Prebiotic preferences of human lactobacilli strains in co-culture with bifidobacteria and antimicrobial activity against Clostridium difficile.

Aim: To evaluate robustness, prebiotic utilization of Lactobacillus paracasei F8 and Lactobacillus plantarum F44 in mono- and co-cultures with Bifidobacterium breve 46 and Bifidobacterium animalis sub sp. lactis 8 : 8 and antimicrobial activity of co-culture against Clostridium difficile.

Methods And Results: The two Lactobacillus strains showed a high acid and bile tolerance.

A novel multi-strain probiotic and synbiotic supplement for prevention of Clostridium difficile infection in a murine model.

The protective effect of a multi-strain probiotic and synbiotic formulation was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice infected with Clostridium difficile (CD) NAP1/027. Antibiotic-treated mice were divided into the following four groups: Group 1, fed with a synbiotic formulation consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum F44, L. paracasei F8, Bifidobacterium breve 46, B.

Survival and synergistic growth of mixed cultures of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli combined with prebiotic oligosaccharides in a gastrointestinal tract simulator.

Background: Probiotics, especially in combination with non-digestible oligosaccharides, may balance the gut microflora while multistrain preparations may express an improved functionality over single strain cultures. In vitro gastrointestinal models enable to test survival and growth dynamics of mixed strain probiotics in a controlled, replicable manner.

Methods: The robustness and compatibility of multistrain probiotics composed of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli combined with mixed prebiotics (galacto-, fructo- and xylo-oligosaccharides or galactooligosaccharides and soluble starch) were studied using a dynamic gastrointestinal tract simulator (GITS).

Bile enhances cell surface hydrophobicity and biofilm formation of bifidobacteria.

Twenty-four human bifidobacterial strains were analysed for cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) using a salt aggregation test (SAT) and a Congo red binding (CRB) assay. Three strains were selected for a systematic study on the CSH and biofilm formation: Bifidobacterium breve 46, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 8:8 and a reference strain B.

Enterococcus faecalis infection causes inflammation, intracellular oxphos-independent ROS production, and DNA damage in human gastric cancer cells.

Background: Achlorhydria caused by e.g. atrophic gastritis allows for bacterial overgrowth, which induces chronic inflammation and damage to the mucosal cells of infected individuals driving gastric malignancies and cancer.

Prebiotic-non-digestible oligosaccharides preference of probiotic bifidobacteria and antimicrobial activity against Clostridium difficile.

Bifidobacterium breve 46, Bifidobacterium lactis 8:8 and Bifidobacterium longum 6:18 and three reference strains B. breve CCUG 24611, B. lactis JCM 10602, and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum JCM 1200 were examined for acid and bile tolerance, prebiotic utilization and antimicrobial activity against four Clostridium difficile (CD) strains including the hypervirulent strain, PCR ribotype NAP1/027.

Bile stimulates cell surface hydrophobicity, Congo red binding and biofilm formation of Lactobacillus strains.

Seventeen Lactobacillus strains were tested for cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) using the salt aggregation test (SAT) and Congo red binding (CRB) assay. CRB was dependent on pH and ionic strength and was protease-sensitive. In the presence of 100 μg mL(-1) cholesterol, the CRB was significantly reduced.

Helicobacter species and gut bacterial DNA in Meckel's diverticulum and the appendix.

Aim: To analyse the possible association of various Helicobacter species and certain common gut bacteria in patients with Meckel's diverticulum and appendicitis.

Methods: A nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), specific to 16S rRNA of the Helicobacter genus, was performed on paraffin embedded samples, 50 with acute appendicitis, 50 normal appendixes, and 33 Meckel's diverticulum with gastric heterotopia and/or ulcer. Helicobacter genus positive samples were sequenced for species identification.

Interferon-γ inhibits ghrelin expression and secretion via a somatostatin-mediated mechanism.

Aim: To investigate if and how the proinflammatory cytokine interferon γ (IFNγ) affects ghrelin expression in mice.

Methods: The plasma concentration of ghrelin, and gastric ghrelin and somatostatin expression, were examined in wild-type mice and mice infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Participation of cell-surface hydrophobins for hemin binding in Helicobacter pylori.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori cells with several chaotropic agents resulted in different degrees of inhibition in the binding of the bacteria to hemin and Congo-red dye. Polyanions also yielded a >50% inhibitory effect. Furthermore, hydrophobic interaction chromatography was used to determine the relative surface hydrophobicity of cell-associated proteins extracted with 3 mol/L urea, revealing proteins with a significant hydrophobic profile.

Lectin typing of Campylobacter jejuni using a novel quartz crystal microbalance technique.

Seven Campylobacter jejuni strains were characterised by a lectin typing assay. The typing system was based on a quartz crystal microbalance technique (QCM) with four commercially available lectins (wheat germ agglutinin, Maackia amurensis lectin, Lens culinaris agglutinin, and Concanavalin A), which were chosen for their differing carbohydrate specificities. Initially, the gold surfaces of the quartz crystals were modified with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid followed by lectin immobilisation using a conventional amine-coupling technique.

Effect of heparin, fucoidan and other polysaccharides on adhesion of enterohepatic helicobacter species to murine macrophages.

Helicobacter species have been isolated and cultured from both the gastric and enterohepatic niches of the gastrointestinal tract and are associated with a wide spectrum of diseases. Some members of the enterohepatic Helicobacter species (EHS), which include Helicobacter bilis, Helicobacter hepaticus and Helicobacter pullorum, are associated with chronic inflammatory and proliferative bowel inflammation, hepatitis and in experimental murine studies with hepatic cancer. The present study aimed to explore if polysulphated polysaccharides can prevent adhesion of EHS to the murine macrophage cell line J774A.

Helicobacter species and common gut bacterial DNA in gallbladder with cholecystitis.

Aim: To analyze the association between Helicobacter spp. and some common gut bacteria in patients with cholecystitis.

Methods: A nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), specific to 16S rRNA of Helicobacter spp.

Detection of Helicobacter rodentium-like DNA in the liver tissue of patients with chronic liver diseases by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and DNA sequence analysis.

Many Helicobacter spp. were isolated from the stomach, intestinal tract, and liver of different animals and humans. The association between Helicobacter spp.

Helicobacter species DNA in liver and gastric tissues in children and adolescents with chronic liver disease.

Objective: Enterohepatic Helicobacter species (EHS) have previously been found in adults with hepatobiliary diseases. Here, we report the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and EHS in liver and gastric tissue in children and adolescents with chronic liver disease (CLD).

Material And Methods: Seventy-seven consecutive children and adolescents with CLD with or without ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease (UC/CD) were investigated.

Strong lymphoid nuclear expression of SOX11 transcription factor defines lymphoblastic neoplasms, mantle cell lymphoma and Burkitt's lymphoma.

Background: We surveyed lymphomas to determine the range of expression of the mantle cell lymphoma-associated SOX11 transcription factor and its relation to cyclin D1.

Design And Methods: On hundred and seventy-two specimens were immunostained for the SOX11 N and C termini. Cyclin D1 was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; in situ hybridization for t(11;14) was applied when needed.

Immunoblot analysis as an alternative method to diagnose enterohepatic Helicobacter infections.

Introduction: Enterohepatic Helicobacter species have been associated with chronic infections of the hepatobiliary tract and lower bowel in naturally and experimentally infected mice, Helicobacter-infected animals should thus not be used in studies of diseases associated with chronic inflammation. Helicobacter species induce inflammation and modulate host immune responses, thus emphasizing the need to diagnose these infections in laboratory animals.

Materials And Methods: An immunoblot assay was developed to analyze antibodies to enterohepatic Helicobacter species in naturally colonized laboratory mouse colonies.

Permanent atrial fibrillation in patients without structural heart disease is not associated with signs of infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori infections in patients with idiopathic permanent atrial fibrillation.

Methods And Results: Sera from 72 patients with permanent atrial fibrillation without structural heart disease (mean age 69.6 years, 23 women) were analysed for IgG antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori and compared in a I:I age- and sex-matched case:control manner with those pooled from a healthy reference population of 72 individuals from the same geographical area.

Detection of gastric Helicobacter species in free-ranging lynx (Lynx lynx) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Sweden.

Specimens of gastric mucosa and liver of 25 free-ranging Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), and four red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) shot in Sweden during 1999-2000, were investigated for the presence of Helicobacter species. Histopathology, bacteriologic culture and urease test, Helicobacter genus-specific 16S rDNA PCR analysis, and DNA sequence analysis were applied. Numerous Helicobacter-like organisms were observed histologically in the gastric mucosa of one fox.

Cross-reactivity between immune responses to Helicobacter bilis and Helicobacter pylori in a population in Thailand at high risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma.

Helicobacter bilis DNA has been detected in human tissue and is a candidate for etiologic investigations on the causes of hepatic and biliary tract diseases, but reliable serologic tests need to be developed in order to pursue such investigations. The scope of this study was to assess the specificity of two assays for H. bilis immune response allowing for H.

Efficacy of the natural antioxidant astaxanthin in the treatment of functional dyspepsia in patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection: A prospective, randomized, double blind, and placebo-controlled study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the natural antioxidant astaxanthin in functional dyspepsia in different doses and compared with placebo.

Design: The study was a controlled, prospective, randomized, and double blind trial.

Participants: Patients with functional dyspepsia, divided into three groups with 44 individuals in each group (placebo, 16mg, or 40mg astaxanthin, respectively).

Determination of lamivudine-resistant variants of hepatitis B virus by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis: a novel approach to monitoring drug resistance.

Background: A DGGE-based assay for hepatitis B virus (HBV) drug-resistance monitoring was designed and checked for feasibility. It detects mutations within the YMDD motif related to lamivudine resistance.

Material/methods: The YMDD motif of HBV polymerase was amplified by the set of primers designed in this study.

DNA of Helicobacter spp. and common gut bacteria in primary liver carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Gastric and enteric Helicobacter species have been associated with the pathogenesis of some extragastric diseases.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated the presence of DNA of Helicobacter species in samples of the cancer and the surrounding tumour-free liver tissues of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n=12) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC, n=13). The patients were from an area with low liver cancer incidence and with low hepatitis B and C prevalence.

Non-pylori Helicobacteraceae in the upper digestive tract of asymptomatic Venezuelan subjects: detection of Helicobacter cetorum-like and Candidatus Wolinella africanus-like DNA.

Background: The spectrum of human non-pylori Helicobacter infections is expanding, with species such as H. heilmannii and H. felis occasionally being associated with gastritis.