Portrait of an immunoregulatory bifidobacterium

There is increasing interest in the administration of microbes or microbial metabolites for the prevention and treatment of aberrant inflammatory activity. The protective effects associated with these microbes are mediated by multiple mechanisms involving epithelial cells, DCs and T cells, but most data are derived from animal models. In this addendum, we summarize our recent data, showing that oral consumption of Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 is associated with enhanced IL-10 secretion and Foxp3 expression in human peripheral blood. In addition, we discuss the potential DC subset-specific mechanisms, which could contribute to DC_REG and T_REG programming by specific gut microbes.     

The Effect of Probiotics and Gut Microbiota on Th17 Cells

Probiotics and gut microbiota have a significant impact on gut homeostasis in the host. Recent clinical studies demonstrated the ameliorative features of several kinds of probiotics in intestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Interleukin (IL)-17 is a potent inflammatory cytokine, and T-helper (Th)17 cells and other IL-17-producing cells are involved in the pathogenesis of IBD. Multiple mechanisms of action have been suggested to explain the protective anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics in intestinal inflammation, including the immunoregulation and suppression of Th17 activity and IL-17 production in part by signaling through pattern-recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptor family. However, steady-state Th17 cells have an important role in host defense against fungi and bacteria. Interestingly, recent studies revealed that specific commensal bacterial species such as segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) induce the accumulation of Th17 cells in the small intestine in many species, including mice. It is important to determine the mechanisms by which intestinal Th17 cells are induced by SFB and whether these or other bacteria with similar properties are present in the human intestine. This brief review focuses on the interaction between probiotics/microbiota and Th17 cells during inflammation (war) and during steady-state homeostatic regulation (peace).     

Optimal Combination of Soy,Buffalo, and Cow's Milk in Bioyogurt for Optimal Chemical,Nutritional, and Health Benefits

Objective: Soy milk is enriched with nutritive elements such as proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, lecithins, isoflavones, mineral substances, free amino acids, and polypeptides. The aim of this study was to increase the health and nutritional values of bioyogurt by using ABT-5 culture and mixing soy milk with buffalo and cow's milk.

Methods: Five treatments of yogurt were made from soy, buffalo, and cow's milk and from 75% buffalo + 25% soy milk mixture and 75% cow + 25% soy milk mixture using ABT-5 culture.

Results: Utilization of soy milk in yogurt production decreased acidity, redox potential (E_h), total solids (TS), fat, total nitrogen, ash, total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs), saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and total amino acids contents. In contrast, the highest levels of unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid were detected. Higher numbers of L. acidophilus and bifidobacteria were found in soy milk yogurt than in buffalo or cow's milk. Blending of buffalo or cow's milk with soy milk increased the sensory evaluation scores of yogurt.

Conclusions: Mixtures of 25% soy milk + 75% buffalo milk, 25% soy milk + 75% cow's milk and ABT-5 culture could be successfully used in production of bioyogurt characterized by high health and nutritional properties. These optimal combinations highly enhanced probiotic bacteria. The recommended level of 10⁷ cfu.g^?1 of bifidobacteria as a probiotic was exceeded for soy milk yogurt treatments.     

Intestinal ‘Infant-Type’ Bifidobacteria Mediate Immune System Development in the First 1000 Days of Life

Immune system maturation begins early in life, but few studies have examined how early-life gut microbiota colonization educates the neonatal immune system. Bifidobacteria predominate in the intestines of breastfed infants and metabolize human milk oligosaccharides. This glycolytic activity alters the intestinal microenvironment and consequently stimulates immune system maturation at the neonatal stage. However, few studies have provided mechanistic insights into the contribution of ‘infant-type’ Bifidobacterium species, especially via metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. In this review, we highlight the first 1000 days of life, which provide a window of opportunity for infant-type bifidobacteria to educate the neonatal immune system. Furthermore, we discuss the instrumental role of infant-type bifidobacteria in the education of the neonatal immune system by inducing immune tolerance and suppressing intestinal inflammation, and the potential underlying mechanism of this immune effect in the first 1000 days of life. We also summarize recent research that suggests the administration of infant-type bifidobacteria helps to modify the intestinal microecology and prevent the progress of immune-mediated disorders.     

壳寡糖协同双歧杆菌对荷瘤鼠免疫功能的影响

背景与目的:建立H22肝癌荷瘤鼠实验动物模型,研究壳寡糖协同双歧杆菌对荷瘤鼠免疫功能的影响.材料与方法:采用体内注射的方法将壳寡糖和双歧杆菌注入荷瘤小鼠体内,观察肿瘤生长情况,并进行免疫功能的测定,及观察肿瘤病理变化.结果:壳寡糖协同双歧杆菌对肿瘤的生长有抑制作用,可提高荷瘤小鼠血清的IL-2和INF-γ含量,增加荷瘤小鼠免疫器官脾脏和胸腺的重量,显微镜下观察显示肿瘤组织出现坏死.结论:壳寡糖协同双歧杆菌可抑制肿瘤生长,提高机体免疫功能,促使肿瘤细胞坏死.     

Increase of faecal bifidobacteria due to dietary oligosaccharides induces a reduction of clinically relevant pathogen germs in the faeces of formula-fed preterm infants

In a previous study on formula-fed preterm infants, we were able to demonstrate that dietary oligosaccharides (a mixture of 90% galacto-oligosaccharides and 10% fructo-oligosaccharides in a concentration of 1 g/dl) stimulate the growth of faecal bifidobacteria. In the present explorative analysis of this study, we focus on the effect of the dominance of bifidobacteria on the presence of clinically relevant pathogens ( Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, Streptococcus group B, Clostridium difficile, Bacillus subtilis and Acinetobacter ).
Conclusion : The data demonstrate that stimulation of bifidobacteria by prebiotic oligosaccharides reduces the presence of clinically relevant pathogens in the faecal flora, indicating that prebiotic substances might have the capacity to protect against enteral infections.     

头低位卧床及饮用含电解银离子水对肠道双歧杆菌的影响

目的观察头低位卧床以及电解银离子 (航天饮用水消毒剂之一 )对肠道双歧杆菌的影响。方法1) 5名健康男性青年进行 2 1d的头低位 - 6°卧床实验 ,收集卧床前后的粪便 ,测双歧杆菌数量。 2 ) 4组小鼠分别饮用不含银纯净水、银含量为 0 .2 0、0 .40、0 .60mg/L的饮水 1月 ,测肠粪中双歧杆菌的数量。3 ) 7名健康男性志愿者 ,连续饮用含银量 0 .2 0mg/L的饮水 16d ,取实验前、饮水第 3、10、16天的粪便 ,测双歧杆菌数量。结果 1 )卧床后被试者粪中双歧杆菌的数量 (lgn/g)较卧床前呈显著性减少 (P <0 .0 1)。 2 )小鼠肠粪混合样中的双歧杆菌数 (lgn/g)与饮水中的银离子含量呈显著性负相关 (r =- 0 .992 ,P <0 .0 1)。 3 )被试者饮用含银离子水后粪中双歧杆菌的含量较饮用前呈显著性减少 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论头低位卧床及饮用含电解银离子水均能导致肠道双歧杆菌数量的减少