THE ROLE OF PROBIOTICS IN MODULATION OF THE IMMUNE-SYSTEM IN MAN AND IN ANIMALS

The aim of the present paper is to review the authors' studies on the influence of yogurt and yogurt bacteria on immune responses in man and animals. Lactic acid bacteria present in yogurt play a role in modula ting the translocation of the Gram-negative bacteria present in the gu t, increase the survival of mice challenged with Salmonella typhimuriu m and stimulate local immune responses at the level of Peyer's patches . In man, yogurt modulates gamma-interferon production in vitro and in vivo, The presence of membrane receptors for LAB on human lymphocytes probably represents a potent stimulus for lymphoid-cell activation.