MONDAY AUGUST 25, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 a probiotic bacterial strain of human origin proved to be beneficial to the whole body's immune response, according to a new study in the August 2008 issue of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) Pathogens.

The inflammatory response is key part of the natural immune system's response to invaders. But the response occasionally can backfire and cause inflammation and damage to healthy tissue.

"Inflammation is a major factor in a number of chronic diseases affecting millions of people and can cause an unwanted impact on healthy tissue," said Dr. Liam O'Mahony, lead investigator at Alimentary Health Pharmabiotic Centre of University of Cork in Ireland.

"Past research has shown that the probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 can positively impact the body's immune defense3, and this most recent data suggests that its benefits are not restricted to the gastrointestinal tract."

Inflammation is associated with chronic conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, bacterial-induced colitis, type I diabetes and organ transplantation.

Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 is able to modulate the inflammatory response in a clinical trial of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, according to a statement by Manning Selvage & Lee.

The new study showed mice receiving Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 of human origin in the form of freeze dried powder before infection with Salmonella typhimurium increased numbers of certain immune cells that respond to salmonella.

Additionally, this probiotic increased numbers of T-regulatory cells that suppress inflammatory disease in a range of autoimmune diseases. Treg cells protect the host from excessive inflammation during the course of infection.