Lactose and Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides Synergistically Stimulate B. longum subsp. longum Growth in a Simplified Model of the Infant Gut Microbiome

Abstract

Increasing awareness of the importance of a healthy Bifidobacterium-rich microbiome has led to a need for more knowledge on how different prebiotic carbohydrates specifically impact the infant microbiome, especially as a community instead of single bacterial targets. In this study, we combined proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) metabolomics and molecular biology methods for quantification of bacteria to compare the prebiotic effect of bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO) and synthetic galacto oligosaccharides (GOS) using mono- and cocultures of eight major bacteria related to a healthy infant microbiome. The results revealed that BMO treatments supported growth of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum and Parabacteroides distasonis, while at the same time growth of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli was inhibited. In addition, there was a synergistic effect of combining lactose and BMO in regards to reducing C. perfringens, maintaining stable numbers of P. distasonis and simultaneously increasing numbers of the beneficial B. longum subsp. longum. These results indicate that the oligosaccharide composition plays a vital role in shaping the developing microbiota.

Synbiotic Effect of Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-3446 and Bovine Milk-Derived Oligosaccharides on Infant Gut Microbiota

“…BMOS alone also favored the presence of E. coli. Similar findings were reported by Jakobsen and colleagues in vitro using pure GOS [82]. However, E. coli was suppressed in the presence of synbiotics (BMOS and B. lactis).…”

Administration of Bovine Milk Oligosaccharide to Weaning Gnotobiotic Mice Inoculated with a Simplified Infant Type Microbiota

“…longum (DSM 20219), Bifidobacterium breve (DSM 20213), Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LMG 18243), Staphylococcus aureus (DSM 20231), Staphylococcus epidermidis (DSM 20044), Clostridium perfringens (DSM 756), Parabacteroides distasonis (DSM 20701) and Escherichia coli (DSM 30083). The eight bacteria were activated from frozen stocks into fresh optimal media as described previously [ 9 ] and 200 µL aliquots of co-culture containing approximately 10 8 CFU of each strain were kept frozen until use. The co-culture was administered to the mice by holding them loosely in the neck skin and administering the entire content of one aliquot to the mouth using a pipette.…”

“…Since sialylated oligosaccharides are only present in trace amounts in infant formula (14–288 mg/L) [ 6 ], there is a potential for improving the bifidogenic effect of formula milk through enrichment with sialylated oligosaccharides. In a previous in vitro study, we found that BMO positively affects the composition of an infant type co-culture [ 9 ]. The infant type co-culture consisted of a total of eight bacteria representative of the infant gut microbiota, including strains of Bifidobacterium , Lactobacillus , Clostridium , Escherichia , Parabacteroides and Staphylococcus .…”

“…Furthermore, a combination of BMO and lactose proved to support growth of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum , while at the same time inhibiting growth of C. perfringens and E. coli [ 9 ]. Thus, there appears to be a potential benefit in introducing a bifidogenic effect by including BMO as a prebiotic ingredient in infant formula.…”

The Relationship Between Breast Milk Components and the Infant Gut Microbiota

“…An association between lactose concentration and the colonic microbiota composition in formula-fed piglets has been described (204). In vitro data also suggest a synergy between lactose and oligosaccharides on B. longum growth (205). Similarly to lipids, the data on the role of lactose on the infant microbiota are scarce.…”