IntroductionImmune-potentiating functions of Lactobacillus plantarum strains in the common carp were evaluated.Material and MethodsFourteen days of feeding fish dry diet supplemented with the bacteria provided parameters of nonspecific humoral immunity (lysozyme, ceruloplasmin, γ-globulin, total protein levels, and serum bactericidal activity) and cellular immunity (pinocytosis, respiratory burst activity, and potential killing activity of organ phagocytes), as well as the proliferative response of organ lymphocytes stimulated with mitogens. The resistance of fish to infection with Aeromonas hydrophila was also determined.ResultsDietary supplementation with L. plantarum had a substantial influence on the activity of organ phagocytes, especially the potential killing activity of head kidney cells. A significant increase in the proliferative activity of LPS-stimulated B lymphocytes and in the levels of γ-globulins and total protein was observed. The supplemented diet conveyed higher resistance than the control diet as the cumulative fish mortalities after infection with A. hydrophila were 65% and 85%, respectively.ConclusionThe results indicate that dietary supplementation with L. plantarum stimulates the antibacterial resistance of common carp and may reinforce defence against bacterial infections, but further studies need to be conducted.

Sourdough fermentation is a traditional process that is used to improve bread quality. A spontaneous sourdough ecosystem consists of a mixture of flour and water that is fermented by endogenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial diversity during backslopping of spontaneous sourdoughs prepared from wheat, spelt, or rye wholemeal flour. Culture‐dependent analyses showed that the number of LAB (109 CFU/ml) was higher by three orders of magnitude than the number of yeasts (106 CFU/ml), irrespective of the flour type. These results were complemented by next‐generation sequencing of the 16S rDNA V3 and V4 variable regions. The dominant phylum in all sourdough samples was Firmicutes, which was represented exclusively by the Lactobacillales order. The two remaining and less abundant phyla were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The culture‐independent approach allowed us to detect changes in microbial ecology during the 72‐hr fermentation period. Weissella sp. was the most abundant genus after 24 hr of fermentation of the rye sourdough, but as the process progressed, its abundance decreased in favor of the Lactobacillus genus similarly as in wheat and spelt sourdoughs. The Lactobacillus genus was dominant in all sourdoughs after 72 hr, which was consistent with our results obtained using culture‐dependent analyses. This work was carried out to determine the microbial biodiversity of sourdoughs that are made from wheat, spelt, and rye wholemeal flour and can be used as a source of strains for specific starter cultures to produce functional bread.

Background: The aim of the study has been to compare the effect of dietary supplementation of β-1,3/1,6-glucan, Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria or their mixture on the growth performance, selected parameters of the immune system as well as the liver and intestinal histology of roach. Fish were fed for 14 days with four different diets, each treatment being carried out in triplicate. In control group, fish were fed dry commercial starter feed Aller Performa 2 (Aller Aqua, Denmark). The other experimental fish groups received the same commercial starter feed supplemented with: 1% β-1,3/1,6-glucan (Leiber® BetaS) in group G; 10 8 cfu L. plantarum g − 1 in group L; 1% β-1,3/1,6-glucan + 10 8 cfu L. plantarum g − 1 in group G + L. The stimulating effect of the tested preparations was evaluated once the feeding with commercial feed exclusively was resumed and 2 weeks afterwards. Results: No effect on the survivability and growth performance of the fish was observed in any of the groups. Supplementation of feed with β-1,3/1,6-glucan improved (P < 0.05) selected parameters of innate humoral immunity and the pinocytotic activity of phagocytes. Increased respiratory burst activity of head kidney phagocytes (RBA) was observed in groups L and G + L (P < 0.05), and the effect persisted for 2 weeks after the commercial feed regime was resumed. An analogous tendency was determined for the killing activity of phagocytes (PKA) of the head kidney with respect to Aeromonas hydrophila, although this effect appeared only during the feed supplementation period. Supplying roach with β-1,3/1,6-glucan, singly or with L. plantarum, had no effect (P > 0.05) on the proliferation of mitogen-activated lymphocytes. However, an increase in the number of CD3-positive cells and goblet cells was noticed in the digestive system of the L group fish (P < 0.05).