An artificial increase of cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) levels in Sinorhizobium meliloti 8530, a bacterium that does not carry known cellulose synthesis genes, leads to overproduction of a substance that binds the dyes Congo red and calcofluor. Sugar composition and methylation analyses and NMR studies identified this compound as a linear mixed-linkage (1 → 3)(1 → 4)-β-D-glucan (ML β-glucan), n...

The major purpose of this study was to determine how varying doses algae-derived pure β– glucan affected in vitro gas generation, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, methane production, and protozoa populations. Different β–glucan [i.e., 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mg/kg feed (DM basis)] were applied corn silage as experimental treatments. After 6 24-96 hours incubation, the dose DM reduced tota...

A Potential Explanation of a Positive Serum β-Glucan Assay in Mucormycosis To the Editor—I read with interest the nice study by Angebault et al [1] that gives a " real world " picture of the subop-timal performance of the serum β-glucan assay. Unexpectedly, the authors found that serum β-glucan test was positive in 3 of the 6 cases of mucormycosis in their series with no apparent cause of false...

β-(1,3)-Glucan is present in mould cell walls and frequently detected in house dust mite (HDM) faeces. β-Glucan exposure is thought to be associated with pulmonary allergic inflammation in mouse and man, although the published data are inconsistent. Here, we show that highly purified β-glucan exacerbates HDM-induced eosinophilic, T helper 2 type airway responses by acting as an adjuvant, promot...

Chitin and β-glucan are major cell wall components of Aspergillus spp. We investigated the antifungal activity of chitin synthesis inhibitors nikkomycin Z, polyoxin D, flufenoxuron, lufenuron, and teflubenzuron, alone and combined with the β-glucan synthesis inhibitor caspofungin. Only nikkomycin Z and caspofungin were found to act synergistically. The nikkomycin Z-induced chitin decrease corre...

A chemical mutagenesis technique was employed for development of mutant strains of Sparassis crispa targeting the shortened cultivation time and the high β-glucan content. The homogenized mycelial fragments of S. crispa IUM4010 strain were treated with 0.2 vol% methyl methanesulfonate, an alkylating agent, yielding 199 mutant strains. Subsequent screening in terms of growth and β-glucan content...

The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of the mould cell wall agent β-glucan in environmentally related pulmonary disease. All published articles where β-glucan was administered by the airways, either as intratracheal injection or as inhalation were utilised as data sources. Data reporting consisted of analysis of data reports concerning the effects of β-glucan on the immune system...

β-glucan (polysaccharide) rich diet has been reported to enhance cognition in humans but the mechanism remained elusive. Keeping this in mind, the present study was designed to investigate the interaction of β-glucan with central cholinergic system. Briefly, in-silico analysis revealed promising interactions of β-glucan with the catalytic residues of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. In line ...

In vitro fermentabilities of the oat flour digestion residues (ODR) from two commercial oat lines with 4.7 and 5.3% β-glucan and from two high-β-glucan experimental lines with 7.6 and 8.1% β-glucan were evaluated and compared with fermentations of lactulose, purified oat β-glucan (POBG), and purified oat starch (POS). Substrates were fermented by using an in vitro batch fermentation system unde...

β-Glucan is a beneficial chemical compound in the diet of humans by decreasing the levels of serum cholesterol and blood glucose. The β-glucan contents of oat groats were studied in official variety trials (1997–1999), nitrogen fertilization trials (1997–1999) and organic variety trials (1997–1998) in Finland. Eight cultivars were studied in the organic variety trials. Two of them, cultivars Pu...