Concentrated extracts of MRS (De Man-Rogosa-Sharpe) media in which probiotic bacterium Enterococcus faecium strain M-74 was grown exerted different antimutagenic activity against ofloxacin-, N-methyl, N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine- and sodium 5-nitro-2-furylacrylate-induced mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium assay depending on the presence (+Se) or absence of disodium selenite pentahydrate (-Se). The antimutagenicity of MRS(+Se) extract was higher than that of MRS(-Se) extract. Selenium enhanced also the antimutagenic effect of both live and killed cells of E. faecium M-74, respectively. The live bacteria decreased the mutagenicity of selected substances more than killed cells. Synergic activity of selenium with the bacterium was also manifested.

• MeSH
• Antimutagenic Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Enterococcus faecium metabolism   physiology   MeSH
• Mutagenesis drug effects   MeSH
• Mutagens toxicity   MeSH
• Probiotics pharmacology   MeSH
• Salmonella typhimurium drug effects   genetics   MeSH
• Selenium pharmacology   MeSH
• Drug Synergism MeSH
• Mutagenicity Tests MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antimutagenic Agents MeSH
• Mutagens MeSH
• Selenium MeSH

The genetic basis of the fungicidal activity of strains of Lactobacillus brevis and L. fermentum isolated from indigenous fermented foods was determined. A 5.5-kb plasmid was isolated from L. brevis while L. Fermentum was found to harbor no plasmid. Plasmid curing indicated no correlation between the plasmid and the fungicidal activity of the Lactobacillus species. The fungicidal activity of the isolated organisms can be supposed to be mediated by the chromosome. No antibiotic resistance genetic markers were detected on the plasmid and hence it was classified as cryptic.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Antifungal Agents metabolism   MeSH
• Chromosomes, Bacterial * MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial MeSH
• Fabaceae microbiology   MeSH
• Fermentation MeSH
• Lactobacillus classification   drug effects   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Plasmids genetics   MeSH
• Food Microbiology MeSH
• Cheese microbiology   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• Antifungal Agents MeSH

The production of a novel broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide enterococcin A 2000, active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms including Listeria subsp. and Escherichia coli, by Enterococcus faecium strain A 2000 isolated from the surface of traditional Bulgarian yellow cheese "kash-kaval" is considerably influenced by complex nitrogen sources in the production medium. Medium components, especially peptone and yeast extract, and their concentration contributed to the increase in bacteriocin production during the stationary phase (16-46 h) of cultivation even in the absence of one of the components present in the basal cultivation MRS medium.

• MeSH
• Bacteriocins biosynthesis   metabolism   pharmacology   MeSH
• Nitrogen metabolism   MeSH
• Enterococcus faecium metabolism   MeSH
• Escherichia coli metabolism   MeSH
• Yeasts metabolism   MeSH
• Listeria metabolism   MeSH
• Peptones metabolism   MeSH
• Cheese MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Bacteriocins MeSH
• Nitrogen MeSH
• Peptones MeSH

Two DNA-based techniques were used for species identification of enterococci. PvuII digestion of the genus-specific PCR product yielded four different restriction profiles among 20 enterococcal species; one of them was species-specific for E. faecium. In the second case, 32 reference strains belonging to 20 enterococcal species were divided to 12 groups by amplification of internal transcribed spacer of rRNA operon. Interspecies and some intraspecies profile variability was determined. Both methods gave similar results.

• MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Enterococcus classification   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• DNA, Intergenic chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction methods   MeSH
• DNA, Protozoan chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• CAGCTG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases MeSH Browser
• DNA, Intergenic MeSH
• DNA, Protozoan MeSH
• Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific MeSH

The efficacy of combination therapy with methotrexate (MTX) and probiotic bacteria Enterococcus faecium enriched with organic selenium (EFSe) in rats with adjuvant arthritis was determined. Rats with adjuvant arthritis were given MTX (0.3 mg/kg 2-times weekly, orally); lyophilized E. faecium enriched with Se (15 mg/kg, 5 d per week, orally); and a combination of MTX plus EFSe for a period of 50 d from the immunization. Levels of serum albumin, serum nitrite/nitrate concentrations, changes in hind paw swelling, arthrogram score, bone erosions, whole body bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were assayed in the rats as variables of inflammation and destructive arthritis-associated changes. Treatment with MTX and with the combination MTX + EFSe significantly inhibited markers of both inflammation and arthritis. Significant differences in favor of combination therapy with MTX + EFSe as compared to MTX alone were seen in serum albumin concentration, hind paw swelling and arthrogram score. Reductions in radiographic scores were also more pronounced in the combination therapy group. Combination therapy, but not MTX alone, inhibited the reduction of BMD and BMC; treatment with lyophilized EFSe alone had no significant effect on adjuvant arthritis in rats. The potent therapeutic effect of low dosage MTX therapy in combination with lyophilized EFSe on adjuvant arthritis in rats was shown.

• MeSH
• Antirheumatic Agents administration & dosage   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Arthritis, Experimental therapy   MeSH
• Nitrates blood   MeSH
• Nitrites blood   MeSH
• Enterococcus faecium * MeSH
• Drug Therapy, Combination MeSH
• Bone Density MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Methotrexate administration & dosage   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Foot pathology   MeSH
• Rats, Inbred Lew MeSH
• Probiotics administration & dosage   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid therapy   MeSH
• Selenium administration & dosage   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antirheumatic Agents MeSH
• Nitrates MeSH
• Nitrites MeSH
• Methotrexate MeSH
• Selenium MeSH

A strain of Enterococcus faecium isolated from Bulgarian yellow cheese "kashkaval" produced a bacteriocin-like substance named enterococcin A 2000. The antibacterial substance had a low molar mass (< 2 kDa), was relatively stable toward heat but was sensitive to selected proteolytic enzymes. It was active against Gram-positive bacteria including enterococci, such as Listeria, Bacillus and Streptococcus, and also against Gram-negative E. coli. Production of enterococcin A 2000 has a maximum near the end of the exponential phase of producer growth. The peptide was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, butanol extraction, followed by cation-exchange chromatography and reversed-phase chromatography. A partial sequence of purified enterococcin A 2000 indicated that this substance does not belong to the class IIa of bacteriocins presenting the consensus anti-Listeria motif YGNGV.

• MeSH
• Amino Acids analysis   MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents chemistry   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• RNA, Bacterial genetics   MeSH
• Bacteriocins chemistry   genetics   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• DNA, Bacterial genetics   MeSH
• Enterococcus faecium chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Escherichia coli drug effects   MeSH
• Listeria drug effects   MeSH
• Molecular Weight MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 23S genetics   MeSH
• Amino Acid Sequence MeSH
• Base Sequence MeSH
• Cheese microbiology   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Amino Acids MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• RNA, Bacterial MeSH
• Bacteriocins MeSH
• DNA, Bacterial MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 23S MeSH

Naturally occurring plant phenolics, p-coumaric acid (PA), caffeic acid (CA), ferulic acid (FA) and gentisic acid (GA) (25-100 nmol/L) had protective effects on acridine orange (AO; 216 mumol/L)- and ofloxacin (3 mumol/L)-induced genotoxicity in Salmonella typhimurium. FA, GA and CA exhibited a significant concentration-dependent protective effect against the genotoxicity of AO and ofloxacin, with the exception of PA, which at all concentrations tested abolished the AO and ofloxacin genotoxicity. UV spectrophotometric measurements showed the interaction of PA, FA, GA and CA with AO but not with ofloxacin; this interaction is obviously responsible for the reduction of AO-induced S. typhimurium mutagenicity. In the case of ofloxacin the antimutagenic effect of PA, FA, GA and CA is assumed to be a result of their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by ofloxacin.

• MeSH
• Acridine Orange toxicity   MeSH
• Antimutagenic Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Gentisates * MeSH
• Hydroxybenzoates pharmacology   MeSH
• Caffeic Acids pharmacology   MeSH
• Coumaric Acids pharmacology   MeSH
• Mutagens toxicity   MeSH
• Ofloxacin toxicity   MeSH
• Propionates MeSH
• Salmonella typhimurium drug effects   genetics   MeSH
• Mutagenicity Tests MeSH
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid MeSH Browser
• Acridine Orange MeSH
• Antimutagenic Agents MeSH
• caffeic acid MeSH Browser
• ferulic acid MeSH Browser
• Gentisates * MeSH
• Hydroxybenzoates MeSH
• Caffeic Acids MeSH
• Coumaric Acids MeSH
• Mutagens MeSH
• Ofloxacin MeSH
• p-coumaric acid MeSH Browser
• phenolic acid MeSH Browser
• Propionates MeSH

The possible hypocholesterolemic effect of acidophilus milk was evaluated on 27 human subjects having different levels of serum cholesterol, i.e. < 2.0 (group C1), 2.0-2.2 (C2), 2.2-2.5 (C3) and > 2.5 g/L (C4). The acidophilus milk was prepared by fermentation of low-fat milk with Lactobacillus acidophilus and was fed to each volunteer at the rate of 200 mL/d for 20 d. Blood samples from the volunteers were collected and analyzed for lipid profile twice prior to, during and after feeding, keeping a gap of 10 d between two collections. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in average total cholesterol was found in the C2 and C3 groups, amounting to 21 and 12%, respectively. The average LDL cholesterol decreased in C2, C3 and C4 groups by 0.54, 0.26 and 0.46 g/L, respectively. In the C2 group, the LDL/HDL and total/HDL ratio was also reduced by 1.4 and 1.3, respectively. However, in the C1 group, the average total and LDL cholesterol level did not show any significant change but serum triacylglycerols and VLDL cholesterol showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase of 0.53 and 0.11 g/L, respectively. Regression analysis of the data revealed a square trend in most of the parameters over time period. Overall, the feeding had the best effect in the subjects with lipidemic status of borderline cholesterol level (2.0-2.2 g/L) group.

• MeSH
• Cholesterol blood   MeSH
• Cholesterol, HDL blood   MeSH
• Hyperlipidemias therapy   MeSH
• Lactobacillus acidophilus metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lipids blood   MeSH
• Milk microbiology   MeSH
• Triglycerides blood   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cholesterol MeSH
• Cholesterol, HDL MeSH
• Lipids MeSH
• Triglycerides MeSH

Enterocin was used to control the growth of Staphylococcus aureus strains SA1 and Oxford 209P in Sunar (milk nourishment for suckling babies) and during the yogurt-making process. Reduction by three orders of magnitude was noted in the growth of SA1 strain in Sunar milk nourishment between the enterocin-containing (ES) and the control samples (CS) at 1-d cultivation. An inhibitory effect of enterocin was observed when surviving of SA1 cells were checked 6 h after the start of cultivation (2 h after enterocin application; enterocin was applied after 4 h). Decrease in the count of Oxford 209P strain in yogurt was detected in ES after 1 d of storage in comparison with CS (10(3) and 10(0) CFU mL-1 g-1). Thus a decrease by three orders of magnitude was found between ES and CS at the time mentioned. On the other hand, no bacteriocin activity was detected in ES after 1 d. Activity was detected only immediately after enterocin addition to ES (400 AU/mL) as well as after 1 and 3 1/2 h (200 AU/mL). Although the slight regrowth of the indicator was obtained up to 1 week of yogurt storage, the difference between ES and CS persisted. The lowest pH of the final yogurt product was noted in the reference yogurt sample but differences among the pH values of yogurt samples were not significant.

• MeSH
• Yogurt microbiology   MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Milk microbiology   MeSH
• Infant Food microbiology   MeSH
• Food Preservatives pharmacology   MeSH
• Bridged-Ring Compounds pharmacology   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• enterocin MeSH Browser
• Food Preservatives MeSH
• Bridged-Ring Compounds MeSH