Lactobacillus sp. med evne til at inducere IL-12 produktion, og fremgangsmåde til dyrkning af samme

The present invention provides a novel technology which is capable of producing a large volume of Lactobacillus bacteria and increasing the activity of the obtained Lactobacillus. The Lactobacillus is prepared by culturing in a culture medium and adding an alkaline chemical while controlling the pH, and sterilizing the Lactobacillus by applying stress in the later stage of the cultivation so as to produce Lactobacillus having the ability to induce IL-12 production. Applying stress is preferably selected from the group consisting of: (a) cultivating without adding an alkaline chemical; (b) cultivating at a temperature range in which propagation is suppressed; (c) cultivating by adding 1 % by weight or more of salt; and/or (d) cultivating at pH of 5 or below.