The clinical impact of a particular LAB is strongly associated with its ability to colonize the intestinal mucosa. LAB common in dairy products such as yogurts (L.Acidophilus, L.bulgaris and bifidobacteria) have very limited ability to colonize intestinal mucosal cells. L.rhamnosus (GG) and even more so L.plantarum (299) have been shown to remain viable up to 28 days post supplementation. L.plantarum is unique as it uses carbohydrate receptors (mannose) similar to those of gram-negative bacteria (E.coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas and Vibrio cholerae). L. plantarum has also been shown to prevent adhesion of enteropathogenic E.coli through induction of mRNA expression for the intestinal mucins MUC2 and MUC3.