We have previously demonstrated that Lactobacillus reuteri CRL1098 soluble factors were able to reduce TNF-α production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The aims of this study were to determine whether L. reuteri CRL1098 soluble factors were able to modulate in vitro the inflammatory response triggered by LPS in murine macrophages, to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the immunoregulatory effect, and to evaluate in vivo its capacity to exert anti-inflammatory actions in acute lung injury induced by LPS in mice. In vitro assays demonstrated that L. reuteri CRL1098 soluble factors significantly reduced the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, COX-2, and Hsp70) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, and IL-6) caused by the stimulation of macrophages with LPS. NF-kB and PI3K inhibition by L. reuteri CRL1098 soluble factors contributed to these inhibitory effects. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway and the diminished expression of CD14 could be involved in the immunoregulatory effect. In addition, our in vivo data proved that the LPS-induced secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory cells recruitment to the airways and inflammatory lung tissue damage were reduced in L. reuteri CRL1098 soluble factors treated mice, providing a new way to reduce excessive pulmonary inflammation.

Acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA) is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory/analgesic drug, which may cause gastritis or stomach ulcers if intensively employed. Exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing lactic acid bacteria have been claimed to induce immunostimulatory/antiulcer effects in the host. This study investigated the potential preventive effect of fermented milks (FM) with EPS-producing Streptococcus thermophilus strains (CRL 1190 and CRL 804) on an in vivo model of chronic gastritis. Fermented milks (2 EPS(+) and 1 EPS(-), separately) were fed to BALB/c mice for 7 d before inducing gastritis with ASA (400 mg/kg of body weight per day for 10 d; gastritis group, n = 5). Appropriate control groups (ASA administered but not given FM, n = 5; and ASA not administered but given FM) were included in this study. Gastric inflammatory activity was evaluated through the stomach's histology and the number of IFNgamma(+) and IL-10(+) cytokine-producing cells in the gastric mucosa. Only mice preventively treated with the EPS-producing Strep. thermophilus CRL 1190 FM and later administered ASA did not develop gastritis, showing a conserved gastric mucosa structure similar to those of healthy mice. A marked decrease of IFNgamma(+)- and increase of IL-10(+)-producing cells compared with the gastritis group mice were observed. Purified EPS from Strep. thermophilus CRL 1190 resuspended in autoclaved milk was also effective for gastritis prevention. The EPS-protein interaction might be responsible for the observed gastroprotective effect; such interactions may be affected by industrial manufacturing conditions. The results indicate that the FM with Strep. thermophilus CRL 1190 or its EPS could be used in novel functional foods for preventing chronic gastritis.

Keywords : Lactobacillus nagelii, wine, spoilage INTRODUCTIONSluggish or stuck alcoholic fermentations are problems sometimes encountered by wine makers. These problem fermentations can be due to improper fermentation conditions or to insufficient nutrients being present in the grape must to support adequate yeast growth (Ough, 1966 ; Houtman et al., 1980a, b ;Ingledew & Kunkee, 1985 ;Kunkee, 1991). Recently, Huang et al. (1996) (Douglas & Cruess, 1936 ;Vaughn, 1955 ;Fornachon, 1957 ;Du Plessis & Van Zyl, 1963 ;Pilone et al., 1966 ; Chalfan et al., 1977 ;Maret & Sozzi, 1977, 1979Costello et al., 1983 Wibowo et al., 1985 ; Davis et al., 1986a, b ;Dicks & Van Vuuren, 1988 ;Sieiro et al., 1990). At the present time, L. kunkeei is the only species of Lactobacillus known that has been demonstrated to slow alcoholic fermentation of grape musts (Huang et al., 1996). However, most lactobacilli found in wines are considered to be spoilage organisms, due to production of acetic acid and\or other off-flavours (Davis et al., 1985). This study presents the biochemical characteristics and the results of phylogenetic analysis of a strain of Lactobacillus isolated from a partially fermented wine. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic analysis of this micro-organism, a new species of Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus nagelii sp. nov., is proposed. METHODSBacterial strains and cultivation. Strain LuE "! T was isolated from a commercial red wine obtained from L. Van Der Water (The Wine Lab, Napa, CA, USA). Control bacteria used during the biochemical characterization of LuE "! T were L. kunkeei ATCC 700308 and L. plantarum WS-16 (Edwards et al., 1993, 1998. All organisms were grown using modified Rogosa (MR) agar or broth supplemented with apple juice and adjusted to pH 4n5 (Beelman, 1982). Cultures were maintained on MR agar and in lyophilized form. C. G. Edwards and others washed twice in 5 ml phosphate buffer (pH 7, 0n023 M NaH # PO % \0n030 M Na # HPO % ), resuspended in 0n3 ml sterile phosphate buffer and inoculated into heterofermentationarginine broth described by Pilone et al. (1991). Tubes were overlaid with molten, sterilized vaspar (one part petroleum jelly and six parts paraffin) prior to incubation for 21 d at 25 mC. Production of ammonia from arginine, determination of optical isomers of lactic acid formed from glucose, dextran from sucrose and utilization of citric and malic acids were performed using the methods of Edwards et al. (1991). Nitrate reduction was tested as described by Carr (1970). Mannitol formation from fructose was demonstrated using the method of Pilone et al. (1991). Catalase was detected by placing drops of 3 % (w\v) H # O # on cultures growing on MR agar, altered by the addition of 0n5% (w\v) glucose, 20 % (v\v) apple juice and 0n0005 % (w\v) haematin and raising the pH from 4n5 to 5n5. Carbohydrate utilization was determined using the API Rapid CH system (bioMe! rieux) using the recommended CHL medium. API galleries were incubated for up to 21 d at 24-25 mC.For pH and temperature characteriz...

No abstract

No abstract