Recent reports have shown the immunomodulatory effect of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic skin disease, caused by immune dysregulation among other factors. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 (EF-2001) on AD. We established an in vivo AD model by repeated local exposure of Dermatophagoides farinae extract (DFE; house dust mite extract) and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to the ears of mice. After oral administration of EF-2001 for four weeks, the epidermal and dermal ear thickness, mast cell infiltration, and serum immunoglobulin levels were measured. In addition, the gene expression levels of pathogenic cytokines in the ears, lymph nodes, and splenocytes were assayed. EF-2001 attenuated AD symptoms based on the ear thickness, histopathological analysis, and serum immunoglobulin levels. Moreover, EF-2001 decreased the DFE/DNCB-induced expression of various pathogenic cytokines in the ears, lymph nodes, and splenocytes. These results suggest that EF-2001 has therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD owing to its immunomodulatory effects.

Recent studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory effects of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 (EF-2001) on a model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A total of 28 female NC/Nga mice were divided into 4 treatment groups. Controls were fed a normal commercial diet. In the experimental groups, colitis was induced by rectal administration of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Two groups were orally administered 2 and 17 mg/kg EF-2001, respectively. EF-2001 treatment decreased the expression of several cytokines, including cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in inflamed colon compared to the DNBS alone group. In addition, EF-2001 suppressed DNBS-induced colonic tissue destruction. Therefore, this study strongly suggests that EF-2001 could alleviate the inflammation associated with mouse IBD.

The present study examined the effects of Tween 80 on the attachment and hydrolytic activity of a cellulase enzyme against ball-milled cellulose (BMC), using the whole component (native CBH I) and the catalysis module (core CBH I) of carbohydrolase I purified from Trichoderma viride (Meicelase, Meiji Seika, Tokyo, Japan). The effects were evaluated as protein concentrations in the supernatant after mixing enzyme and substrate with Tween 80 at room temperature. Tween 80 decreased the adsorption of native CBH I and core CBH I onto BMC (p<0.001) and increased the amount of reducing sugars released from BMC by native CBH I (p<0.001). However, Tween 80 did not enhance the hydrolytic activity of core CBH I. Observations using SEM revealed that Tween 80 caused cellulose filter paper to swell and enhanced surface cracks and filaments caused by native CBH I but not by core CBH I. These results suggested that Tween 80 decreases enzyme adsorption to its substrate but enhances enzymatic activity.

In vitro rumen dry matter degradability, volatile fatty acid (VFA) and methane production were examined in a total mixed ration pretreated with different levels of either commercial cellulolytic enzyme (CCE), the surfactant poly oxyethylene sorbitan monoolate (Tween 80) or both: (i) no pretreatment (Control); (ii) with 1% CCE alone; (iii) with 2% CCE alone; (iv) with 1% Tween 80 alone; (v) with 1% Tween 80 + 1% CCE;(vi) with 1% Tween 80 + 2% CCE; (vii) with 2% Tween 80 alone; (viii) with 2% Tween 80 + 1% CCE; and (ix) with 2% Tween 80 +2% CCE. In all culture supernatants of rumen microorganisms, activities of xylanase and cellulase were significantly (P < 0.001) increased with pretreatment of CCE alone, Tween 80 alone and both combined. Within the same treatment of no CCE and 1% CCE levels, the total VFA concentration was significantly (P < 0.001) higher with 2% Tween 80 than with no or 1% Tween 80 treatments. The molar percentage of propionate significantly (P < 0.001) increased only with Tween 80. Throughout the in vitro incubation, the average value of methane concentration decrease was greater (P < 0.001) with 1% CCE treatment than with no CCE and 2% CCE treatments, accounting for 0.797 and 0.887 of no CCE and 2% CCE treatments, respectively. Accumulative methane production was significantly lower with 1% CCE treatment than with no CCE and 2% CCE treatments. A ratio of VFA : methane production was significantly (P < 0.001) higher with 2% Tween 80 treatment than with no Tween 80 and 1% Tween 80 treatments, showing the average values of 7.28, 5.33 and 6.69, respectively.

A cellulolytic and thermophilic anaerobe was isolated from soil. This bacterium made a halo on a roll-tube culture containing Avicel. Analysis of the PCR-based 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the bacterium was closely related to Moorella thermoacetica. Scanning electron microscopy showed the bacterium is a rod and has no protuberant structure on the surface of cells growing on cellulose, suggesting that this strain is a non-cellulosomal cellulolytic bacterium. Carboxymethyl cellulase and xylanase activities were detected in the culture broth. A major fermentation product from ball-milled cellulose was acetate. This strain has a potential to convert cellulosic biomass to acetate, directly.