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Information on Lactobacillus bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 (simply “OLL1073R-1 lactic acid bacteria” below)

Yogurt containing 1073R-1 lactic acid bacteria is known to enhance the activity of NK cells and reduce the risk of infection with the common cold. Over the years, Meiji Co., Ltd. has conducted animal studies on influenza prevention and human studies in collaboration with municipalities, and the results showed that yogurt containing 1073R-1 lactic acid bacteria has the effects of enhancing NK activity, reducing the risk of catching the common cold, and even suppressing influenza. This section explains the basic facts on the human immune system, what NK cells are and their key function, and research results of our study on the 1073R-1 lactic acid bacterium that activates NK cells.

What are 1073R-1 lactic acid bacteria?

The 1073R-1 lactic acid bacterium is a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus used to make yogurt, which has a distinct characteristic of producing large amounts of polysaccharides. The polysaccharides that are produced by lactic acid bacteria, etc. outside their cells are called EPSs (extracellular polymeric substances), which are known to activate the immune system in the living body.