1School of Biosciences, Taylor's University, Malaysia
School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury Campus Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW- 2751, Australia
*Present address: The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd. Private Bag No. 92169, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
**Corresponding Author: Email: k.kailasapathy@taylors.edu.my
The effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus LAFTI L10 on gene expression in the small intestine of mice was evaluated using microarrays. Male BALB/c mice were orally fed with 108 colony forming units of L. acidophilus in skimmed milk powder for 14 days. Control mice received skimmed milk powder without L. acidophilus. After 14 days, distal end of the small intestine was excised for microarray analysis of gene expression. L. acidophilus-fed mice altered the expression of genes such as CD40 ligand, CD200 receptor-3 and trefoil factor 2, which are involved in host defence mechanisms. Overall, the expression of functional genes influenced by L. acidophilus in the small intestine of mice offer as a basis for further investigation into its probiotic effects.
Functional foods, Gastrointestinal tract, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Probiotic bacteria
