti-Proliferative and Cytotoxic Activity in Cancer Cells.

is a diverse species that includes nomadic strains isolated from a variety of environmental niches. Several strains are being incorporated in fermented foodstuffs as starter cultures, while some of them have also been characterized as probiotics. In this study, we present the draft genome sequence of L125, a potential probiotic strain presenting biotechnological interest, originally isolated from a traditional fermented meat product.

Whole-Genome Sequencing, Phylogenetic and Genomic Analysis of L33, a Potential Probiotic Strain Isolated From Fermented Sausages.

is a diverse genus that includes species of industrial and biomedical interest. , formerly known as , is a recently reclassified species, that contains strains isolated from diverse environmental niches, ranging from fermented products to mammalian gut microbiota. Importantly, several strains present health-promoting properties, such as immunomodulatory and antiproliferative activities, and are regarded as potential probiotic strains.

Toxicity Profiling of Biosurfactants Produced by Novel Marine Bacterial Strains.

Surface active agents (SAAs), currently used in modern industry, are synthetic chemicals produced from non-renewable sources, with potential toxic impacts on humans and the environment. Thus, there is an increased interest for the identification and utilization of natural derived SAAs. As such, the marine environment is considered a promising source of biosurfactants with low toxicity, environmental compatibility, and biodegradation compared to their synthetic counterparts.

Pro-biomics: Omics Technologies To Unravel the Role of Probiotics in Health and Disease.

The comprehensive characterization of probiotic action has flourished during the past few decades, alongside the evolution of high-throughput, multiomics platforms. The integration of these platforms into probiotic animal and human studies has provided valuable insights into the holistic effects of probiotic supplementation on intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. Indeed, these methodologies have informed about global molecular changes induced in the host and residing commensals at multiple levels, providing a bulk of metagenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data.

Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Potential of the Essential Oil var and Its Major Components Myrcene and -Pinene.

The antioxidant, cytoprotective, and wound-healing potential of the essential oil from the resin of var. (mastic oil) was evaluated, along with that of its major components, myrcene and -pinene. Antioxidant potential was monitored as: (i) direct antioxidant activity as assessed by 2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and ABTS assays; (ii) DNA damage protection activity; and (iii) cytoprotective activity as assessed via induction of transcription of genes related to the antioxidant response in human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT).

Isolation of a Strain with Probiotic Attributes from Kefir Grains.

Κefir is a rich source of potentially probiotic bacteria. In the present study, firstly, in vitro screening for probiotic characteristics of ten lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from kefir grains was performed. Strain AGR 4 was selected for further studies.