Enhancement of antigen-specific antibody production by extracellular slime products from slime-forming Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremoris SBT 0495 in mice

The effect of extracellular slime products (ESP) produced by Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremoris SBT 0495 on antigen specific antibody production was studied in mice. ESP contained 48.5% protein, 15.4% neutral sugar, and 1.1% of phosphorus. The optimum dose of ESP was between 100 to 500 μg per mouse. ESP administered intraperitoneally (200 μg per mouse) enhanced the production of specific antibody in mice. These results indicate that ESP may act as an adjuvant.