Food Science of Animal Resources (Food Sci. Anim. Resour.) is an international, peer-reviewed bimonthly journal publishing original research and reviews on basic and applied aspects of the use of animal resources including the meat, egg, dairy, and edible insect/worm products. Food Sci. Anim. Resour. is published and distributed by the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immune-enhancing effect of red gamju fermented with Levilactobacillus brevis KU15154, isolated from kimchi, as a biofunctional beverage using mice. Thirty-two mice were used, and after a 2-week feeding, the growth, cytokine and immunoglobulin production, and immune-related cell activation (phagocytes and natural killer [NK] cells) of the mice were evaluated. The red gamju- (SR) and fermented red gamju- (FSR) treated groups had 3.5–4.0-fold greater T-cell proliferation ability than the negative control group. IFN-γ production in the FSR group (15.5 ± 1.2 mg/mL) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the SR group (12.5 ± 1.8 mg/mL). The FSR group (502.6 ± 25.8 μg/mL) also showed higher IgG production levels than the SR group (412.2 ± 44.8 μg/mL). The activity of NK cells treated with FSR was also greater than that of cells treated with SR but it was not significant (p ≤ 0.05). Further, the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was higher in both SR and FSR groups than in the control group but was not significantly different (p < 0.05) between the SR and FSR groups. In conclusion, L. brevis KU15154 may be applied in the fermentation of bioactive food products, such as beverages or pharmaceutical industries, to potentially improve immunity.

Park JH, et al. Clin Nutr Res. 2023 Jan;12(1):77-89. https://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2023.12.1.77

Background/Objectives: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSW3805 was isolated from Korean kimchi samples to examine its effect in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model. Methods: To induce colitis, mice were treated with DSS for one week before sacrifice (n = 8 per group, total n = 40). Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (10⁹ CFU/day) or probiotics (L. plantarum DSW3805; 10⁸ or 10⁹ CFU/day) were administered for two weeks. To assess colitis damage, we evaluated the disease activity index, colon tissue, inflammatory factors, the microbiome, short-chain fatty acids, and intestine-related factors. Results: DSS induced colonic tissue damage (colon length, mucus thickness, and colonic crypts), and L. plantarum DSW3805 alleviated the tissue damage. Induced inflammation was reduced by inhibiting TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IgA, IgG, LTB4, PGE2, and NF-κB protein expression. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in the PC group (DSS-treated control) was lower than that in the NC (DSS-nontreated control); L. plantarum DSW3805 increased the ratio. Higher concentrations of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids were detected in probiotic groups. In addition, harmful factors, such as calprotectin and β-glucuronidase, were reduced in the probiotic groups. Conclusions: L. plantarum DSW3805 alleviates gut damage by colitis; therefore, it can be used as a functional food to improve gut health.

심유진, et al. J Nutr Health. 2022 Apr;55(2):211-226. https://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2022.55.2.211

The objective of this study was to determine the immunomodulatory effects of egg yolk protein–water extract (EYW) on splenocyte proliferation, cytokine secretion, immunoglobulin production, and NK cell cytotoxic activity in BALB/c mice. The forced swimming test (FST) was used to provide a model for suppressing immune regulation. The proliferation of B cells in the EYW supplementation group was significantly increased from the level to which it was reduced by the FST (from 40.9% to 81.8%, p < 0.05). EYW supplementation affected cytokine secretion of splenocytes. Levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10—as Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively—were decreased after the FST. However, EYW supplementation showed that secretion levels of these cytokines were significantly increased to pre-FST levels (p < 0.05). The production of immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) was increased abnormally after the FST, whereas EYW supplementation significantly decreased it to pre-FST levels (p < 0.05). EYW supplementation also improved NK cell cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 tumor cells compared to the PC group (p < 0.05). These data suggest that EYW has potential as an immunomodulatory agent in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.