HOT-WATER EXTRACTS OF CHLORELLA-VULGARIS REDUCE OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION WITH LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES IN C57BL/6 MICE INFECTED WITH LP-BM5 MURINE LEUKEMIA VIRUSES

The bacterial elimination after infection with Listeria monocytogenes was impaired in mice with murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS) by infection with LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus. Oral administration of hot water extracts of Chlorella vulgaris (CVE) restored the capacity of MAIDS mice to eliminate L. monocytogenes in association with improvement of the deteriorated immune response to L. monocytogenes. DTH response to Listeria in CVE-treated MAIDS mice was significantly higher than that of MAIDS mice after Listeria infection in association with increases in number of CD4(+)CD8(-) and CD4(-)CD8(+) alpha beta T-cells in the infected sites. CVE might be effective in the treatment of opportunistic infection in retrovirus-induced immunodeficient patients.