title: [Effect of Bifidobacterium on the immunity in BALB/c mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the system immunofuctions of two Bifidobacterium strains isolated from food.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 10 SPF BALB/c mice in each group. The control group was given only sterile skim milk. The positive control group was given sterile skim milk containing commercial strain BB-12. The treatment group was given sterile skim milk containing different dosages of B. adolescentis BB-2 or B. longum BB-3. The immune parameters including cellular immunity (delayed-type hypersensitivity [DTH], splenic lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer [NK] cell activity), humoral immunity (serum hemolytic activity in immunized animals), and nonspecific immunity (peritoneal macrophages phagocytsis) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ingestion of B. adolescentis BB-2 or B. longum BB-3 could increase the DTH response. Macrophage phagocytsis was also enhanced, while activities of the NK cells and levels of the serum hemolysin were also significantly higher than that in the control group. There was a significant increase in splenic lymphocyte proliferation in bifidobacteria treated mice compared to the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ingestion of B. adolescentis BB-2 or B. longum BB-3 could enhance both innate and acquired immunity in healthy BALB/c mice.
authors.forename: Jinbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Suzhen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xitong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*