A composition used for treating picornavirus infection comprises at least one of the following bacterial strains: Lactobacillus paracasei GMNL-33 with the deposition number CCTCC M 206133, Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-89 with the deposition number CCTCC M 207154 and Lactobacillus casei GMNL-277 with the deposition number CCTCC M 2013197, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. The invention also relates to the isolated Lactobacillus strain Lactobacillus casei GMNL-277. The strains may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and food products for treating picornovirus infection, and in particular infection by the enterovirus EV-71. The mechanism of action is inhibition of virus infection by binding of the probiotic bacteria to viruses.
