The Immunomodulatory Effect of ß-Glucan Depends on the Composition of the Gut Microbiota.

This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the immunomodulatory effects of ß-glucan and the composition of gut microbiota in mice. The mice were fed a diet containing ß-glucan for 3 weeks, and feces, blood, and tissues were then collected to analyze the immunomodulatory effect and gut microbiota composition. Based on the results of the analysis of the expression level of immune-associated proteins, the high immunomodulatory effect group (HIE) and low immunomodulatory effect group (LIE) were categorized. Before the ß-glucan diet, the proportions of the phylum Bacteroidota, family Muribaculaceae, and family Lactobacillaceae were significantly higher in HIE than in LIE. Furthermore, the genus Akkermansia was absent before the ß-glucan diet and increased after ß-glucan diet. These microbes had the ability to metabolize ß-glucan or were beneficial to health. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that variation in the composition of gut microbiota among individuals can result in varying expressions of ß-glucan functionality. This outcome supports the notion that ß-glucan may be metabolized through diverse pathways by gut microbes originally possessed by mice, subsequently producing various metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids. Alternatively, the viscosity of the intestinal mucosa could be enhanced by ß-glucan, potentially promoting the growth of certain bacteria (e.g., the genus Akkermansia). This study provides insights into the intricate interplay between ß-glucan, gut microbiota, and immunomodulation.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Propionic Acid, Sorbic Acid, and Benzoic Acid against Food Spoilage Microorganisms in Animal Products to Use MIC as Threshold for Natural Preservative Production.

Some preservatives are naturally contained in raw food materials, while in some cases may have been introduced in food by careless handling or fermentation. However, it is difficult to distinguish between intentionally added preservatives and the preservatives naturally produced in food. The objective of this study was to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of propionic acid, sorbic acid, and benzoic acid for inhibiting food spoilage microorganisms in animal products, which can be useful in determining if the preservatives are natural or not. The broth microdilution method was used to determine the MIC of preservatives for 57 microorganisms. Five bacteria that were the most sensitive to propionic acid, benzoic acid, and sorbic acid were inoculated in unprocessed and processed animal products. A hundred microliters of the preservatives were then spiked in samples. After storage, the cells were counted to determine the MIC of the preservatives. The MIC of the preservatives in animal products ranged from 100 to 1,500 ppm for propionic acid, from 100 to >1,500 ppm for benzoic acid, and from 100 to >1,200 ppm for sorbic acid. Thus, if the concentrations of preservatives are below the MIC, the preservatives may not be added intentionally. Therefore, the MIC result will be useful in determining if preservatives are added intentionally in food.

Quantitative Risk Assessment of Hepatitis a Virus Infection Arising from the Consumption of Fermented Clams in South Korea.

This study estimated the risk of hepatitis A virus (HAV) foodborne illness outbreaks through the consumption of fermented clams in South Korea. HAV prevalence in fermented clams was obtained from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Report, 2019. Fermented clam samples (2 g) were inoculated with HAV and stored at -20-25 °C. Based on the HAV titer (determined using plaque assay) in fermented clams according to storage, the Baranyi predictive models provided by Combase were applied to describe the kinetic behavior of HAV in fermented clams. The initial estimated HAV contamination level was -3.7 Log PFU/g. The developed predictive models revealed that, when the temperature increased, the number of HAV plaques decreased. The Beta-Poisson model was chosen for determining the dose-response of HAV, and the simulation revealed that there was a 6.56 × 10-11/person/day chance of contracting HAV foodborne illness by eating fermented clams. However, when only regular consumers of fermented clams were assumed as the population, the probability of HAV foodborne illness increased to 8.11 × 10-8/person/day. These results suggest that, while there is a low likelihood of HAV foodborne illness from consuming fermented clams across the country, regular consumers should be aware of the possibility of foodborne illness.

Effect of Starter Cultures on Quality of Fermented Sausages.

The expansion and advancement of the meat product market have increased the demand for fermented sausages. A typical method for manufacturing high-quality fermented sausages is using a starter culture, which improves the taste, aroma, and texture. Currently, the starter culture for manufacturing fermented sausages is mainly composed of microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and fungi, which generate volatile compounds by the oxidation of fatty acids. In addition, protein decomposition and changes in pH occur during the fermentation period. It can positively change the texture of the fermented sausage. In this review, we discuss the requirements (improving food safety, the safety of starter culture, enzyme activity, and color) of microorganisms used in starter cultures and the generation of flavor compounds (heptanal, octanal, nonanal, hexanal, 2-pentylfuran, 1-penten-3-ol, and 2-pentanone) from lipids. Furthermore, quality improvement (hardness and chewiness) due to texture changes after starter culture application during the manufacturing process are discussed.