Strain-dependent effects of probiotic lactobacilli on EAE autoimmunity.

In this study we present new data showing strain-specific differences on the effect of commercially available probiotic drinks in an EAE rat autoimmune model for multiple sclerosis. In this particular model, we conclude that these drinks do not enhance but rather suppress the disease. We suggest that conclusions on probiotics are limited to specific strains and models and not generalised. We further suggest that physiological use (normal route, normal dose, normal growth phase, specific strain or substrain/species) is studied in all cases, so as not to overwhelm (high dose) or circumvent natural immune processing.