Lactic Acid Producing Bacteria and Lung Function

Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said lactic acid producing bacterium is of the genus Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium.

Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said lactic acid producing bacterium is of the species Lactobacillus casei.

Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said bacterium is strain LMG P-22110 or any strain derived therefrom.

Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said composition is a medicament, a food or a food supplement.

Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said composition further comprises at least one other bacterium having anti-inflammation properties.

Use according to any one of preceding claims, wherein said composition further comprises one or more carriers and/or proteins, and/or carbohydrates, and/or lipids and/or anti-oxidants, and is in liquid, powder, solid or capsulated form.

Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said composition is suitable for enteral administration.

Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said compositions is suitable for nasal administration or inhalation.

Use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said composition is administered in an effective amount, said effective amount comprising between about 1×106 and about 1×1012 colony forming units, preferably about 1×107-1×1011 colony forming units, more preferably about 1×108-5×1010 colony forming units per day, most preferably 1×109-2×1010 colony forming units per day or the equivalent in non-viable cells of said bacterium per day.

Composition for treatment or prophylaxis of lung dysfunction in a subject, wherein the composition comprises at least one lactic acid producing bacterium having significant beneficial effect on airway narrowing, wherein said significant beneficial effect is determined by measuring the enhanced pause value (PenH) of a test animal.

Bacterial strain LMG P-22110, or any strain derived therefrom.

A method for preparing a composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of airway hyper-responsiveness and/or airway resistance in a subject, said method comprising testing the effect of lactic acid producing bacteria on airway hyper-responsiveness and/or increased airway resistance by measuring the PenH of test animals, selecting a bacterial strain which has a significant beneficial effect on airway hyperresponsiveness and/or increased airway resistance in said test animals or human subjects, growing said selected strain and formulating said grown strain so that it becomes suitable for administration to a subject.

Use of probiotic lactic acid bacteria for the preparation of a medicament for treating or preventing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in a subject.