The synergistic effect of lactic acid bacteria and alkylglycerols on humoral immunity in mice

Investigations on immune suppression and reconstitution of immune functions dependent on the presence of physiological microflora allow us to conclude that symbiotic microorganisms such as Lactobacillus sp. are essential for adequate activity of the defense system in humans, In addition to their ben eficial influence on the intestinal microbial balance, these microorganisms exert a variety of immunomodulatory effects on the host immune system. On the other hand, immunostimulatory animal-derived substances rich in alkylgl ycerols have been shown to enhance lactic acid bacteria proliferation, Ther efore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects on murine h umoral response of the combined administration of lyophilized combination o f three lactic acid bacteria: L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus and Bifidobacte rium bifidum together with alkylglycerol-rich shark liver oil. The lactic a cid bacteria mixture induced markedly stronger enhancement of the humoral r esponse than alkylglycerols did. A significant synergistic stimulatory effe ct of lactic acid bacteria and alkylglycerols was observed in both treatmen t schedules: post- as well as in preimmunization with sheep red blood cells , However their concomitant administration exerted stronger immunomodulator y effect than did the alternative route of treatment.