PROBIOTICS INDUCE RESISTANCE TO ENTEROPATHOGENS IN A RE-NOURISHED MICE MODEL

GAUFFIN CANO, PAOLA; PERDIGÓN, GABRIELA

Journal Of Dairy Research

CAMBRIDGE JOURNALS

Año: 2003 vol. 70 p. 1 - 8

0022-0299

 Nutritional deficiency is commonly associated with impaired immune response and the relation between infection and malnutrition is synergistic. Probiotics, especially lactic acid bacteria are immunomodulatory. The aim of this research was to determine whether optimal doses of Lactobacillus casei and yogurt, used as adjuvants in a renutrition diet in a non-severe malnutrition experimental model, induce protection against Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. The experiments were performed on groups of malnourished mice, which were re-nourished with milk for 7 or 14 days. After that, both groups of mice received the optimal doses of L. casei and yogurt supplements. We determined IgA+ and IgG+ -B cells and phenotypic markers of T-lymphocytes; CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells. We also determined the  ab- and gd-TCR. The ability to protect against Sal. typhimurium and Esch. coli infections and specific S-IgA were determined. We demonstrated that the probiotics could be used as complements to the re-nutrition diet. These supplements induced a significant recuperation of immune cells and their immunostimulant properties gave improved protection against infections. Our study provides the scientific basis for the use of probiotics in a malnutrition process and indicates ways of avoiding enteric infections.