Assessment of the synbiotic properites of human milk oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis in vitro and in humanised mice

Abstract

The mode of delivery plays a crucial role in infant gastrointestinal tract colonisation, which in the case of caesarean section is characterised by the presence of clostridia and low bifidobacterial counts. Gut colonisation can be modified by probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotics. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are infant prebiotics that show a bifidogenic effect. Moreover, genome sequencing of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis within the infant microbiome revealed adaptations for milk utilisation. This study aimed to evaluate the synbiotic effect of B. longum subsp. infantis, HMOs and human milk (HM) both in vitro and in vivo (in a humanised mouse model) in the presence of faecal microbiota from infants born by caesarean section. The combination of B. longum and HMOs or HM reduced the clostridia and G-bacteria counts both in vitro and in vivo. The bifidobacterial population in vitro significantly increased and produce high concentrations of acetate and lactate. In vitro competition assays confirmed that the tested bifidobacterial strain is a potential probiotic for infants and, together with HMOs or HM, acts as a synbiotic. It is also able to inhibit potentially pathogenic bacteria. The synbiotic effects identified in vitro were not observed in vivo. However, there was a significant reduction in clostridia counts in both experimental animal groups (HMOs + B. longum and HM + B. longum), and a specific immune response via increased interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-6 production. Animal models do not perfectly mimic human conditions; however, they are essential for testing the safety of functional foods.

Early‐Life Gut Microbiome—The Importance of Maternal and Infant Factors in Its Establishment

“…The entero‐mammary pathway is one hypothesis that proposes a selective colonization of the mammary gland by cells of the immune system 62 . The similarity between the bacterial composition of maternal stool and breast milk supports this concept 82‐84 . Clinical studies demonstrating ingested probiotic strains were identified in maternal breast milk further support this hypothesis 85,86 .…”

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: A Next-Generation Probiotic in Gut Disease Improvement

“…Another study found that healthy men who consumed polydextrose or soluble corn fiber supplements had more F. prausnitzii than men who did not take fiber supplements, suggesting that this might be potential prebiotics [67]. In a research on the effects of a lowenergy diet with prebiotic properties for patients with type 2 diabetes, F. prausnitzii increased by 34% compared to a placebo diet [68].…”

Gut–Brain Axis: Role of Gut Microbiota on Neurological Disorders and How Probiotics/Prebiotics Beneficially Modulate Microbial and Immune Pathways to Improve Brain Functions

“…Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOS) are also the infant prebiotics that showed symbiotic effects along with B. longum subsp. infantis in an in vitro and humanized mice model [ 194 ]. Combination of both reduced the levels of Clostridia and G-bacteria, while increased the production of IL-10 and IL-6 in both in vitro and in vivo mice model.…”