Strain-Specific Probiotic Properties of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli for the Prevention of Diarrhea Caused by Rotavirus in a Preclinical Model

Abstract

Probiotic supplementation with different lactobacilli and bifidobacterial strains has demonstrated beneficial effects in infectious diarrhea caused by rotavirus (RV) in young children. Preclinical models of RV infection might be a good strategy to screen for the efficacy of new probiotic strains or to test their comparative efficacy. Neonatal Lewis rats were supplemented with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, or Lactobacillus salivarius PS2 from days 2–14 of life. On day five, animals received RV SA-11 orally. Fecal samples were collected daily, weighed, and scored for the calculation of severity and incidence of diarrhea. In addition, fecal pH and fecal viral shedding were measured. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the study and their blood was obtained for the quantification of RV-specific immunoglobulins. RV infection was induced in ~90% of the animals. All probiotics caused a reduction of several clinical variables of severity and incidence of diarrhea, except L. salivarius PS2. L. acidophilus NCFM, B. breve M-16V, and L. helveticus R0052 seemed to be very effective probiotic strains. In addition, all Lactobacillus strains reduced the viral elimination one day post-inoculation. No differences were detected in the specific anti-RV humoral response. The present study highlights the strain-specific effects of probiotics and identifies promising probiotics for use in ameliorating and preventing RV-induced diarrhea in children, for example by including them in infant formulas.

Sexual Dimorphism Has Low Impact on the Response against Rotavirus Infection in Suckling Rats

“…Previous studies in humans and in our rat model have also shown a disbiosis associated with the infection and have shown how the modulation of the microbiota composition is associated with clinical amelioration [ 46 ]. Specific bacterial strains and particular prebiotics have been shown to improve RV gastroenteritis by both direct and indirect mechanisms, such as pathogen aggregation or immunomodulation, respectively [ 25 , 28 ]. Therefore, gut microbiota sexual dimorphism should also be addressed in future studies.…”

“…A total of 23 Lewis pregnant rats obtained from Janvier Labs (Le Genest-Saint-Isle, France) and Harlan (Barcelona, Spain) were used. Animals included in this study were derived from previous independent studies [ 20 , 21 , 25 , 26 ], allowing enough power analysis to draw conclusions. In all cases, gestating rats were housed individually in cages, monitored daily and allowed to deliver at term.…”

Can Probiotics and Diet Promote Beneficial Immune Modulation and Purine Control in Coronavirus Infection?

“…Probiotic supplements with lactobacilli and bifidobacterial strains are well-established as part of the treatment of infectious diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Azagra-Boronat and Massot-Cladera [ 76 ] showed that probiotics decreased the severity and incidence of diarrhea in the preclinical assay. Furthermore, probiotics and their metabolites have been investigated as adjuvants in immunotherapy for viral hepatitis cirrhosis [ 77 ].…”

The Effectiveness of Probiotics against Viral Infections: A Rapid Review with Focus on SARS-CoV-2 Infection

“…Later, in 2017, Park et al [97] reach similar results after administering B. longum BORI and L. acidophilus AD031 to infants infected with rotavirus. A more recent study has proven that specific probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus salivarius PS2, L. acidophilus NCFM, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, and Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 have the ability to reduce the severity of rotavirus infection [98].…”