Development of molecular immunoassay system for probiotics via toll-like receptors based on food immunology

Recent interest has focused on the importance of intestinal immunity for the host defense, but to date, not much is known about the underlying mechanisms. The toll-like receptor (TLR) family plays an important role in host defense through recognizing bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Our recent research on the physiological function of food products has investigated the immunoregulatory effects of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) via TLR. Studies of swine, which often substitute for a human model, have demonstrated intestinal immunoregulation by the probiotic LAB mediated by TLR in the gut. On the basis of our study, efforts have also been made to develop a molecular immunoassay system for probiotic LAB and find novel immunostimulatory DNA sequences from probiotics and high potential immunobiotic LAB strains via TLR signaling. These findings may provide important clues at the molecular level on TLR signal transduction pathways and recognition mechanisms for the ligands. They also provide impetus to further delineate the activation mechanism of the innate immune response. In addition to identifying immunoregulatory factor immunogenics from LAB, a better understanding of intestinal immune regulation through cytokine networks holds out promise for basic food immunology research and the development of immunobiotic foods to prevent specific diseases.