Supplementation With 2′-FL and scGOS/lcFOS Ameliorates Rotavirus-Induced Diarrhea in Suckling Rats

Rotavirus (RV) is considered to be the most common cause of gastroenteritis among infants aged less than 5 years old. Human milk bioactive compounds have the ability to modulate the diarrheic process caused by several intestinal pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective role of a specific human milk oligosaccharide, 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), a mixture of the prebiotic short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides 9:1 (GOS/FOS) and their combination (2′-FL+GOS/FOS) on RV-induced diarrhea in suckling rats. The nutritional intervention was performed from the second to the sixteenth day of life by oral gavage and on day 5 an RV strain was orally administered to induce infection. Fecal samples were scored daily to assess the clinical pattern of severity, incidence and duration of diarrhea. Blood and tissues were obtained at day 8 and 16 in order to evaluate the effects on the epithelial barrier and the mucosal and systemic immune responses. In the assessment of severity, incidence and duration of diarrhea, both 2′-FL and GOS/FOS displayed a beneficial effect in terms of amelioration. However, the mechanisms involved seemed to differ: 2′ -FL displayed a direct ability to promote intestinal maturation and to enhance neonatal immune responses, while GOS/FOS induced an intestinal trophic effect and an RV-blocking action. The combination of 2′-FL and GOS/FOS showed additive effects in some variables. Therefore, it could be a good strategy to add these compounds in combination to infant formulas, to protect against human RV-induced diarrhea in children. Keywords: 2′-FL, scGOS/lcFOS, prebiotic, rotavirus, diarrhea, suckling rat

Importance of maternal diet in the training of the infant's immune system during gestation and lactation

Latest forecasts predict that half of the European population will be allergic within the coming 15 years, with food allergies contributing substantially to the total burden; preventive measures are urgently needed. Unfortunately, all attempted alimentary strategies for primary prevention of allergic diseases through allergen avoidance so far have failed. This also holds true for the prevention of food allergies in breastfed infants by the common practice of excluding certain foods with allergenic potential from the maternal diet. As a preventive measure, therefore, exclusion diets should be discouraged. They can exhaust nursing mothers and negatively impact both their nutritional status as well as their motivation to breastfeed. A prolonged exclusion diet may be indicated solely in cases of doctor-diagnosed food allergy following rigid medical tests (e.g. double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges). Indicated cases usually involve exclusion of only a few food items. Continued breastfeeding is generally important for many aspects of the infant's health, including the training of the infant's immune responses to foreign compounds and avoidance of overshooting inflammatory responses. Recent studies suggest that the presence of maternal dietary proteins in amniotic fluid, cord blood, and human milk might support the induction of tolerance towards solid foods in infants. These are exactly the same species of proteins or remnants thereof that, in comparatively few cases, trigger allergic responses. However, the insight that the proteins of maternal dietary origin in human milk are more likely to be cure (or, more precise, directing prevention) than curse has still largely evaded the attention of health care professionals consulted by worried breastfeeding mothers. In this paper, we summarize recent literature on the importance of exposure to dietary proteins in the establishment of immunological tolerance and hence prevention of allergic disease. Multiple organizations have used the scientific knowledge to build (local) guidelines (e.g. AAAAI, EAACI, BSACI) that can support health care professionals to provide the best strategy to prevent the onset of allergic diseases. We thus hope to clarify existing confusion about the allergenic propensities of dietary proteins during early life, which has contributed to exaggerated fears around the diet of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers

Oligosaccharides Modulate Rotavirus-Associated Dysbiosis and TLR Gene Expression in Neonatal Rats

Colonization of the gut in early life can be altered through multiple environmental factors. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), a mixture of short-chain galactooligosaccharides/long-chain fructooligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS) 9:1 and their combination (scGOS/lcFOS/2'-FL) on dysbiosis induced during rotavirus (RV) diarrhea in neonatal rats, elucidating crosstalk between bacteria and the immune system. The dietary interventions were administered daily by oral gavage at days 2-8 of life in neonatal Lewis rats. On day 5, RV SA11 was intragastrically delivered to induce infection and diarrhea assessment, microbiota composition, and gene expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the small intestine were studied. All dietary interventions showed reduction in clinical variables of RV-induced diarrhea. RV infection increased TLR2 expression, whereas 2'-FL boosted TLR5 and TLR7 expressions and scGOS/lcFOS increased that of TLR9. RV-infected rats displayed an intestinal dysbiosis that was effectively prevented by the dietary interventions, and consequently, their microbiota was more similar to microbiota of the noninfected groups. The preventive effect of 2'-FL, scGOS/lcFOS, and their combination on dysbiosis associated to RV diarrhea in rats could be due to changes in the crosstalk between gut microbiota and the innate immune system

Immunomodulatory and Prebiotic Effects of 2'-Fucosyllactose in Suckling Rats

Human milk oligosaccharides are unconjugated complex glycans present in high concentration in human milk that serve as pre-biotics and immunomodulators. They are not primarily absorbed or metabolized by the infant and reach the lower part of the intestinal tract unaltered. One of the main oligosaccharides found in human milk is 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL). This study aimed to investigate the effects of daily oral administration of 2'-FL in healthy suckling rats. From days 2 to 16 of life, rats were daily given the oligosaccharide (2'-FL) or vehicle (REF), weighed and their stool characteristics were assessed. On days 8 and 16 of life the morphometry, intestinal architecture, and cytokine release, mesenteric lymph nodes cell composition, plasma immunoglobulin concentrations, fecal microbiota composition, cecal short-chain fatty acids content, and the urinary metabolic profile were assessed. Animals given 2'-FL showed higher plasma IgG and IgA and more T cell subsets in the mesenteric lymph nodes on day 16. Moreover, at intestinal level, villus heights, and areas were increased on day 8. Cecal samples displayed a higher Lactobacillus proportion and a different urinary metabolic profile was observed on day 8, and a higher proportion of butyrate on day 16. In conclusion, supplementation of 2'-FL in early life has a pre-biotic and intestinal trophic effect and promotes maturation of the immune system

Early Life Prebiotic effect on the intestinal microbiota composition and functionality

Podeu consultar el III Workshop anual INSA-UB complet a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/118993Sessió 2. Comunicació oral núm.

A gastrointestinal rotavirus infection mouse model for immune modulation studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rotaviruses are the single most important cause of severe diarrhea in young children worldwide. The current study was conducted to assess whether colostrum containing rotavirus-specific antibodies (Gastrogard-R^®) could protect against rotavirus infection. In addition, this illness model was used to study modulatory effects of intervention on several immune parameters after re-infection.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>BALB/c mice were treated by gavage once daily with Gastrogard-R^®from the age of 4 to 10 days, and were inoculated with rhesus rotavirus (RRV) at 7 days of age. A secondary inoculation with epizootic-diarrhea infant-mouse (EDIM) virus was administered at 17 days of age. Disease symptoms were scored daily and viral shedding was measured in fecal samples during the post-inoculation periods. Rotavirus-specific IgM, IgG and IgG subclasses in serum, T cell proliferation and rotavirus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses were also measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Primary inoculation with RRV induced a mild but consistent level of diarrhea during 3-4 days post-inoculation. All mice receiving Gastrogard-R^®were 100% protected against rotavirus-induced diarrhea. Mice receiving both RRV and EDIM inoculation had a lower faecal-viral load following EDIM inoculation then mice receiving EDIM alone or Gastrogard-R^®. Mice receiving Gastrogard-R^®however displayed an enhanced rotavirus-specific T-cell proliferation whereas rotavirus-specific antibody subtypes were not affected.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Preventing RRV-induced diarrhea by Gastrogard-R^®early in life showed a diminished protection against EDIM re-infection, but a rotavirus-specific immune response was developed including both B cell and T cell responses. In general, this intervention model can be used for studying clinical symptoms as well as the immune responses required for protection against viral re-infection.</p

Non-allergic rhinitis: a case report and review

Rhinitis is characterized by rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itch and/or postnasal drip. Often the first step in arriving at a diagnosis is to exclude or diagnose sensitivity to inhalant allergens. Non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) comprises multiple distinct conditions that may even co-exist with allergic rhinitis (AR). They may differ in their presentation and treatment. As well, the pathogenesis of NAR is not clearly elucidated and likely varied. There are many conditions that can have similar presentations to NAR or AR, including nasal polyps, anatomical/mechanical factors, autoimmune diseases, metabolic conditions, genetic conditions and immunodeficiency. Here we present a case of a rare condition initially diagnosed and treated as typical allergic rhinitis vs. vasomotor rhinitis, but found to be something much more serious. This case illustrates the importance of maintaining an appropriate differential diagnosis for a complaint routinely seen as mundane. The case presentation is followed by a review of the potential causes and pathogenesis of NAR

The French Didactic Tradition in Mathematics

This chapter presents the French didactic tradition. It first describes theemergence and development of this tradition according to four key features (role ofmathematics and mathematicians, role of theories, role of design of teaching andlearning environments, and role of empirical research), and illustrates it through two case studies respectively devoted to research carried out within this traditionon algebra and on line symmetry-reflection. It then questions the influence of thistradition through the contributions of four researchers from Germany, Italy, Mexicoand Tunisia, before ending with a short epilogue