Immunomodulating potential of supplementation with probiotics: a dose-response study in healthy young adults.

Certain probiotic microorganisms have been found beneficial in the treatment of immune-related diseases and may also affect immune function in healthy people. Intervention studies of probiotics in healthy humans are urgently required. Here, the immunomodulating potential of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp.

Role of flagellin and the two-component CheA/CheY system of Listeria monocytogenes in host cell invasion and virulence.

The flagellum protein flagellin of Listeria monocytogenes is encoded by the flaA gene. Immediately downstream of flaA, two genes, cheY and cheA, encoding products with homology to chemotaxis proteins of other bacteria, are located. In this study we constructed deletion mutants with mutations in flaA.

In vitro and in vivo invasiveness of different pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types of Listeria monocytogenes.

The virulence of different pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) types of Listeria monocytogenes was examined by monitoring their ability to invade Caco-2 cells. Strains belonging to seven different PFGE types originating from both foods and humans were included. No significant differences in invasiveness were detected between strains isolated from humans and those isolated from food.

Effect of probiotic Lactobacillus strains on acute diarrhea in a cohort of nonhospitalized children attending day-care centers.

Background: Certain strains of lactobacilli have been shown to promote recovery from rotavirus enteritis in hospitalized children. Few studies have examined the effect of probiotics in nonhospitalized children with mild diarrhea.

Methods: We studied in a randomized placebo-controlled trial the effect of lyophilized Lactobacillus rhamnosus 19070-2 and Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 12246, 10(10) colony-forming units of each strain twice daily for 5 days, on acute diarrhea in children in a cohort of children recruited from local day-care centers.

Effect of probiotic Lactobacillus strains in young children hospitalized with acute diarrhea.

Background: Oral bacteriotherapy promotes recovery from acute childhood diarrhea, but few strains have been shown to have therapeutic potentials. We examined the effect of two newly identified probiotic Lactobacillus strains in acute childhood diarrhea.

Methods: Sixty-nine children were randomized during hospitalization for acute diarrhea to receive a mixture of Lactobacillus rhamnosus 19070-2 and Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 12246, 10(10) colony-forming units of each strain or placebo twice daily for 5 days.