Bifidobacterium response to lactulose ingestion in the gut relies on a solute-binding protein-dependent ABC transporter.

This study aims to understand the mechanistic basis underlying the response of Bifidobacterium to lactulose ingestion in guts of healthy Japanese subjects, with specific focus on a lactulose transporter. An in vitro assay using mutant strains of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum 105-A shows that a solute-binding protein with locus tag number BL105A_0502 (termed LT-SBP) is primarily involved in lactulose uptake.

A study of the prebiotic effect of lactulose at low dosages in healthy Japanese women.

To investigate the prebiotic effect of lactulose at low dosages, we assessed changes in defaecation frequency following ingestion of 1, 2, or 3 g/day of lactulose for 2 weeks. Each test was carried out after a 2-week washout period. This was an open-label, before-after trial that enrolled 26 healthy Japanese women.

Diversity of intestinal bifidobacteria in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis and possible influence of probiotic intervention.

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential association between intestinal bifidobacteria and Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis) and possible influences of probiotic intervention. In this study, fecal samples were the collected from 29 JCPsis patients. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of fecal bifidobacteria were conducted by quantitative real-time PCR with 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers before cedar pollen spread and after a 10-week intervention with fermented milk prepared with Lactobacillus GG and L.

Lactobacillus strains stabilize intestinal microbiota in Japanese cedar pollinosis patients.

A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to ascertain the intestinal microbiota-altering properties of LGG and L. gasseri TMC0356 (TMC0356) in Japanese cedar Cryptomeria japonica pollinosis patients. Fecal bacteria communities were examined before and after fermented milk administration using culture, FISH and T-RFLPmethods.

Evaluation of the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus paracasei KW3110 based on in vitro tests and oral administration tests in healthy adults.

Lactobacillus paracasei KW3110 is a strain which has been reported to possess a strong antiallergic activity. Since many lactic acid bacteria have shown to be useful as the probiotics, the possibility of this strain for use as a probiotic was studied. An in vitro test showed that this strain is strong enough to survive in the gastric juice.

Improvement of nutritional status and incidence of infection in hospitalised, enterally fed elderly by feeding of fermented milk containing probiotic Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (NCC533).

Probiotics have potential to improve host immunity; however, there is less evidence showing their efficacy against infections and nutritional status in the elderly. We conducted a double-blinded feeding trial in the elderly to elucidate the effect of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 (LC1) on infections and nutritional status. Twenty-four completely enterally fed elderly in-patients aged over 70 years were randomly assigned into two groups.

Improvement of the human intestinal flora by ingestion of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus johnsonii La1.

To exert beneficial effects for the host, for example, improving the intestinal microflora, a probiotic must reach the intestine as a viable strain. These properties must be demonstrated by in vitro as well as in vivo methods. However, only a few well-designed human clinical studies have shown these properties.