Dietary probiotics may enhance gut health by directly competing with pathogenic agents and through immunostimulatory effects. These properties are recognized in the context of bacterial and viral pathogens, but less is known about interactions with eukaryotic pathogens such as parasitic worms (helminths). In this study we investigated whether two probiotic mixtures (comprised of , and [BBE], or LGG and subspecies Bb12 [LB]) could modulate helminth infection kinetics as well as the gut microbiome and intestinal immune responses in pigs infected with the nodular worm .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFermentable dietary fibers promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, can enhance mucosal barrier integrity, and reduce chronic inflammation. However, effects on intestinal type 2 immune function remain unclear. In this study, we used the murine whipworm to investigate the effect of the fermentable fiber inulin on host responses to infection regimes that promote distinct Th1 and Th2 responses in C57BL/6 mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHelminth parasites are highly prevalent in swine production, causing chronic infections and considerable morbidity due to growth retardation. Moreover, helminths actively modulate host immune responses to other pathogens and/or vaccines. Here, we investigated the modulatory effects of Ascaris suum adult body fluid (ABF) and Trichuris suis Soluble Products (TsSP) on the cytokine response in porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the intestinal epithelial cell line IPEC-J2.
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