The influence of killed Propionibacterium granulosum on experimental infection with Escherichia coli

Influence of Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 on the cellular immune system after intensive sport activity

Intensive sport activities resulted in temporary downregulation of defined immune functions. To check its influence on the cellular immune system, 15 male professional ice hockey players of a German first league club were observed and a decrease of lymphocyte subset counts and activities was found after anaerobic exercise. To stabilize cellular immune functions, the players were orally treated with Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 (10 mg per administration; twice a day; 7 days), a well documented bacterial immunmodifier. After administration of Propionibacterium avidum KP-40, lymphocyte counts and activities after anaerobic exercise resembled normal values. For some subjects, defined lymphocyte subset counts and activities even exceeded normal values.

Adjuvant properties of Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 in vaccination against endemic viral and bacterial infections. II. Swine immunized with inactivated Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae vaccine and experimentally infected with different virulent serotypes of H. pleuropneumoniae

Forty 3-month old swine were treated with immunomodulating Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 (PA) and/or vaccinated with a formalin-inactivated mixture of serotypes 1, 3, 5 and 9 of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae (Pleurovac). Three weeks after revaccination all animals were inoculated with viable single serotypes of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae. The IgG antibodies induced by vaccination agglutinated all serotypes of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae, except for serotype 5. Antibody titers were not influenced by the application of PA together with the vaccine. Infection of vaccinated piglets resulted in the development of pleuropneumonia in 8 out of 10 animals, while vaccination together with application of PA lowered the morbidity rate to 1 out of 10 (p < 0.05). The usefulness of a PA prophylaxis was also demonstrated in non-vaccinated piglets infected with Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae. Because of the considerable variability of strains and serotypes of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae and the generally low prophylactic potency of pleuropneumonia vaccines it is concluded that long-lasting enhancement of non-specific antiinfective resistance caused by PA may lower the risk of endemic infections in vaccinated piglets.

Immunomodulation by propionibacteria

The ability of bacteria and bacterial products to modulate the immune response to unrelated antigens is well documented. Propionibacteria are amongst the most potent immunomodulators stimulating cell populations involved in nonspecific resistance. Generally, the activated immune system provides protection from infectious pathogens and malignancies via mechanisms of recognition and elimination. Accordingly, administration of propionibacteria could be shown to be of benefit in the treatment of neoplastic and infectious diseases. Thus, it can be recommended for further clinical investigations.

Studies on a biological response modifying LYSAT from Propionibacterium avidum KP 40

Propionibacterium avidum KP 40 cells were mechanically disintegrated in order to obtain the soluble immunostimulatory (antineoplastic) LYSAT. Chemiluminescence measurements of human leukocyte function yielded enhanced activation of the cells after incubation with 2.5 and 5 mg of LYSAT. As compared to non-treated controls, administration of LYSAT to BALB/c-mice (1, 2.5 and 5 mg; intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intranasal; 7, 4 and 2 days prior to challenge) induced a significant enlargement of the spleen as well as significantly reduced sarcoma L-1 lung colonization 14 days after challenge and evidently enhanced chemiluminescence response of peritoneal macrophages.