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Aims:  To investigate whether intranasal Lactobacillus administration protects host animals from influenza virus (IFV) infection by enhancing respiratory immune responses in a mouse model. Methods and Results:  After 3 days of intranasal exposure to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), BALB/c mice were infected with IFV A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). Mice treated with LGG showed a lower frequency of accumulated symptoms and a higher survival rate than control mice (P < 0·05). The YAC‐1 cell‐killing activity of lung cells isolated from mice treated with LGG was significantly greater than those isolated from control mice (P < 0·01). Intranasal administration of LGG significantly increased mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)‐1β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1 (P < 0·01). Conclusions:  These results suggest that intranasal administration of LGG protects the host animal from IFV infection by enhancing respiratory cell‐mediated immune responses following up‐regulation of lung natural killer (NK) cell activation. Significance and Impact of Study:  We have demonstrated that probiotics might protect host animals from viral infection by stimulating immune responses in the respiratory tract.

The current study reveals that there is a significant difference in the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and its risk factors between Hei Yi Zhuang and Han, which might result from different demographic characteristics, dietary habits and other lifestyle factors.

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