Figure 1

Persistence of NCK56 and NCK2031 in the gut. (a) Groups of mice (n = 3) were orally treated with (Em^r)-resistant NCK56 or NCK2031 (5 × 10⁸ CFU/20 μL/mouse). Fecal pellets were collected from before, during, and up to 8 days after bacterial oral treatments, and dissolved in 10% MRS. The homogenized materials were serially diluted and plated onto MRS agar containing Em (2 μg/mL). The daily average CFU of the L. acidophilus strains in the mouse feces were determined. These data are representative of at least three independent experiments. Activation of DCs by NCK2031.(b, c, d) Human or bone marrow derived DCs were activated with live NCK2031, NCK56, NCK2025, or S. aureus LTA (50 μg/ml) for 24 hrs at 37°C. Cells were harvested and phenotypically characterized by a FACSCaliber or a multicolor FACSCanto II. Cell supernatants were analyzed for cytokines by cytometric bead array using a FACSCaliber. Experiments were repeated at least five times with similar results. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA, * P < 0.05 indicates statistically significant differences between the study groups.