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Restoring Bifidobacterium Infantis EVC001 to the Infant Gut Microbiome Significantly Reduces Intestinal Inflammation (OR12-01-19).

Objectives
Several seminal publications identify that Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) has uniquely evolved to be the predominant strain in the breastfed infant gut; however, recent cohort studies indicate it is now far less abundant in infants born in industrialized nations, along with increased abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria and gut dysbiosis. Importantly, recent clinical studies show enteric dysbiosis during the first 100 days of life can lead to higher risk of allergic and autoimmune-mediated disorders later in life. Given the importance of the microbiome for immune system development, we investigated the effect of B. infantis EVC001 consumption on intestinal inflammation in a cohort of healthy, term infants.


Methods
Forty (n = 40) infants were randomly selected from the previously conducted clinical study in which healthy, exclusively breastfed infants were either fed B. infantis EVC001 daily for 21 days, starting at day 7 postpartum, or received breastmilk alone. Stool samples were collected at multiple times postnatally and analyzed for cytokine production using a multiplex system and calprotectin ELISA.


Results
Baseline analysis indicated infants randomized to the EVC001 group produced naturally higher levels of IL2, IL5, IL6, IL10, TNFa and IFNg and lower levels of IL1b (all P < 0.01); however, by day 40, infants fed EVC001 produced significantly decreased cytokines, IL1b, IL6, IL8, IL22, TNFa and IFNg (all P < 0.0001) and IL-5 (P = 0.024), and at day 60 postpartum (all P < 0.001) and IL5 (P = 0.013). Fecal calprotectin concentration was significantly decreased in infants whose gut microbiome contained Bifidobacterium (P = 9.61e-05).


Conclusions
This study is the first to demonstrate a significant impact of B. infantis EVC001 on immune homeostasis in breastfed infants during a critical window of immune system development. Infants fed EVC001 produced significantly less proinflammatory cytokines and fecal calprotectin compared to control infants. Notably, TNFa, IL1b, and IFNg, which increase intestinal permeability, were significantly elevated in control infants. This may play an important mechanistic role in explaining the chronic intestinal inflammation observed in infants not colonized with B. infantis. These critical data provide a new understanding of the role of the infant gut microbiome in immune system development and provide novel applications to address chronic inflammation through modulation of gut dysbiosis.


Funding Sources
Industry funded.