The elderly are at much higher risk for developing pneumonia than younger individuals. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death and is the third most common reason for hospitalization in the elderly. One reason that elderly people may be more susceptible to pneumonia is a breakdown in the lung's first line of defense, mucociliary clearance. Cilia beat in a coordinated manner to propel out invading microorganisms and particles. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) is known to slow with aging, however, little is known about the mechanism(s) involved. We compared the CBF in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice aged 2, 12, and 24 mo and found that CBF diminishes with age. Cilia in the mice at age 12 and 24 mo retained their ability to be stimulated by the ␤2 agonist procaterol. To help determine the mechanism of ciliary slowing, we measured protein kinase C alpha and epsilon (PKC␣ and PKCε) activity. There were no activity differences in PKC␣ between the mice aged 2, 12, or 24 mo. However, we demonstrated a significantly higher PKCε activity in the mice at 12 and 24 mo than the in the mice 2 mo of age. The increase in activity is likely due to a nearly threefold increase in PKCε protein in the lung during aging. To strengthen the connection between activation of PKCε and ciliary slowing, we treated tracheas of mice at 2 mo with the PKCε agonist 8-[2-(2-pentylcyclopropylmethyl)-cyclopropyl]-octanoic acid (DCP-LA). We noted a similar decrease in baseline CBF, and the cilia remained sensitive to stimulation with ␤2 agonists. The mechanisms for the slowing of baseline CBF have not been previously determined. In this mouse model of aging we were able to show that decreases in CBF are related to an increase in PKCε activity. pneumonia; elderly; PKC epsilon; Sisson-Ammons video analysis (SAVA), lung; innate immunity; ␤2 agonists; DCP-LA FOR PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER, pneumonia is the seventh leading cause of death (12) and the third most common reason for hospitalization (18). The elderly are four times more likely to develop pneumonia than younger adults (9), and nearly 90% of deaths due to pneumonia occur in those 65 or older (6). People aged 85 and older have the highest risk of pneumonia, with a nearly three times greater risk than those aged 65-69 (8). Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, the mortality of pneumonia in the elderly is higher than in younger populations (17). In fact, advancing age is independently associated with mortality (15). Little is known at the molecular level about how normal aging leads to an increased susceptibility to pneumonia and higher mortality.The lung is continuously exposed to the outside environment, and has a complex innate immune system to defend itself from microbial infection. The first line of defense is mucociliary clearance. The conducting airways of the lung are lined with ciliated airway epithelium. When foreign particles or microorganisms try to invade the airway epithelium, they are trapped in the mucus layer, and the cilia beat in a coordinated manner to remove the invading pathogens. Ciliary beatin...

Several studies have investigated the control of pathogens on alfalfa sprouts, and some treatments have been shown to be effective in reducing pathogen populations. However, control methods investigated thus far only provide pathogen control at a given point in the sprouting process and can affect germination. Competitive inhibition of pathogens with lactic acid bacteria might provide pathogen control throughout the sprouting process and up to consumption. The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria from alfalfa sprouts to inhibit the growth of foodborne pathogens. Fifty-eight lactic acid bacteria isolates were obtained from alfalfa seeds and sprouts. These isolates were evaluated for inhibitory action against Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes by agar spot tests. All pathogens were inhibited by 32 (55%) of the isolates, S. enterica by 56 (97%), E. coli O157:H7 by 49 (84%), and L. monocytogenes by 41 (71%). The isolates were identified by the Analytical Profile Index evaluation of carbohydrate utilization. Isolates obtained from a sample of alfalfa seeds and identified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis showed zones of inhibition of 4.0 mm or greater for all pathogens. One of these isolates, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (L7), and an isolate previously obtained, Pediococcus acidilactici (D3), were evaluated for competitive inhibition of S. enterica, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes in deMan Rogosa Sharpe agar and broth. Pathogen populations were significantly reduced by day 5. The selected isolates will be further evaluated in future studies for inhibitory action toward S. enterica, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes during sprouting.

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