Induction of resistance in mice against murine cytomegalovirus by cellular components of Lactobacillus casei

Biotherapy
T OhashiM Mutai

Abstract

Recently, we reported that heat-killed Lactobacillus casei (LC) protected mice from murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection by augmentation of natural killer (NK) cell activity. In the present study, we examined which components of LC cell induce the nonspecific resistance most effectively. Whole cell preparation of original LC, susceptible to bacteriophages SG-T and J1, was more effective than its mutants resistant to either bacteriophage. Although the activity of LC cells decreased upon fractionation, cell wall fractions were more active than cytoplasmic fractions. Glycoprotein (GP), a cell wall constituent, was a potent inducer of the resistance. The relative activity of cellular components to induce the resistance was evaluated by a protection index, a ratio of plaque-forming units (PFU) per 50% lethal dose (LD50) for treated mice to that for untreated mice. The protection indices of LC cells and GP were approximately 80 and 28, respectively. The protective effect of GP was evidenced by a decrease in titers of infectious viruses replicated in the target organs. Not only LC cells but also GP, although to a lesser degree, enhanced NK cell activity both in uninfected mice and MCMV-infected mice. The activity of LC cells and GP...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1978·Microbiology and Immunology·Y MinamishimaR Fukunishi
May 1, 1977·Journal of General Microbiology·T Yokokura
Jan 1, 1988·Archives of Virology·T OhashiM Owhashi
Jan 15, 1987·The Biochemical Journal·P D Griffiths, J E Grundy
Feb 1, 1983·The Journal of General Virology·K T ChongC A Mims
Jul 1, 1984·Journal of Virology·K Ebihara, Y Minamishima
Aug 1, 1981·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·G R ShellamG J Bancroft
Jan 1, 1983·Microbiology and Immunology·I KatoM Mutai

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Citations

Jan 1, 1997·Biopolymers·N Yamamoto
Sep 1, 1993·FEMS Microbiology Reviews·P Marteau, J C Rambaud
Apr 18, 2003·Medical Hypotheses·Alan C LoganDinaz Irani

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