Strain of Lactobacillus Acidophilus Having Analgesic Properties in the Gastrointestinal System

1 . A method of administering, an analgesic agent to a human or animal in need thereof comprising administering said analgesic agent in combination with at least one strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus as a support for said analgesic agent being administered to humans or animals for an analgesic purpose in the gastrointestinal system.

2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus is selected from the group consisting of the strain registered at the ATCC under the number PTA-4797 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM.

3 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the analgesic agent has an analgesic effect that is mediated via the opioid receptors and/or cannabinoid receptors.

4 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the support administered is a pharmaceutically acceptable support or a food product.

5 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the support administered is a dairy product of animal or vegetable origin.

6 . Process for selecting a microorganism to prepare a support administered to humans or animals for an analgesic purpose in the gastrointestinal system comprising the following stages:

i) bringing the microorganism to be tested into contact with at least one epithelial cell;

ii) detecting the expression of the opioid receptors and/or cannabinoid receptors in least one epithelial cell;

7 . Process according to claim 6 wherein at least one epithelial cell of stage i) or ii) comes from the cell line ATCC HTB-38 or from the cell line Caco-2.

8 . Process according to claim 6 wherein stage ii) is carried out by detecting the μ receptors for the opioids and/or the CB1 receptors and/or the CB2 receptors.

9 . Process according to claim 6 wherein stage ii) is carried out by detecting the expression of the messenger RNA of the opioid receptors and/or cannabinoid receptors.