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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153519
Title: THE EFFECT OF HUMAN DERIVED PROBIOTIC BACTERIA ON THE IMMUNE AND INTESTINAL FUNCTION OF PIGS

Author
item Solano-Aguilar, Gloria
item Dawson, Harry
item LEDBETTER, TONYA - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV.
item Shea Donohue, P
item Schoene, Norberta
item Call, Jeffrey
item Beshah, Ethiopia
item Hare Jr, William
item Urban, Joseph

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/12/2003
Publication Date: 9/17/2003
Citation: Solano Aguilar, G., Dawson, H.D., Ledbetter, T., Shea Donohue, P.T., Schoene, N.W., Call, J.E., Beshah, E., Hare Jr, W.R., Urban Jr, J.F. 2003. The effect of human derived probiotic bacteria on the immune and intestinal function of pigs [abstract]. Allen D. Leman Swine Conference. 30:26.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Specific microorganisms that alter the microflora of the host by implantation or colonization and exert beneficial effects on host health are defined as probiotics. Our objective was to demonstrate that commercially available human-derived lactic acid producing probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) (ATCC 53103) and Bifidobacterium lactis (Bb12) could colonize the pig intestine and affect the development of immune and physiological responses to mitogens and secretagogues in vitro, and parasitic nematodes in vivo. LGG was detected in the intestinal mucosa and had a positive effect on weight gain, suggesting improved neonatal growth and health, but no effect on differential blood cell counts or serum liver function enzymes. LGG enhanced mitogen-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in PBMC and the intracellular signaling molecule NF-?B in ex vivo PBMC and bronchoalveolar lavage cells. Bb12 did not alter absorption of glucose in the small intestine, but did attenuate Ascaris suum-induced inhibition of glucose absorption. In contrast, responses of colonic epithelial cells to mast cell-derived secretagogues were reduced in Bb12-treated pigs, but were normal in Trichuris suis-infected pigs. Thus, these probiotics can modulate immune function and selectively affect local responses to parasitic infection while promoting swine health. This model can be extended to assess the activity of selected probiotics on pig responses to other infectious agents and allergens that affect swine and humans.