HELSKINKI, Finland—An international research team determined the genome sequences of Valio’s Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG and a bacterium closely related to it. The results, published in the PNAS journal, shed light on the origin of probiotic mechanisms.
Researchers showed that the protein component found by the team has a fundamental role in LGG binding with the human intestinal mucus. The binding feature has been assumed to be one of the most important characteristics of bacteria with health-benefiting effects. Researchers believe the protein structure enables the health-promoting effects of LGG and other probiotic bacteria, and the positive immune modulation produced by them.
