News Health & Medicine

Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections

Two strains of Lactobacillus had opposite effects on C. difficile infections in mice

Probiotic bacteria like those in yogurt don't protect against pathogens equally well. In this picture a woman's hands are visible holding a container of yogurt in the dairy aisle of a grocery store.

Many people eat yogurt or take probiotic supplements because Lactobacillus bacteria in those products have been linked to improved gut health. But a new study in mice shows that species of Lactobacillus can have opposite effects on a pathogen's ability to invade the gut.

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By Tina Hesman Saey

Probiotics aren’t universally gut-friendly, a study in mice suggests.