Dietary Curdlan Enhances Bifidobacteria and Reduces Intestinal Inflammation in Mice

β-glucan consumption is known for its beneficial health effects, but the mode of action is unclear. While humans and mice lack the required enzymes to digest β-glucans, certain intestinal microbes can digest β-glucans, triggering gut microbial changes. Curdlan, a particulate β-glucan isolated from Alcaligenes faecalis, is used as a food additive...

Real-time PCR detection of Campylobacter spp.: A comparison toclassic culturing and enrichment

The major disadvantage of the current gold standard for detection of the food pathogen Campylobacter, i.e. culturing, is the lengthy procedure. In this study we assessed the use of real-time PCR for detection of Campylobacter. To this end, 926 poultry samples, taken from transport containers and broiler caeca in The Netherlands in 2007, were...

Exploring the effects of galacto-oligosaccharides on the gut microbiota of healthy adults receiving amoxicillin treatment

In the present double-blind, randomised, parallel intervention study, the effects of the intake of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) on the gut microbiota of twelve healthy adult subjects (aged 18-45 years with a normal BMI (18-25 kg/m2)) receiving amoxicillin (AMX) treatment were determined. All the subjects were treated with AMX (375 mg; three...

PCR methods for tracing and detection of yeasts in the food chain

Characterization of a novel fructosyltransferase from Lactobacillus reuteri that synthesis high-molecular-weight inulin and inulin oligosaccharides

Molecular characterization of a novel glucosyltransferase from Lactobacillus reuteri strain 121 synthesizing a unique , highly branched glucan with alpha-(1-4) and alpha-(1-6) glucosidic bonds

Novel fructosyltransferases