Project description:We got insights into the B. bifidum PRL2010 genes whose expression resulted to be affected when bacterial cells were cultivated on kefir and kefiran as the unique carbon source.
Project description:We got insights into the B. bifidum PRL2010 genes whose expression resulted to be affected when bacterial cells were cultivated on kefir and kefiran as the unique carbon source. In order to exploit the transcriptome of PRL2010 grown on kefir and hefiran we performed global transcription profiling using PRL2010 microarrays hybridized with cDNA from the RNA samples of B. bifidum PRL2010 cultivated on these substrates. We isolated mRNA from B. bifidum PRL2010 cells collected from a culture of kefir grains and from PRL2010 cultivated on MRS plus kefiran at upon 12 hours following inoculation. Microarray analysis was performed with an oligonucleotide array based on the B. bifidum PRL2010 genome: a total of 8,130 oligonucleotide probes of 60bp in length were designed on 1707 ORFs using eArray5.0 (Agilent Technologies). 5 Oligos were designed for each gene on a 4x44k Agilent Microarrays(Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Replicates were distributed on the chip at random, non-adjacent positions.
Project description:This study examines the proteolytic activity of the kefir grains (a combination of bacteria and yeast) on bovine milk proteins. SDS-PAGE analysis reveals substantial digestion of milk proteins by the kefir grains in comparison with control samples. Mass spectrometric analysis reveals that the kefir microorganisms released 609 new peptide fragments and significantly altered the abundance of around 1,500 peptides compared to the controls. These kefir-digested peptides derived from 55 milk proteins. We show that kefir contains 25 previously identified functional peptides with actions including antihypertensive, antimicrobial, opioid and anti-oxidative .
Project description:Interventions: Kefir intake group(4 to 12 weeks)
Kefir long-term intake group (5 years)
Non-intake group
Primary outcome(s): Changes of the oral flora and intestinal flora Changes in the immune markers such as cell-mediated immunity Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Overall survival time, Progression-free survival
Study Design: Parallel Randomized
Project description:This project aimed to explore the microbial chemical ecology of a consortium derived from a water kefir fermentation through the integration of directed culturomics, compositional metagenomics and the identification of key metabolites with biological potential, through untargeted metabolomics.
Project description:Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, affecting cognitive, intellectual, and motor functions. Different hypotheses explain AD’s mechanism, such as the amyloidogenic hypothesis. Moreover, this disease is multifactorial, and several studies have shown that gut dysbiosis and oxidative stress influence its pathogenesis. Knowing that kefir is a probiotic used in therapies to restore dysbiosis and that the bioactive peptides present in it have antioxidant properties, we explored its biotechnological potential as a source of molecules capable of modulating the amyloidogenic pathway and reducing oxidative stress, contributing to the treatment of AD. For that, we used Drosophila melanogaster model for AD (AD-like flies). Identification of bioactive peptides in the kefir sample was made by proteomic and peptidomic analyses, followed by in vitro evaluation of antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition potential. Flies were treated and their motor performance, brain morphology, and oxidative stress evaluated. Finally, we performed molecular docking between the peptides found and the main pathology-related proteins in the flies. The results showed that the fraction with the higher peptide concentration was positive for the parameters evaluated. In conclusion, these results revealed these kefir peptide-rich fractions have therapeutic potential for AD.
