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...

Reduced by-product formation and modified oxygen availability improve itaconic acid production in Aspergillus niger.

Aspergillus niger has an extraordinary potential to produce organic acids as proven by its application in industrial citric acid production. Previously, it was shown that expression of the cis-aconitate decarboxylase gene (cadA) from Aspergillus terreus converted A. niger into an itaconic acid producer (Li et al., Fungal Genet Bio 48: 602-611,...

The role of colonic metabolism in lactose intolerance

Lactose maldigestion and intolerance affect a large part of the world population. The underlying factors of lactose intolerance are not fully understood. In this review, the role of colonic metabolism is discussed, i.e. fermentation of lactose by the colonic microbiota, colonic processing of the fermentation metabolites and how these processes...

Multivariate analysis of microarray data by principal component discriminant analysis: Prioritizing relevant transcripts linked to the degradation of different carbohydrates in Pseudomonas putida S12

The value of the multivariate data analysis tools principal component analysis (PCA) and principal component discriminant analysis (PCDA) for prioritizing leads generated by microarrays was evaluated. To this end, Pseudomonas putida S12 was grown in independent triplicate fermentations on four different carbon sources, i.e. fructose, glucose,...

Reversible self-association of ovalbumin at air-water interfaces and the consequences for the exerted surface pressure

In this study the relation between the ability of protein self-association and the surface properties at air-water interfaces is investigated using a combination of spectroscopic techniques. Three forms of chicken egg ovalbumin were obtained with different self-associating behavior: native ovalbumin, heat-treated ovalbumin-being a cluster of 12...

Effects of succinylation on the structure and thermostability of lysozyme

The influence of succinylation on lysozyme is studied using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The spectroscopic data reveal that at room temperature the structures of succinylated lysozyme and native lysozyme are similar. However, the calorimetric results show that the thermal stability of...

A pilot study to investigate effects of inulin on Caco-2 cells through in vitro metabolic fingerprinting

Metabolic fingerprints are novel measurement tools to evaluate the biochemical status of a living organism by using 1H NMR and multivariate data analysis (MVDA). In this way, a quick evaluation of changes in health or diseased state can be made, reflected in alterations of metabolic patterns. Normally, metabolic finger-printing is based on in...

Stabilization versus inhibition of TAFIa by competitive inhibitors in vitro

Two competitive inhibitors of TAFIa (activated thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor), 2-guanidinoethyl-mercaptosuccinic acid and potato tuber carboxypeptidase inhibitor, variably affect fibrinolysis of clotted human plasma. Depending on their concentration, the inhibitors shortened, prolonged, or had no effect on lysis in vitro. The...

Effects of nutrient trace metal speciation on algal growth in the presence of the chelator [S,S]-EDDS

This study tests the hypothesis that the apparent toxicity of strong chelators in standard algal growth inhibition tests (e.g. method OECD 201, EC C.3., ISO 8692) is related to essential trace metal bioavailability. This hypothesis was investigated for the chelator [S,S]-ethylene diamine disuccinate ([S,S]-EDDS) and the green alga Chlorella...