Chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus mutans strain MFe28 (serotype h) was cloned in the bacteriophage vector lambda L47.1. Two classes of recombinants were found which expressed glucosyltransferase activity in phage plaques: (i) gtfS, which expressed a glucosyltransferase synthesizing a water-soluble, dextranase-sensitive glucan, and (ii) gtfI, which expressed a primer-dependent glucosyltransfera...

Strains of Streptococcus mutans (serotypes c, e and f) were found to possess high levels of glucosyltransferase (GTase) activity, both cell-associated and in the culture medium, when grown in either sucrose-free or sucrose-containing broth media. The cell-associated GTase of S. mutans MT8148 (serotype c) was effectively extracted by treatment with 8 M-urea at 25 degrees C for 1 h. Approximately...

β-Glucans are naturally occurring polysaccharides in cereal grains, mushrooms, algae, or microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Immune cells recognize these β-glucans through a cell surface pathogen recognition receptor called Dectin-1. Studies using β-glucans and other Dectin-1 binding components have demonstrated the potential of these agents in activating the immune cells for cancer...

Immunomodulators like β-glucans have attracted considerable attention as potential alternatives to the prophylactic use of antibiotics. Despite increasing research, little is known about their regulatory influence on immune function in poultry. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of a yeast-derived β-glucan (Auxoferm YGT) on gene expression of T helper cytokines in the intestine....

We assessed the performance of galactomannan and (1→3)-β-d-glucan in 29 serum samples from patients with multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia without invasive fungal disease to address issues of false positivity and uninterpretable results previously reported among patients with these conditions. Galactomannan and (1→3)-β-d-glucan assays were not falsely elevated in any patient....

We assessed the effect of β-Glucan on macrophages by Griess reagent and viability by MTT assay and cytotoxicity. Assay of macrophages culture supernatants were carried out on WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma cell line as tumor necrosis factor-α bioassay were done. NO release was increased at the dose of 10 µg/ml (P = 0.001) of β-Glucan while the viability of macrophages in all concentrations was the same....

The purpose of this study was to enhance the immune-enhancing activity mushroom strains through fermentation promote food use leaf extracts S. quelpaertensis containing β-glucan. We evaluated immunomodulatory effect from fermented leaves (SQGL, SQHE, SQPL). products were prepared by using mycelia (Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceum, Phellinus linteus). content β-glucan, a major substance in ...

β-glucans have been reported to function as a potent adjuvant to stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses. However, β-glucans from different sources are differential in their structure, conformation, and thus biologic activity. Different preparations of β-glucans, soluble versus particulate, further complicate their mechanism of action. Here we show that yeast-derived particulate β-glucan...

The effects of mutastein, a glucosyltransferase inhibitor derived from an Aspergillus terreus strain, on the glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans and sucrose-dependent adherence of S. mutans cells were examined in vitro. The synthesis of insoluble glucan by crude glucosyltransferase of S. mutans strain B13 was markedly inhibited by mutastein at a final concentration ...

We investigated whether high-protein enteral nutrition with immune-modulating nutrients (IMHP) enriched with β-glucan stimulates immune function in critically ill patients. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, 30 patients consumed one of three types of enteral nutrition: a control or IMHP with and without β-glucan. The IMHP with β-glucan group showed increases in natural kille...