Pollen Allergy Suppression Effect by the Oral Administration of Acetic Acid Bacteria (Gluconacetobacter hansenii)

Background/Aim: Gluconacetobacter hansenii (G. hansenii) is an acetic acid bacterium of vinegar production. Its anti-allergic effect on mice upon oral administration was examined. Materials and Methods: The amount of LPS was measured by the Limulus reaction. Mice were sensitized by peritoneal and intranasal administration of cedar pollen and alum followed by oral administration of 30 or 150 mg/kg of heated G. hansenii cells. Pollen was administered intranasally to evaluate nasal symptoms, and at 8 weeks, IgE and IL-10 levels in blood were measured by ELISA. Results: The amount of LPS in dried bacterial cells was 10.4 +/- 3.3 mg/g. In the cedar pollinosis model of mice, a significant reduction was observed in nose scratching of both groups administered with the bacterial cells (30, 150 mg/kg). Conclusion: G. hansenii contains LPS, and its oral administration showed an anti-allergic effect by a significant mitigation of the symptoms in a pollen allergy mouse model.