Distribution of Different Species of the Bacteroides fragilis Group in Individuals with Japanese Cedar Pollinosis▿

We investigated associations of species of the Bacteroides fragilis group with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis). Cell numbers of Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides intestinalis were significantly higher in JCPsis subjects than in non-JCPsis subjects before the pollen season. They correlated positively with both symptom scores and JCPsis-specific immunoglobulin E levels

Toll-like receptor-2-activating bifidobacteria strains differentially regulate inflammatory cytokines in the porcine intestinal epithelial cell culture system: Finding new anti-inflammatory immunobiotics

A total of 23 strains of bifidobacteria taxonomically belonging to five species were tested for their potent immunomodulatory effect using a combination of two methods: the NF-κB-reporter assay using a toll-like receptor 2-expressing transfectant (HEK pTLR2 system) and the mitogenic assay using porcine Peyer's patches immunocompetent cells. Among the four preselected strains from different immunomodulatory groups, Bifidobacterium breve MCC-117 was able to efficiently modulate the inflammatory response triggered by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in a porcine intestinal epithelial (PIE) cell line. Moreover, using PIE cells and swine Peyer's patches immunocompetent cell co-culture system, we demonstrated that the immunoregulatory effect of B. breve MCC-117 was related to the capacity of the strain to influence PIE and immune cell interactions, leading to the stimulation of regulatory T cells. The results suggested that bifidobacteria that express high activity in both the HEK pTLR2 and the mitogenic assays may behave like potential anti-inflammatory strains. The combination of the HEK pTLR2 system, the evaluation of mitogenic activity and PIE cells will be of value for the development of new immunologically functional foods and feeds that could prevent inflammatory intestinal disorders. Although our findings should be proven in appropriate experiments in vivo, the results of the present work provide a scientific rationale for the use of B. breve MCC-117 to prevent ETEC-induced intestinal inflammation.Fil: Fujie, Hitomi. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Tohoku University; Japón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Tohno, Masanori. National Agricultural Research Organization. National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science. Functional Feed Research Team; JapónFil: Morie, Kyoko. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Shimazu, Tomoyuki. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Aso, Hisashi. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Suda, Yoshihito. Miyagi University; JapónFil: Shimosato, Takeshi. Shinshu University; JapónFil: Iwabuchi, Noriyuki. Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd. Food Science and Technology Institute; JapónFil: Xiao, Jin-Zhong. Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd. Food Science and Technology Institute; JapónFil: Yaeshima, Tomoko. Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd. Food Science and Technology Institute; JapónFil: Iwatsuki, Keiji. Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd. Food Science and Technology Institute; JapónFil: Saito, Tadao. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Numasaki, Muneo. Josai University; JapónFil: Kitazawa, Haruki. Tohoku University; Japó