Structure and Function of Bovine Whey Derived Oligosaccharides Showing Synbiotic Epithelial Barrier Protective Properties

Abstract

<jats:p>Commensal gut microbiota and probiotics have numerous effects on the host’s metabolic and protective systems, which occur primarily through the intestinal epithelial cell interface. Prebiotics, like galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are widely used to modulate their function and abundance. However, important structure–function relations may exist, requiring a detailed structural characterization. Here, we detailed the structural characterization of bovine whey derived oligosaccharide preparations enriched with GOS or not, dubbed GOS-enriched milk oligosaccharides (GMOS) or MOS, respectively. We explore GMOS’s and MOS’s potential to improve intestinal epithelial barrier function, assessed in a model based on barrier disruptive effects of the Clostridioides difficile toxin A. GMOS and MOS contain mainly GOS species composed of β1-6- and β1-3-linked galactoses, and 3′- and 6′-sialyllactose. Both GMOS and MOS, combined with lactobacilli, like Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LPR, NCC4007), gave synergistic epithelial barrier protection, while no such effect was observed with Bifidobacterium longum (BL NCC3001), Escherichia coli (Nissle) or fructo-oligosaccharides. Mechanistically, for barrier protection with MOS, (i) viable LPR was required, (ii) acidification of growth medium was not enough, (iii) LPR did not directly neutralize toxin A, and (iv) physical proximity of LPR with the intestinal epithelial cells was necessary. This is the first study, highlighting the importance of structure–function specificity and the necessity of the simultaneous presence of prebiotic, probiotic and host cell interactions required for a biological effect.</jats:p>

Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides and Human Milk Oligosaccharides Modulate the Gut Microbiota Composition and Volatile Fatty Acid Concentrations in a Preclinical Neonatal Model

“…Briefly, the paired-end reads were merged, quality filtered, and split into libraries as described by Monaco et al [37]. Operational taxonomic units (OTU) assignment, representative sequence picking, chimera removing, sequence alignment, and phylogenetic tree construction were performed as previously described [17]. Taxonomic assignment for each representative sequence was done using Ribosomal Database Project naïve Bayesian rRNA Classifier at 80% confidence level on the Greengenes reference database (gg_13_8_otus/taxonomy/97_otu_taxonomy.txt, accessed on 24 February 2017) [44].…”

“…Several studies have reported beneficial effects of feeding HMO and bovine milk derived oligosaccharides (BMOS), including modulation of growth [ 12 ], alkaline phosphatase activity [ 13 ], gene transcription [ 14 ], and barrier function [ 15 , 16 , 17 ] of the intestinal epithelial cell in vitro. HMO also influence the development of the immune system [ 18 , 19 ] and the brain [ 20 , 21 ] and shape the development of the infant gut microbiota.…”

Milk Whey Hydrolysates as High Value-Added Natural Polymers: Functional Properties and Applications

“…GOS have various benefits to human health including the selective stimulation of the beneficial intestinal bacteria growth, maintenance of the normal flora balance in the intestine, increased calcium absorption, and decreased serum cholesterol levels and cancer risks. The health-promoting effects of GOS include immunomodulation, lipid metabolism, mineral absorption, weight management, and obesity-related issues, among others [ 64 , 65 , 66 ].…”