Effect of Infant Formula Containing a Low Dose of the Probiotic CNCM I-3446 on Immune and Gut Functions in C-Section Delivered Babies: A Pilot Study

Background In the absence of breast-feeding and its immunomodulatory factors, supplementation of starter infant formula (IF) with probiotics is currently used to support immune functions and gut development. Aim To assess whether immune-related beneficial effects of regular dose (10 7 CFU/g of powder) of the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-3446 (hereafter named B. lactis ) in starter IF supplementation can be maintained with starter IF containing a low dose (10 4 CFU/g of powder) of B. lactis. Method This trial was designed as a pilot, prospective, double-blind, randomized, single-center clinical trial of two parallel groups ( n = 77 infants/group) of C-section delivered infants receiving a starter IF containing either low dose or regular dose of the probiotic B. lactis from birth to six months of age. In addition, a reference group of infants breast-fed for a minimum of four months ( n = 44 infants), also born by C-section, were included. All groups were then provided follow-up formula without B. lactis up to 12 months of age. Occurrence of diarrhea, immune and gut maturation, responses to vaccinations, and growth were assessed from birth to 12 months. The effect of low-dose B. lactis formula was compared to regular-dose B. lactis formula, considered as reference for IF with probiotics, and both were further compared to breast-feeding as a physiological reference. Results Data showed that feeding low-dose B. lactis IF provides similar effects as feeding regular-dose B. lactis IF or breast milk. No consistent statistical differences regarding early life protection against gastrointestinal infections, immune and gut maturation, microbiota establishment, and growth were observed between randomized formula-fed groups as well as with the breast-fed reference group. Conclusion This pilot study suggests that supplementing C-section born neonates with low-dose B. lactis -containing starter formula may impact immune as well as gut maturation similarly to regular-dose B. lactis , close to the breast-feeding reference

Capacity of blood plasma is higher in birds breeding in radioactively contaminated areas

Background Environmental pollution in general, and radioactive contamination in particular, may deeply affect host-parasite relationships and their consequences for the evolution of organisms. The nuclear accident that occurred more than 30 years ago in Chernobyl resulted in significant changes in diversity and richness of microbial communities that could influence characteristics of animal-bacteria interactions, including host immune responses and competitive interference by bacteria. Given the high mortality rate of birds breeding in radioactively contaminated zones, those with stronger defences against infections should experience significant fitness advantages. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we characterized antimicrobial capacity of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) from different Ukrainian populations (subject to a gradient of ionizing radiation) against 12 bacterial species. We also quantified constitutive innate immunity, which is the non-specific first barrier of protection of hosts against microbial parasites. We found a positive association between specific antimicrobial capacity of individual hosts and radiation levels in breeding habitats even after controlling for other confounding variables such as sex and age. However, no significant relationship was found between immunocompetence (non-specific response) and background radiation. Conclusions/Significance These results suggest that radiation selects for broad antimicrobial spectra of barn swallows, although not for all bacterial strains. We discuss these results in the framework of host-parasite evolution under extreme environmental conditions.M. Ruiz-Rodríguez had a postdoc stipend from the program “Andalucía Talent Hub” (Agencia Andaluza del Conocimiento, Junta de Andalucía). Funding was provided in part by the Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust, the US Fulbright Program, the CNRS (France), the American Council of Learned Societies, the University of South Carolina College of Arts and Sciences, and the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (European funds (FEDER)) (CGL2013- 48193-C3-1-P).Peer reviewe

Effect of probiotic supplementation on immunoglobulins, isoagglutinins and antibody response in children of low socio-economic status

Background: Antigen exposure is one of the major exogenous factors modulating human immunocompetence acquisition. Decline in family size and improvements in public health and hygiene in developed countries, may deprive the immune system of appropriate antigen input by diminishing infectious stimuli. Probiotics are a large group of microorganisms defined by their beneficial effects on human health and with stimulating effects on different functions of the immune system. Aim of the study: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine if probiotics maintain their immune-stimulating effects in a population of 162 children with a high index of natural exposure to microorganisms. Children were to ingest for at least 4 months one of two products, low-fat milk fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus (control product) or low-fat milk fermented by S. thermophilus and Lactobacillus casei, with Lactobacillus acidophilus, oligofructose and inulin added after the fermentation process (test product). According to their age, children were vaccinated with DTP-Hib vaccine or a 23-valent anti-pneumococcal vaccine. Results: Final analysis of results was done in 70 children in each group, showing that the rate of immunoglobulin and isoagglutinin acquisition was similar in both groups. There was no difference between groups in antibody levels neither before nor after vaccination. Days of fever and number of episodes of infection were not statistically different in either group. Conclusions: Supplementation of standard fermented milk with additional probiotics was not of benefit. The high natural rate of early microbial exposure in infants and children from a population of low socio-economic status living in a "less hygienic environment" may account for the absence of an additional immune-stimulating effect by supplementary probiotics.Fil: Pérez, Néstor. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Iannicelli, Juan C.. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Girard-Bosch, Cecilia. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Silvia Nelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Varea, Ana. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Disalvo, Liliana. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Apezteguia, María. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Pernas, Juan. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Vicentin, Dimas. Sancor CUL. Departamento de Investigación, Innovación y Desarrollo; ArgentinaFil: Cravero, Ricardo. Sancor CUL. Departamento de Investigación, Innovación y Desarrollo; Argentin

Field evaluation of the effect of a probiotic-containing Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis spores on the health status, performance, and carcass quality of grower and finisher pigs

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of BioPlus 2B, a probiotic containing Bacillus licheniformis and B. subtilis spores, on the health status and productivity of pigs, during weaning, growing and finishing stages of growth. On a commercial farrow-to-finish farm, five experimental groups were formed, each of 54 weaned piglets. The pigs of the first group (double controls) received normal feed with no probiotic and the pigs of the second group (untreated controls) received BioPlus 2B only during the weaning stage. The pigs of the third, the fourth and the fifth group received the same as the second group feed but, at the growing and at a part of the finishing stages, supplemented with three different doses of Bioplus 2B, a low, medium and high dose, respectively. The results have shown that, compared with the double controls, BioPlus 2B-treated pigs had a lower morbidity and mortality during the whole trial period, compared with the double controls (range from 9.26 to 14.81% versus 25.93% and from 0.00 to 3.70% versus 11.1%, respectively), as a result of the lower incidence of post-weaning diarrhoea due mainly to Escherichia coli. Weight gain, feed conversion ratio and carcass quality of the BioPlus 2B-treated pigs were significantly improved compared with the double controls, whilst the beneficial effects of the probiotic were more pronounced when the medium and high doses were used. © 2004 Blackwell Verlag