Oral immunoadjuvant activity of a new synbiotic Lactobacillus casei subsp casei in conjunction with dextran in BALB/c mice

In the present study, Lactobacillus casei subsp casei strains JCM 1134T (Lcc) and JCM 8129 showed the ability to use dextran, whereas other tested species of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and intestinal bacteria tested did not. The number of live Lactobacillus species increased significantly in dextran-fed BALB/c mice 30 days after oral administration of Lcc. Further, Lcc was detected specifically using a polymerase chain reaction assay. When the BALB/c mice were orally given Lcc and its specific substrate dextran together with bovine serum albumin (BSA), a greater enhanced production of serum anti-BSA immunoglobulin G was induced in comparison with those given BSA alone. These results clearly showed that a new synbiotic, probiotic Lcc and its prebiotic dextran in combination, exhibited immunoadjuvant activity in BALB/c mice.