Probiotics have been shown to benefit human health through their role in improving the health of our body, especially gastrointestinal tracts. Probiotic bacteria are commonly incorporated into a variety of functional foods or drug formulations. Despite the extensive commercial exploitation of probiotic bacteria, there are still major knowledge gaps regarding the precise molecular composition and labeling of products. Several studies have reported issues concerning the accuracy of labeling of commercial probiotic products, including inaccurate taxonomy and cell counting. The study of microbiology and genomics has been accelerated by the invention of new technologies such as next generation sequencing (NGS) and flow cytometry (FACS). Recent many studies showed that NGS and FACS technology can be also applied for quality control of commercial probiotics. Here, we review advantages and limitations of current technologies for quality control of commercial probiotics. Principles and applications of new technologies are also introduced as alternative tools for the same purposes.

Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. are reported to have the multiple potential health benefits including blocking gastroenteric pathogens, reduce gut permeability, enhancing immune response and anti-viral effects. In this study, we explored whether LR211 and BL205, 206 exert on MCP-1 and IL-8 chemokines responses in rotavirus infected vero cells. And we investigated anti-rotaviral activity of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. isolated against rotavirus by plaque assay. As a results, all of them were not toxic to vero cells. Three probiotics, BL205, 206 and LR211, increased release of MCP-1 and IL-8 in Wa rotavirus infected vero cells compared to control. This anti-viral effects of LR211 and BL205, 206 can be explained that they modulate immune response by inducing MCP-1 and IL-8 chemokines.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and probiotics have mostly consumed as dairy products such as city milk, fermented drinking yogurt and stirred yogurt, and LAB and probiotics have become popular to contribute to the flavor, taste, or preservation of food. In this study the effects of various milk products on the physicochemical properties of pork loin were determined. Pork loin samples were marinated in city milk, drinking yogurt and stirred yogurt for 24 hours, and were compared with the raw pork loin (control). Proximate, pH, color, shear force, electronic nose, and sensory evaluation were investigated quality properties of pork loin. The pre- and post- cooking pH was lowest in pork loin marinated in stirred yogurt(p <0.05). The pre-cooking lightness was significantly higher in pork loin marinated in city milk(p<0.05). The redness of pork loin marinated in stirred yogurt and drinking yogurt were significantly higher(p <0.05), but the shear force of pork loin marinated in stirred yogurt was significantly lower(P<0.05). The sensory evaluation of pork loin marinated in stirred yogurt were the highest(p<0.05). These results showed that various milk product marinating could be used to improve the quality characteristics and flavor of pork loin.

Soymilk has been substituted for milk for people who are suffering from lactoseintolerance. In this study γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum LP2, was applied to ferment soymilk for improving its functionality. GABA production was proved in MRS broth supplemented 3% monosodium glutamate (MSG) and soymilk including 10% (w/v) soymilk powder and 5%(w/v) fructooligosaccharide where L. plantarum LP2 was applied. In addition to the soymilk, isolated soy protein (ISP), which was enzyme-treated, was added to it for improving the content of free amino acids including glutamic acid. L. plantarum LP2 was well grown and produced GABA in the soymilk medium.

According to the previous study, Lactobacillus pentosus A67 and L. plantarum subsp. plantarum C2 were isolated and screened. In this study, culture broths of strains A67 and C2 were performed various physiological activity assays including antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, cell proliferation activity. The remarkable anti-microbial activities using the culture broths of the two strains were showed by disc diffusion method, MIC tests. In the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assays to verify antioxidant activity, culture broths of strains A67 and C2 significantly scavenged free radical maximum by 91.33% and 81.95% respectively compared with arbutin. Also, they showed equivalent activity same as 297.22 units and 255.56 units of SOD respectively. In RAW264.7 cells, culture broths of strain A67 and C2 showed no cytotoxicity. Moreover, they showed significant cell proliferative effects by 173.5% and 143.5% compared to control group respectively. Overall, this study showed that the culture broths of strain A67 and C2 had antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, which could synergically increase the physiological activities. And they had no cytotoxicity and cell proliferative effects. Therefore, it is expected that L. pentosus A67 and L. plantarum C2 could be applied to a wide variety of functional materials including food and medicine as new probiotics.