Use of bacteria endowed with arginine deiminase to induce apoptosis and/or reduce an inflammatory reaction and pharmaceutical or dietetic compositions containing such bacteria

1. A method of treating intestinal malabsorption and pancreatic insufficiency with modulation of the metabolic and/or nutritional state in a subject, said method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of Lactobacillus brevis CD2 deposited with the DSM-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zelikulturen GmbH, Brunswick, Germany, under the access number DSM 11988, having an activity of arginine deiminase expressed as picomols citrulline/mg bacterial proteins/min of not less than 0.1 and their descendants, mutants and derivatives which possess said activity.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the bacteria are administered in combination with at least one of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus catenaforme, Lactobacillus cellobiosus, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus leichmanii, Lactobacillus minutus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rogosae, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium angulatum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium dentium, Bifidobacterium eriksonii, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium ion gum, Bifidobacterium plantarum, Bifidobacterium pseudo-catenulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus raffinolactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Acidaminococcus fermenta, Cytophaga fermentans, Rhodoferax fermentans, Cellulomonas fermentans and Zymomonas mobilis and/or in combination with arginine deiminase, sphingomyelinase or other enzymes, with cortisone, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulant, cytostatic, immunological, endocrinological, vascular, anaesthetic, and vasodilatory drugs, growth factors, cytokines, ceramides, vitamins and minerals, lipids, amino acids and carbohydrates, formulations for enteric use and dietetic, prebiotic or probiotic supplements, and with pharmacologically or dietetically acceptable excipients.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the bacteria are lyophilised or sonicated.

4. A method of inducing apoptosis and/or reducing an inflammatory reaction or treating pancreatic insufficiency, said method comprising administering to a subject in need of same an effective amount of A biologically pure strain of Lactobacillus brevis CD2 deposited with the DSM-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Brunswick, Germany, under the access number DSM 11988, having an activity of arginine deiminase expressed as picomols citrulline/mg bacterial proteins/mm of not less than 0.1 and their descendants, mutants and derivatives which possess said activity.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said strain is administered in combination with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus catenaforme, Lactobacillus cellobiosus, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus leichmanii, Lactobacillus minutus, Lactobacillus plantarum Lactobacillus rogosae, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium angulatum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium dentium, Bifidobacterium eriksonii, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium ongum, Bifidobacterium plantarum, Bifidobacterium pseudo-catenulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus raffinolactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Acidaminococcus fermenta, Cytophaga fermentans, Rhodoferax fermentans, Cellulomonas fermentans and Zymomonas mobilis or in association with arginine deiminase, sphingomyelinase or other enzymes, with cortisone, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulant, cytostatic, immunological, endocrinological, vascular, anaesthetic, vasodilatory drugs, growth factors, cytokines, ceramides, vitamins, minerals, lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates, formulations for enteric use, dietetic, prebiotic or probiotic supplements, and with pharmacologically or dietetically acceptable excipients.

6. A method of reducing inflammation or treating gingivitis or treating periodontopathy comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a Lactobacillus brevis CD2 deposited with the DSM-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zelikulturen GmbH, Brunswick, Germany, under the access number DSM 11988, having an activity of arginine deiminase expressed as picomols citrulline/mg bacterial proteins/min of not less than 0.1 and their descendants, mutants and derivatives which possess said activity.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein a sphingomyelinase is administered in combination with said Lactobacillus brevis.