CANADA – The province of Ontario is to host a research centre dedicated to probiotic bacteria, the Canadian government has said.

Probiotic bacteria are used in a number of dairy products to promote a balanced digestive system. The new initiative will research the use of the bacteria to counteract disease in humans and animals.

The laboratory will look into ways to harness the body’s probiotic organisms and proteins to counteract a variety of urinary and digestive diseases and infections.

The research will also study the use of probiotics and prebiotics, substances that promote the growth of good bacteria, as an alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of livestock for human consumption.

Called the Canadian Research and Development Centre for Probiotics, the centre will be at the Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario.