title: Dual functions of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM as protection against rotavirus diarrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to examine the dose effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) NCFM strain on rotavirus-specific antibody and B-cell responses in gnotobiotic pigs vaccinated with an oral attenuated human rotavirus (AttHRV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pigs were inoculated with AttHRV vaccine in conjunction with high-dose LA (14 doses, total 2.2 × 10(6) colony-forming units [CFU]), intermediate-dose LA (MidLA) (9 doses, total 3.2 × 10(9) CFU), low-dose LA (LoLA) (5 doses, total 2.1 × 10(6) CFU), or without LA feeding. Protection against rotavirus shedding and diarrhea was assessed upon challenge with a virulent HRV. Rotavirus-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG antibodies in serum and rotavirus-specific IgA and IgG antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) and memory B cells in ileum, spleen, and blood of the pigs were measured and compared among treatment groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MidLA, but not high-dose LA or LoLA, significantly reduced rotavirus diarrhea (MidLA-only group) and significantly improved the protection conferred by AttHRV vaccine (MidLA + AttHRV group). Associated with the increased protection, MidLA significantly enhanced rotavirus-specific antibody, ASCs, and memory B-cell responses to AttHRV vaccine. High-dose LA or LoLA did not enhance virus-specific antibody and ASC responses, and hence did not improve the vaccine efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the importance of dose selection and indicate that certain specific lactobacilli strains at the appropriate dose have the dual function of reducing rotavirus diarrhea and enhancing the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of rotavirus vaccines.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology †Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: Fangning
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xingdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kocher
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pelzer
authors.forename: Sherrie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clark-Deener
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012401:Rotavirus; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013552:Swine; D014611:Vaccination; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated