Effects of a bacteria-based probiotic on ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids and bacterial flora of Holstein calves.

Twelve ruminally cannulated Holstein calves (age, 12 ± 3 weeks) were used to identify the effect of a probiotic comprised of Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium and Clostridium butyricum on ruminal components. The calves were adapted to a diet containing a 50% high-concentrate (standard diet) for 1 week, and then, the probiotic was given once daily for 5 days (day 1-5) at 1.5 or 3.

Sequence analysis of a bacteriocinogenic plasmid of Clostridium butyricum and expression of the bacteriocin gene in Escherichia coli.

A small cryptic plasmid, namely, pCBM588, was obtained from Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM588)--a bacterium used in probiotics. The complete sequence of pCBM588 was determined. The size of pCBM588 was 8060 bp and the G + C content was 24.

Production of apoptosis-inducing substances from soybean protein by Clostridium butyricum: characterization of their toxic effects on human colon carcinoma cells.

Microbial metabolism of soybean constituents is known to produce novel active substances as a chemopreventive agent during the fermentation, and enterobacteria are expected to produce chemopreventive agents as a consequence of metabolizing soybean constituents in the intestinal tract. Then, the conditioned medium was prepared by culturing an enterobacterium Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) with soybean protein, and its direct effect on human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells was examined.

Suppressive effect of Clostridium perfringens-produced heat-stable substance(s) on proliferation of human colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cells in culture.

Clostridium perfringens has been regarded as one of the intestinal bacteria increasing colon cancer risk. In previous studies, we have shown that the oral administration of C. perfringens culture medium can inhibit the mutagen-induced formation of pre-neoplastic lesions in rat colon, thus proposing the existence of factor(s) preventing colon tumorigenesis in this culture medium.

Rapid species identification and partial strain differentiation of Clostridium butyricum by PCR using 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer regions.

Some Clostridium butyricum strains have been used as probiotics for both humans and animals. Strain-specific identification is necessary for the manufacturing process of probiotics. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are sufficient genetic variations in 16S-23S intergenic spacer regions (ISRs) to discriminate C.