A fermented milk concentrate and a combination of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides/pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides protect suckling rats from rotavirus gastroenteritis.
Human milk contains bioactive compounds that confer a protective role against gastrointestinal infections. In order to find supplements for an infant formula able to mimic these benefits of breast-feeding, two different concepts were tested. The products consisted of the following: (1) a Bifidobacterium breve- and Streptococcus thermophilus-fermented formula and (2) a combination of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides with pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides. A rotavirus infection suckling rat model was used to evaluate improvements in the infectious process and in the immune response of supplemented animals. Both nutritional concepts caused amelioration of the clinical symptoms, even though this was sometimes hidden by softer stool consistency in the supplemented groups. Both products also showed certain modulation of immune response, which seemed to be enhanced earlier and was accompanied by a faster resolution of the process. The viral shedding and the in vitro blocking assay suggest that these products are able to bind the viral particles, which can result in a milder infection. In conclusion, both concepts evaluated in this study showed interesting protective properties against rotavirus infection, which deserve to be investigated further.
1Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació,University of Barcelona (UB),08028 Barcelona,Spain.
Mar
M
Rigo-Adrover
1Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació,University of Barcelona (UB),08028 Barcelona,Spain.
Teresa
T
Pérez-Berezo
1Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació,University of Barcelona (UB),08028 Barcelona,Spain.
Sara
S
Ramos-Romero
3Nutricia Research,3584 CT Utrecht,The Netherlands.
Kees
K
van Limpt
3Nutricia Research,3584 CT Utrecht,The Netherlands.
Karen
K
Knipping
3Nutricia Research,3584 CT Utrecht,The Netherlands.
Johan
J
Garssen
3Nutricia Research,3584 CT Utrecht,The Netherlands.
Jan
J
Knol
1Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació,University of Barcelona (UB),08028 Barcelona,Spain.
Àngels
À
Franch
1Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació,University of Barcelona (UB),08028 Barcelona,Spain.
Margarida
M
Castell
1Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació,University of Barcelona (UB),08028 Barcelona,Spain.
Francisco J
FJ
Pérez-Cano
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001419:Bacteria; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D001942:Breast Feeding; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005285:Fermentation; D005632:Fructose / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005690:Galactose / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D012401:Rotavirus; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus; D017201:Virus Shedding
D009844:Oligosaccharides; D005632:Fructose; D010368:Pectins; D005690:Galactose
 FM fermented milk;  GFA scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS mixture;  REF reference;  RV rotavirus;  lcFOS long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides;  pAOS pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides;  scGOS short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides; Fermented formula; Fructo-oligosaccharides; Galacto-oligosaccharides; Milk; Pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides; Prebiotics; Rotavirus