title: Enterococcus faecium SF68 enhances the immune response to Giardia intestinalis in mice.
abstract: We studied the ability of the probiotic organism Enterococcus faecium SF68 to antagonize Giardia intestinalis infection in mice. Oral feeding of E. faecium strain SF68 starting 7 d before inoculation with Giardia trophozoites significantly increased the production of specific anti-Giardia intestinal IgA and blood IgG. This humoral response was mirrored at the cellular level by an increased percentage of CD4(+) T cells in the Peyer's patches and in the spleens of SF68-fed mice. The improvement of specific immune responses in probiotic-fed mice was associated with a diminution in the number of active trophozoites in the small intestine as well as decreased shedding of fecal Giardia antigens (GSA65 protein). The ability of SF68 to stimulate the immune system at both mucosal and systemic levels highlights mechanisms by which this probiotic might antagonize pathogens in vivo. Taken together, the data demonstrate the strong potential of strain SF68 to prevent protozoa from causing intestinal infections.
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Research Center, CH-1000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland. jalil.benyacoub@rdls.nestle.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benyacoub
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rochat
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Saudan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reuteler
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Antille
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Humen
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: De Antoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavadini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schiffrin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*