Gluten proteins play a key role in the unique baking quality of wheat by determining the water absorption capacity, cohesivity, viscosity, and elasticity of the dough. However, gluten from wheat, barley, rye, and oat can induce gluten sensitivity as well as celiac disease in susceptible populations. Hence, the gluten levels in foods labeled “gluten free” should be monitored. In this study, gluten-containing samples (sample: 600 g, water: 390 g) were treated with the commercial enzyme Protamex® (0.1-0.3% of sample weight) for 1-4 h and then measured with three ELISA kits. In the more viscous sample after treatment with 0.1% Protamex® for 1 h, the measured gluten contents were 1,802.6, 1,718.6, and 1,698.7 mg/kg using the G12, GLUTEN-CHECK, and Wheat/gluten (Gliadin) ELISA kits, respectively. The sample treated with 0.3% enzyme for 4 h had a lower viscosity (32.2 cps), and all three kits gave its gluten content as around 8.4 mg/g. When gluten breaks down, it does not act as gluten and its degradation is due to the enzyme. However, even when Protamex® was used at the same concentration for the same time, the measured values seem to be different for samples with and without the final heating treatment.

In this study, β-1,3/1,6-glucan, lactic acid bacteria, and β-1,3/1,6-glucan+lactic acid bacteria were tested for 10 weeks using an immunodeficient animal model infected with LP-BM5 murine AIDS virus On the immune activity. Cytokines production, plasma immunoglobulin concentration, T cell and B cell proliferation were measured. As a result, the T cell proliferative capacity which was weakened by immunization with LP-BM5 murine AIDS virus increased significantly T cell proliferative capacity compared with the red ginseng control group. B cell proliferative capacity was significantly higher than the infected control group. Increased B cell proliferation was reduced. In the cytokine production, IL-2, IL-12 and IL-15 in the Th1-type cytokine increased the secretion of IL-2, IL-12 and IL-15 compared to the infected control. The proliferative capacity of the treated group was higher than that of the mixed treatment group. TNF-α was significantly decreased compared with the infected control group. The IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were significantly inhibited in the infected control group and the Th1/Th2 type cytokine expression was regulated by immunohistochemistry. IgE, IgA, and IgG levels were significantly lower in the immunoglobulin secretion assay than in the control. As a result, the immunomodulatory effect of β-1,3/1,6-glucan+lactic acid bacteria was confirmed by mixing with LP-BM5 murine AIDS virus-infected immunodeficient animal model.