Probiotic bifidobacterium strain

Abstract

Probiotic Bifidobacterium strain AH1714 is significantly immunomodulatory following oral consumption. The strain is useful as an immunomodulatory biotherapeutic agent.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method for preventing inflammation in the gastrointestinal system of a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an oral formulation comprising isolated strain  Bifidobacterium longum  deposited with NCIMB under accession number NCIMB 41676, wherein the  Bifidobacterium longum  strain is in the form of a powder. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the formulation modulates cytokine levels in the subject, such that the subject has increased production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the subject has increased production of IL-10. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the formulation inhibits production of TNF-α in the subject. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the formulation inhibits production of IFN-γ in the subject. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the formulation inhibits production of IL-12 in the subject. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the formulation comprises an ingestible carrier. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the ingestible carrier comprises a dairy product. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the ingestible carrier comprises a dressing or a beverage. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the formulation comprises more than 10 6  cfu of the  Bifidobacterium longum  strain per gram of the formulation. 
     
     
         50 . A method for preventing inflammation in the gastrointestinal system of a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an oral formulation comprising isolated strain  Bifidobacterium longum  deposited with NCIMB under accession number NCIMB 41676 and an ingestible carrier, wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the formulation modulates cytokine levels in the subject, such that the subject has increased production of IL-10. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the formulation inhibits production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, or both in the subject. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the formulation comprises more than 10 6  cfu of the  Bifidobacterium longum  strain per gram of the formulation. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the formulation is administered in the form of a food product or a beverage. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the formulation is administered in the form of a capsule or a tablet. 
     
     
         56 . A method for preventing inflammation in the gastrointestinal system of a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an oral formulation comprising isolated strain  Bifidobacterium longum  deposited with NCIMB under accession number NCIMB 41676 and an ingestible carrier, wherein the formulation comprises more than 10 6  cfu per gram of the  Bifidobacterium longum  strain. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the formulation is administered in the form of a food product or a beverage. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the formulation modulates cytokine levels in the subject, such that the subject has increased production of IL-10 and reduced production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, or both.