Specific Proliferative and Antibody Responses of Premature Infants to Intestinal Colonization with Nonpathogenic Probiotic E. coli Strain Nissle 1917

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of oral administration of E. coli Nissle 1917 on the systemic humoral and cellular immunity in premature infants. Thirty-four premature infants were colonized with E. coli Nissle 1917 in a randomized, placebo-controlled blinded clinical trial. Stool samples of infants were analyzed repeatedly for the presence of the administered strain. The proliferative response to bacterial antigens of E. coli origin was measured in whole blood of 34 colonized infants and 27 noncolonized controls. E. coli colonization induced a significant increase in the proliferation of blood cells cultivated with bacterial components of E. coli Nissle 1917 and another E. coli strain in colonized infants as compared with noncolonized controls. Significantly higher amounts of specific anti-E. coli Nissle 1917 antibodies (Ab) of immunoglobulin (Ig)A isotype and nonspecific polyclonal IgM were found in the blood of colonized infants compared to noncolonized placebo controls. We concluded that the oral application of E. coli Nissle 1917 after birth significantly stimulates specific humoral and cellular responses and simultaneously induces nonspecific natural immunity.

The role of gut microbiota (commensal bacteria) and the mucosal barrier in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer: contribution of germ-free and gnotobiotic animal models of human diseases

“…Probiotics have been shown to favorably influence the development and stability of the microbiota, inhibit the colonization by pathogens, influence the mucosal barrier by trophic effects on the intestinal epithelium, protect against physiological stress, and stimulate both specific and nonspecific components of the immune system. 139,[157][158][159][160][161][162][163] Probiotics may well replace antibiotics whose resistance has been steadily increasing. Similar to the effects of microbiota, the effects of administration of probiotics and prebiotics are being intensively studied.…”

Toward a live microbial microbicide for HIV: Commensal bacteria secreting an HIV fusion inhibitor peptide

“…Nissle 1917 is an excellent colonizer in mice and humans and has been detected in infants up to 6 months after initial administration (17)(18)(19)(20)(21). Analysis of the genome structure of Nissle 1917 reveals the presence of numerous fitness factors, including multiple iron uptake systems, proteases, bacteriocins, fimbriae, and other adhesions (22).…”

Probiotics and prebiotics — renaissance of a therapeutic principle

“…Intestinal colonization of infants with nonpathogenic E. coli O83:K24:H1 significantly prevented nosocomial infections [170]. Both this strain and E. coli Nissle 1917 increased specific IgA and IgM antibodies [128,171] and induced nonspecific immune responses in full-term as well as premature infants [44]. A long-term follow-up of children colonized with E. coli O83 proved a significantly lower occurrence of allergic conditions after 10 and 20 years as well as of recurrent infections after 10 years [172].…”

“…The effects of probiotics are based on a variety of properties: (1) Competition with pathogenic microbes for adherence to intestinal epithelium [32][33][34], (2) Synthesis of peptides with bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity (colicins, microcins [35], (3) Regulation of intestinal barrier function and microbial translocation [36][37][38][39], (4) Modulation of function of intestinal epithelia and dendritic cells [40][41][42][43], (5) Influence on local and systemic immune response [44][45][46][47][48], (6) Inhibition of pathogen overgrowth [49], (7) Stimulation of toxin elimination [50], (8) Synthesis of steroids from cholesterol [51,52], (9) Influence on secretion of mucus, absorption, motility, and splanchnic blood flow [53].…”