A combination of scGOS/lcFOS with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V protects suckling rats from rotavirus gastroenteritis.
OBJECTIVE
Rotavirus (RV) is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children, and although more standardized studies are needed, there is evidence that probiotics can help to fight against RV and other infectious and intestinal pathologies. On the other hand, the effects of prebiotics have not been properly addressed in the context of an RV infection. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a protective role for a specific scGOS/lcFOS 9:1 prebiotic mixture (PRE) separately, the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (PRO) separately and the combination of the prebiotic mixture and the probiotic (synbiotic, SYN) in a suckling rat RV infection model.


METHODS
The animals received the intervention from the 3rd to the 21st day of life by oral gavage. On day 7, RV was orally administered. Clinical parameters and immune response were evaluated.


RESULTS
The intervention with the PRO reduced the incidence, severity and duration of the diarrhoea (p < 0.05). The PRE and SYN products improved clinical parameters as well, but a change in stool consistency induced by the PRE intervention hindered the observation of this effect. Both the PRE and the SYN, but not the PRO, significantly reduced viral shedding. All interventions modulated the specific antibody response in serum and intestinal washes at day 14 and 21 of life.


CONCLUSIONS
A daily supplement of a scGOS/lcFOS 9:1 prebiotic mixture, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V or a combination of both is highly effective in modulating RV-induced diarrhoea in this preclinical model.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Barcelona, Spain.
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Rigo-Adrover
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Barcelona, Spain.
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Saldaña-Ruíz
Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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van Limpt
Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Knipping
Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Garssen
Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Knol
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Barcelona, Spain.
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Franch
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Barcelona, Spain.
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Castell
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. franciscoperez@ub.edu.|Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Barcelona, Spain. franciscoperez@ub.edu.
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Pérez-Cano
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000069984:Bifidobacterium breve; D001835:Body Weight; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012401:Rotavirus; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D058616:Synbiotics
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D056692:Prebiotics
Bifidobacterium breve; FOS; GOS; Prebiotic; Probiotic; Rotavirus; Synbiotic