Antifungal mechanisms investigation of lactic acid bacteria against Aspergillus flavus: through combining microbial metabolomics and co-culture system.

Aims: To develop antifungal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and investigate their antifungal mechanisms against Aspergillus flavus in aflatoxin (AF) production.

Methods And Results: We isolated 179 LABs from cereal-based fermentation starters and investigated their antifungal mechanism against A. flavus through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and co-culture analysis techniques.

Analytical factors for eight short-chain fatty acid analyses in mouse feces through headspace solid-phase microextraction-triple quadrupole gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

This study developed a method for quantifying eight short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mouse fecal samples using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with triple quadrupole gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Furthermore, significant factors affecting SCFA analysis, including SPME fiber selection, pH, salting-out agent, and sample collection time, were investigated. Contrary to previous studies, we found that the CAR/PDMS fiber had the highest extraction efficiency for all SCFAs.

Gellan gum prevents non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating the gut microbiota and metabolites.

Gellan gum (GG) is an anionic polysaccharide used as an additive in the food industry. However, the effect of GG on gut microbiota regulation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not yet been investigated. In vitro fermentation experiments have demonstrated that GG promoted the growth of probiotic strains such as Lactiplantibacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, producing metabolites beneficial to gut health.

The Probiotic Effects of the 28-7 Strain Isolated from Nuruk in a DSS-Induced Colitis Mouse Model.

Probiotics are microorganisms that can benefit host health when ingested in a live state, and lactic acid bacteria are the most common type. Among fungi, (SB) is the only strain known to have a probiotic function with beneficial effects on colitis; however, information on other probiotic yeast strains is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to discover yeast strains expressing intestinal anti-inflammatory activities by exhibiting probiotic properties in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice model.

Untargeted Metabolomics reveals Doenjang metabolites affected by manufacturing process and microorganisms.

Doenjang is a traditional Korean fermented soybean-based food that is now produced industrially as traditional Doenjang and modernized Doenjang, depending on the conditions of the manufacturing process. In this study, the effect of the production process on Doenjang metabolites was analyzed using untargeted capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOF/MS). Of the 247 metabolites detected in 19 traditional and three modernized Doenjang samples, the level of 55 metabolites were significantly different between the two production groups.

Stachydrine derived from fermented rice prevents diet-induced obesity by regulating adipsin and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis.

Makgeolli, a widely consumed traditional alcoholic beverage in Korea, is brewed mainly from rice using Nuruk as a fermentation starter, which contains fungi, yeast, and lactic acid bacteria. Among 58 Makgeolli samples brewed using various Nuruks, we found that one exhibited anti-obesity properties, with stachydrine shown to be responsible for these properties. Stachydrine promotes lipolysis and inhibits lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; it also reduces weight gain and improves glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in a mouse model.

Determination of the SLAMF1 self-association affinity constant with sedimentation velocity ultracentrifugation.

Signaling lymphocytic activating molecule family member 1 (SLAMF1 or CD150) is a cell surface glycoprotein expressed on various immune populations, regulating cell-cell interactions, activation, differentiation, and inflammatory responses and has been suggested as a potential target for inflammatory diseases. Signaling is believed to be mediated by high-affinity homophilic interactions; the recombinant soluble form of SLAMF1 has optimal activity in the range of 20 μg/mL. This contradicts with a rather weak homo-dimerization binding constant (K) value reported previously; however, the analytical approach and data analysis suffered from various technical limitations at the time and therefore warrants re-examination.

TASL is the SLC15A4-associated adaptor for IRF5 activation by TLR7-9.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have a crucial role in the recognition of pathogens and initiation of immune responses. Here we show that a previously uncharacterized protein encoded by CXorf21-a gene that is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus-interacts with the endolysosomal transporter SLC15A4, an essential but poorly understood component of the endolysosomal TLR machinery also linked to autoimmune disease. Loss of this type-I-interferon-inducible protein, which we refer to as 'TLR adaptor interacting with SLC15A4 on the lysosome' (TASL), abrogated responses to endolysosomal TLR agonists in both primary and transformed human immune cells.

Influence of aflatoxin in Nuruk on the safety of starch-based alcoholic beverage.

Nuruk is a fermentation agent used to manufacture alcoholic beverages, which contains a variety of microorganisms. Most microorganisms in Nuruk are useful for the production of alcoholic beverages; however, Nuruk can be infected with Aspergillus flavus, which produces aflatoxin (AF). Therefore, this study analyzed total AF concentrations in Nuruk, the transfer of AF from Nuruk to alcoholic beverages, and AF-producing microorganisms to determine the safety of alcoholic beverages with respect to this toxin.

Alteration of gut microbiota composition by short-term low-dose alcohol intake is restored by fermented rice liquor in mice.

Excessive alcohol consumption can increase gut permeability and alter the gut bacterial communities, influencing the pathogenesis of several disorders including alcoholic liver disease, endotoxemia, and systemic inflammation. Although recent studies have highlighted a pivotal role for gut microbiota in alcohol metabolism and alcoholic liver injury, the results have primarily been obtained from binge models treated with physiologically acute dose of alcohol. We sought to investigate the effect of low-dose (0.

Antidiabetic and Antiobesity Activities of Traditional Kochujang and Doenjang and Their Components.

In this study we investigated the antidiabetic and antiobesity effects of aqueous ethanol extracts of traditional kochujang and doenjang. The average α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and adipogenesis inhibitory activity for the kochujang samples were 29.6% and 20.

Surface Film Formation in Static-Fermented Rice Vinegar: A Case Study.

In the present study, we aimed to determine the cause of surface film formation in three rice vinegars fermented using the traditional static fermentation method. The pH and total acidity of vinegar were 3.0-3.

Restoration of Traditional Korean Nuruk and Analysis of the Brewing Characteristics.

In this study, a total of 58 different kinds of nuruk (a traditional Korean fermentation starter) were prepared, including 46 kinds of restored nuruk from ancient documents. Each nuruk was evaluated by analysis of its saccharification power, and the enzyme activities of glucoamylase, α-amylase, β-amylase, protease, and β-glucanase. The range of saccharification power (sp) of the restored nuruk ranged between 85 and 565 sp.

Quantitative analysis of volatile flavor components in Korean alcoholic beverage and Japanese sake using SPME-GC/MS.

Quantitative analysis of the volatile flavor components in Korean alcoholic beverages ( and ) and Japanese sake was carried out using SPME-GC/MS. Fusel oils (n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, and phenethyl alcohol), ethyl esters (ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, ethyl caproate, ethyl caprylate, and ethyl caprate) and aldehydes (furfural and benzaldehyde) were analyzed quantitatively by an 85 μm SPME fiber (carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane) using internal standards (1-pentanol-1-C and methyl nonanoate). Phenethyl alcohol (85-216 ppm) and isoamyl alcohol (38-115 ppm) constituted the majority of fusel oils in all the samples.

Acetyl CoA Carboxylase 2 Is Dispensable for CD8+ T Cell Responses.

Differentiation of T cells is closely associated with dynamic changes in nutrient and energy metabolism. However, the extent to which specific metabolic pathways and molecular components are determinative of CD8+ T cell fate remains unclear. It has been previously established in various tissues that acetyl CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2) regulates fatty acid oxidation (FAO) by inhibiting carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), a rate-limiting enzyme of FAO in mitochondria.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor- associated factor 6 (TRAF6) regulation of development, function, and homeostasis of the immune system.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is an adapter protein that mediates a wide array of protein-protein interactions via its TRAF domain and a RING finger domain that possesses non-conventional E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. First identified nearly two decades ago as a mediator of interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)-mediated activation of NFκB, TRAF6 has since been identified as an actor downstream of multiple receptor families with immunoregulatory functions, including members of the TNFR superfamily, the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, tumor growth factor-β receptors (TGFβR), and T-cell receptor (TCR). In addition to NFκB, TRAF6 may also direct activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and interferon regulatory factor pathways.

Identification of Wild Yeast Strains and Analysis of Their β-Glucan and Glutathione Levels for Use in Makgeolli Brewing.

Makgeolli, also known as Takju, is a non-filtered traditional Korean alcoholic beverage that contains various floating matter, including yeast cells, which contributes to its high physiological functionality. In the present study, we assessed the levels of β-glucan and glutathione in various yeast strains isolated from traditional Korean Nuruk and selected a β-glucan- and glutathione-rich yeast strain to add value to Makgeolli by enhancing its physiological functionality through increased levels of these compounds. Yeast β-glucan levels ranged from 6.

Metabolomic unveiling of a diverse range of green tea (Camellia sinensis) metabolites dependent on geography.

Numerous factors such as geographical origin, cultivar, climate, cultural practices, and manufacturing processes influence the chemical compositions of tea, in the same way as growing conditions and grape variety affect wine quality. However, the relationships between these factors and tea chemical compositions are not well understood. In this study, a new approach for non-targeted or global analysis, i.

IL-18 synergizes with IL-7 to drive slow proliferation of naive CD8 T cells by costimulating self-peptide-mediated TCR signals.

Naive T cell populations are maintained in the periphery at relatively constant levels via mechanisms that control expansion and contraction and are associated with competition for homeostatic cytokines. It has been shown that in a lymphopenic environment naive T cells undergo expansion due, at least in part, to additional availability of IL-7. We have previously found that T cell-intrinsic deletion of TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) 6 (TRAF6ΔT) in mice results in diminished peripheral CD8 T cell numbers.

Qualitative and quantitative prediction of volatile compounds from initial amino acid profiles in Korean rice wine (makgeolli) model.

Unlabelled: In Korean rice wine (makgeolli) model, we tried to develop a prediction model capable of eliciting a quantitative relationship between initial amino acids in makgeolli mash and major aromatic compounds, such as fusel alcohols, their acetate esters, and ethyl esters of fatty acids, in makgeolli brewed. Mass-spectrometry-based electronic nose (MS-EN) was used to qualitatively discriminate between makgeollis made from makgeolli mashes with different amino acid compositions. Following this measurement, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combined with partial least-squares regression (PLSR) method was employed to quantitatively correlate amino acid composition of makgeolli mash with major aromatic compounds evolved during makgeolli fermentation.

Regulator of fatty acid metabolism, acetyl coenzyme a carboxylase 1, controls T cell immunity.

Fatty acids (FAs) are essential constituents of cell membranes, signaling molecules, and bioenergetic substrates. Because CD8(+) T cells undergo both functional and metabolic changes during activation and differentiation, dynamic changes in FA metabolism also occur. However, the contributions of de novo lipogenesis to acquisition and maintenance of CD8(+) T cell function are unclear.

Electronic tongue-based discrimination of Korean rice wines (makgeolli) including prediction of sensory evaluation and instrumental measurements.

A commercial electronic tongue was used to discriminate Korean rice wines (makgeolli) brewed from nine cultivars of rice with different amino acid and fatty acid compositions. The E-tongue was applied to establish prediction models with sensory evaluation or LC-MS/MS by partial least squares regression (PLSR). All makgeollis were classified into three groups by principal components analysis, and the separation pattern was affected by rice qualities and yeast fermentation.

MicroRNA function in NK-cell biology.

The important role of microRNAs in directing immune responses has become increasingly clear. Here, we highlight discoveries uncovering the role of specific microRNAs in regulating the development and function of natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of NK cells on the entire immune system during global and specific microRNA ablation in the settings of inflammation, infection, and immune dysregulation.

Prognostic value of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography in resectable colorectal cancer.

Aim: To assess the prognostic value of preoperative 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) in patients with resectable colorectal cancer.

Methods: One hundred sixty-three patients with resectable colorectal cancer who underwent FDG-PET/CT before surgery were included. Patient data including pathologic stage at presentation, histology, treatment, disease-free survival and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary tumor on FDG-PET/CT were retrospectively analyzed.