Candida biofilm infections pose an increasing threat in the health care setting due to the drug resistance associated with this lifestyle. Several mechanisms underlie the resistance phenomenon. In Candida albicans, one mechanism involves drug impedance by the biofilm matrix linked to β-1,3 glucan. Here, we show this is important for other Candida spp. We identified β-1,3 glucan in the matrix, f...

Forty weanling piglets (5.6±0.5 kg and 26 to 30 d of age) were used in a 28-d experiment to determine the effects of βglucan from Paenibacillus polymyxa and L-theanine on growth performance. Piglets were randomly allotted to four groups (n = 10, 2 animals per pen) provided with the basal feed (control), β-glucan 400 mg/kg feed, L-theanine 80 mg/kg feed or β-glucan plus l-theanine (combination o...

BACKGROUND The role of β-glucan in children with respiratory problems is getting more and more attention. In this report we focused on the effects of 30 days oral supplementation with β-glucan on physical activity and immune status of children with respiratory problems. METHODS We measured the level of sIgA, eNO and physical activity [using a 6-minute walking test (6MWT)] in 77 children and e...

β-Glucans, mostly from oats, have been shown to reduce blood concentrations of total and LDL-cholesterol in animals and humans. After processing, spent brewer’s yeast, a by-product of the fermentation process, contains 85% 90% βglucans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of yeast-derived β-glucan fiber on plasma lipids and early atherosclerosis development in hamsters consumin...

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of cereal carbohydrate form (isolated v. cereal matrix) and level, especially mixed-linked β-glucan (hereafter referred to as β-glucan) and starch amylase/amylopectin ratio on nutrient digestibility and fermentation parameters in the intestines of weaned pigs. Four hulless barley cultivars containing varying β-glucan levels (41 to 84 g/kg) wer...

UNLABELLED The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum parasitizes host phagocytes. To avoid antimicrobial immune responses, Histoplasma yeasts must minimize their detection by host receptors while simultaneously interacting with the phagocyte. Pathogenic Histoplasma yeast cells, but not avirulent mycelial cells, secrete the Eng1 protein, which is a member of the glycosylhydrolase 81 (GH81) fami...

Background The Bacillus subtilis endo-β-1,4-glucanase (BsCel5A) hydrolyzes β-1,3-1,4-linked glucan, and the enzyme includes a family 3 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM3) that binds β-1,4-linked glucan. Methods Here we investigate the BsCel5A β-1,3-1,4 glucanase activity after exchanging the CBM3 domain for the family 11 CBM from Ruminiclostridium thermocellum celH (RtCBM11) having β-1,3-1,4 g...

Makgeolli, also known as Takju, is a non-filtered traditional Korean alcoholic beverage that contains various floating matter, including yeast cells, which contributes to its high physiological functionality. In the present study, we assessed the levels of β-glucan and glutathione in various yeast strains isolated from traditional Korean Nuruk and selected a β-glucan- and glutathione-rich yeast...

Ample evidence suggests that cancer is triggered by mutagenic damage and diets or supplements capable of reducing such incidences can be related to the prevention of neoplasy development or to an improvement in life quality of patients who undergo chemotherapy. This research aimed to evaluate the antimutagenic and antigenotoxic activity of β-glucan. We set up 8 experimental groups: control (Gro...

Three major oat components, β-glucan, starch, and protein, and their interactions were evaluated for the impact on viscosity of heated oat slurries and in vitro bile acid binding. Oat flour from the experimental oat line "N979" (7.45% β-glucan) was mixed with water and heated to make oat slurry. Heated oat slurries were treated with α-amylase, lichenase, and/or proteinase to remove starch, β-gl...