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The objective of this work is to evaluate the potential contribution of synbiotics in controlling allergic symptoms to house dust mite (HDM) in humans. Thirty subjects were recruited on the basis of their allergy to HDM. A susceptibility allergenic individual test using the Bordignon-Parmiani method was carried out before and after a sixmonths synbiotic treatment. The allergic symptomatology, bowel well-being and the health related quality of life (General Well-Being Index) were evaluated at the end of the treatment by using questionnaires. The persistence of SYNBIO® probiotic strains in the gastrointestinal tract of a cohort of 15 subjects was checked. The subjects showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) of wheal areas after the six-months period treatment. Seventeen subjects out of 30 showed a significant reduction of sensitization (P<0.05) to HDM allergens. The questionnaires showed positive effects of synbiotic treatment together with a reduction of allergy symptomatology. The persistence of probiotic strains in the gastrointestinal tract checked by the recovery of probiotic bacteria from the faeces of a cohort of 15 subjects was demonstrated. The administration of synbiotic treatment on subjects with HDM allergy determined a reduction of sensitization and symptomatology given a sensation of "feeling good". This is a first study that evaluates the potential of new dietary supplements based on synbiotics for allergy prevention and treatment to HDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Probiotic lactobacilli have a great potential to produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit and control the microbial pathogen growth. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities of two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501® and Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502®, and their 1 : 1 combination, named SYNBIO®, were studied using four different methods. Methods and Results Using two modified streak methods and a well diffusion method, the inhibitory activity of the probiotics and their metabolites towards six Gram-positive, nine Gram-negative pathogenic bacterial strains and eight Candida strains was tested. Antagonistic effect of probiotic Lactobacillus strains was also investigated by coculturing assay highlighting a significant inhibition of most of the pathogens tested in this study. The combination SYNBIO® showed a microbicidal activity against most of the strains tested in the study. Conclusions Compared with the control, most of the pathogenic bacteria and yeast were inhibited by all probiotic strains tested to various degrees. Significance and Impact of the Study Screening Lactobacillus strains according to their activity in various environmental conditions could precede the clinical efficacy studies for adjunct treatment with probiotics in cure of different gastrointestinal and vaginal tract infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]