title: The relationship between bifidobacteria and allergic asthma and/or allergic dermatitis: a prospective study of 0-3 years-old children in Turkey.
abstract: Bifidobacteria are beneficial bacteria for humans. These bacteria are particularly effective at protecting against infectious diseases and modulating the immune response. It was shown that in newborns, the fecal distribution of the colonizing Bifidobacterium species influences the prevalence of allergic diseases. This study aimed to compare the faecal Bifidobacterium species of allergic children to those of healthy children to detect species level differences in faecal distribution. Stool samples were obtained from 99 children between 0 and 3 years of age whose clinical symptoms and laboratory reports were compatible with atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma. Samples were also obtained from 102 healthy children who were similar to the case group with respect to age and sex. Bifidobacteria were isolated by culture and identified at the genus level by API 20 A. In addition, 7 unique species-specific primers were used for the molecular characterization of bifidobacteria. The McNemar test was used for statistical analyses, and p < 0.05 was accepted as significant. Bifidobacterium longum was detected in 11 (11.1%) of the allergic children and in 31 (30.3%) of the healthy children. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of B. longum between these two groups (X(2): 11.2, p < 0.001). However, no significant differences in the prevalence of other Bifidobacterium species were found between faecal samples from healthy and allergic children. (p > 0.05). The significant difference in the isolation of B. longum from our study groups suggests that this species favors the host by preventing the development of asthma and allergic dermatitis. Based on these results, we propose that the production of probiotics in accordance with country-specific Bifidobacterium species densities would improve public health. Thus, country-specific prospective case-control studies that collect broad data sets are needed.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: akayhkubra@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hatice Kubra
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Akay
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: hrisibahar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hrisi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahar Tokman
authors.affiliation: Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: naydin9@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hatipoglu
authors.affiliation: Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: h.hatipoglu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatipoglu
authors.affiliation: Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: renginsiraneci@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rengin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siraneci
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: mdemirci1979@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.affiliation: Kemerburgaz University, Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: ataborsa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Baris Ata
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Borsa
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: peyuksel@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: asiyekarakullukcu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Asiye
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karakullukcu
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: achillekangaba@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Achille Aime
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kangaba
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: serhat_tahres@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sirekbasan
authors.affiliation: Acıbadem University School of Medicine, Department of Children Health and Disease, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: sibelaka@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aka
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: mzntorun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muzeyyen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mamal Torun
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: bzeybek@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Bekir S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kocazeybek
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D039941:Bifidobacteriales Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Allergic asthma; Allergic dermatitis; Bifidobacteria; Children; Turkey