Impact of cheese matrix, single-strain cheese and Emmental cheese on DSS-induced histopathological damages. Representative images of mice colon mucosa sections, stained with haematoxylin, are shown. Image acquisition phase was done with a 20× magnification objective. Scale bar = 50 μm. Histopathological scores were determined. Groups were as follows. PBS: healthy group gavaged using PBS buffer as a sham. PBS-DSS: DSS-treated-colitis control group gavaged using PBS buffer as a sham. Cheese matrix-DSS: DSS-treated group gavaged using a germ-free dairy matrix. Single-strain cheese-DSS: DSS-treated group gavaged using an experimental single-strain cheese containing P. freudenreichii CIRM-BIA 129 as a sole bacterium. Emmental-DSS: DSS-treated group gavaged using an industrial Emmental cheese produced using P. freudenreichii CIRM-BIA 129 as a ripening starter. The data represent the mean ± SD of 6 mice per group. Multiple comparisons were performed, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 **** p < 0.0001.