Evaluation of the health properties of lactobacilli isolated from an Iranian traditional dairy product.

The different lactobacillus strains isolated from dairy resources may have unique functional properties on human health. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the health properties of the lactobacilli isolated from a traditional dairy product in vitro. A total of seven isolated lactobacilli abilities were evaluated for environmental pH reduction, antibacterial activity, cholesterol reduction, and antioxidant activity. Based on the results, the highest decrease in the environment pH was observed in Lactobacillusfermentum B166 with 57%. The antipathogen activity test showed the best results for inhibiting Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to be obtained by Lact. fermentum 10-18 and Lact. brevis SKB1021 strains, respectively. However, Lact. plantarum H1 and Lact. plantarum PS7319 represented the maximum activity in preventing Escherichia coli; also, Lact. fermentum APBSMLB166 inhibited Staphylococcus aureus more than other strains. Additionally, Lact. crustorum B481 and fermentum 10-18 strains significantly led to a higher reduction in the medium cholesterol than the other strains. The results of antioxidant tests demonstrated that Lact. brevis SKB1021 and Lact. fermentum B166 inhabited radical substrate significantly more than the other lactobacilli. Therefore, four lactobacilli isolated from a traditional dairy product improved some safety indexes positively; thus, they are suggested to be used in manufacturing probiotic supplements.

The Effects of Zinc Methionine on Reproductive and Thyroid Hormones in Rats with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder in fertile women, which seems to be adversely affected by associated thyroid dysfunction. Zinc methionine (ZM) has positive effects on PCOS, but its concerted effects on PCOS and thyroid function have not been investigated. We evaluated the effects of ZM on reproductive and thyroid hormones and the number of follicles in rats with PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 45 female rats, using sesame oil as control; PCOS animals administered with 0, 25, 75, and 175 mg/kg BW of ZM. Serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and thyroid function were investigated. Premature follicles (PMF), primary follicles (PF), preantral follicles (PAF), antral follicles (AF), corpus luteum (CL), and cystic follicles (CF) were assessed. RESULTS: PCOS decreased the concentrations of FSH and free T4, but increased the levels of LH, TSH, and LH/FSH ratio (ALL P < 0.05). ZM at a dose of 75 and 175 mg increased the level of FSH, free T4, and decreased LH, TSH, and LH/FSH ratio (ALL P < 0.05). Induction of PCOS decreased PMF, PF, PAF, AF, and CL, but increased CF (P < 0.05). PCOS treated groups (75 and 175 mg/kg) increased these follicle numbers and decreased CF compared to ZM 25 mg/kg and PCOS groups (Both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the induction of PCOS had a negative effect on reproductive and thyroid hormones and follicle numbers, ZM treatment (75 and 175 mg/kg) overcame the negative effects. A high dosage of ZM can alleviate the hormonal and cysts disturbances occurring in PCOS.

Cloning, molecular analysis and epitopics prediction of a new chaperone GroEL Brucella melitensis antigen.

OBJECTIVES: Brucellosis is a well-known domestic animal infectious disease, which is caused by Brucella bacterium. GroEL antigen increases Brucella survival and is one of the major antigens that stimulates the immune system. Hence, the objective of the present study was cloning and bioinformatics analysis of GroEL gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The full-length open reading frame of this gene was amplified by specific primers and cloned into pTZ57R/T vector. Also, the sequence of this gene in the Brucella melitensis strain Rev 1 was submitted to the NCBI gene bank for the first time. Several prediction software applications were also used to predict B and T-cell epitopes, secondary and tertiary structures, antigenicity ability and enzymatic degradation sites. The used software applications validated experimental results. RESULTS: The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that the GroEL sequence had near homology with other species instead of other Brucella spp. The bioinformatics tools used in the current study were validated by the results of four different experimental epitope predictions. Bioinformatics analysis identified eight B and seven T-cell epitopes. CONCLUSION: According to the antigenic ability and proteasomal cleavage sites, four (150-160, 270-285,351-361 and 385-395) common epitopes were predicted for GroEL gene. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these regions had proper epitope characterization and so may be useful for stimulation of cell-mediated and humoral immunity system.