Clasado BioSciences (United Kingdom)

Background/Objectives: The objectives of this study were to systematically review the literature on the effects of prebiotics and synbiotics on asthma control, lung function and asthma-associated inflammation from murine and human trials. Methods: A systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines across multiple databases. A meta-analysis was performed on murine trials assessing asthma-associated inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, whilst a narrative review of human studies assessed asthma control, lung function, and inflammation. Results: Seventeen studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion; eleven murine studies were included for meta-analysis and six human studies were for narrative review. The meta-analysis revealed significant effects of prebiotics and synbiotics on multiple markers of asthma-associated inflammation. Prebiotic intervention significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) and various cell counts, including neutrophil, macrophage, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and total bronchoalveolar (BALF). Synbiotics were also effective in reducing type 2 cytokines, including, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and lymphocytes, eosinophils, and total BALF cell count. A narrative review of human intervention trials of prebiotics and/or synbiotics revealed improvements in lung function, asthma control, and systemic and airway inflammation. Conclusions: This review indicates that dietary prebiotics and synbiotics may be suitable adjunct treatments to support asthma management, but further well-controlled human RCTs are required.

Background: Prebiotics are selectively used by host microorganisms to promote health. Because effective prebiotic doses (1.5–30 g/day) often require inconvenient delivery formats, this study aims to explore whether capsule-compatible doses of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) can effectively modulate the gut microbiome. Methods: The impact of Bimuno® GOS (Reading, UK) at 0.5, 0.75, 1.83, and 3.65 g on the adult gut microbiome was assessed using the ex vivo SIFR® technology (n = 8), a clinically validated, bioreactor-based technology. Results: The GOS were rapidly fermented and significantly increased beneficial Bifidobacterium species (B. adolescentis, B. bifidum, and B. longum), even at the lowest tested dose. In doing so, GOS strongly promoted SCFA production, particularly acetate (significant from 0.5 g) and butyrate (significant from 0.75 g). Gas production only mildly increased, likely as Bifidobacterium species do not produce gases. Based on the ability of the SIFR® technology to cultivate strictly anaerobic, hard-to-culture gut microbes, unlike in past in vitro studies, we elucidated that GOS also enriched specific Lachnospiraceae species. Besides Anaerobutyricum hallii, this included Bariatricus comes, Blautia species (B. massiliensis, Blautia_A, B. faecis), Oliverpabstia intestinalis, Mediterraneibacter faecis, and Fusicatenibacter species. Finally, GOS also promoted propionate (significant from 0.75 g), linked to increases in Phocaeicola vulgatus. Conclusions: GOS displayed prebiotic potential at capsule-compatible doses, offering greater flexibility in nutritional product formulation and consumer convenience. Notably, the strong response at the lowest dose suggests effective microbiome modulation at lower levels than previously expected.

BackgroundDifferent dietary approaches, such as gluten and casein free diets, or the use of probiotics and prebiotics have been suggested in autistic spectrum disorders in order to reduce gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances. GI symptoms are of particular interest in this population due to prevalence and correlation with the severity of behavioural traits. Nowadays, there is lack of strong evidence about the effect of dietary interventions on these problems, particularly prebiotics. Therefore, we assessed the impact of exclusion diets and a 6-week Bimuno® galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS®) prebiotic intervention in 30 autistic children.ResultsThe results showed that children on exclusion diets reported significantly lower scores of abdominal pain and bowel movement, as well as lower abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Veillonellaceae family, but higher presence of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bacteroides spp. In addition, significant correlations were found between bacterial populations and faecal amino acids in this group, compared to children following an unrestricted diet. Following B-GOS® intervention, we observed improvements in anti-social behaviour, significant increase of Lachnospiraceae family, and significant changes in faecal and urine metabolites.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study where the effect of exclusion diets and prebiotics has been evaluated in autism, showing potential beneficial effects. A combined dietary approach resulted in significant changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolism suggesting that multiple interventions might be more relevant for the improvement of these aspects as well as psychological traits.Trial registrationNCT02720900; registered in November 2015.

The individual contributions of four β-galactosidases present in Bifidobacterium bifidum NCIMB 41171 toward galactooligosaccharide (GOS) synthesis were investigated. Although the β-galactosidase activity of the whole cells significantly decreased as a function of temperature (40-75 °C), GOS yield was at its maximum at 65 °C. Native-PAGE of the whole cells showed that the contributions of BbgIII and BbgIV to GOS synthesis increased as the temperature increased. Moreover, BbgIII and BbgIV were found to be more temperature stable and to produce a higher GOS yield than BbgI and BbgII, when used in their free form. The GOS yield using BbgIV was 54.8% (percent of total carbohydrates) and 63.9% (percent lactose converted to GOS) at 65 °C from 43% w/w lactose. It was shown that BbgIV is the most important β-galactosidase in B. bifidum NCIMB 41171 and can be used for GOS synthesis at elevated temperatures.

The prebiotic Bimuno is a mixture containing galactooligosaccharide, produced by the galactosyltransferase activity of Bifidobacterium bifidum NCIMB 41171 in the presence of lactose. Previous studies have implicated prebiotics in reducing infections by enteric pathogens, thus it was hypothesized that Bimuno may confer some protection in the murine host from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infection. In this study, infection caused by S. Typhimurium SL1344nal(r) in the presence or absence of Bimuno was assessed using tissue culture assays, a murine ligated ileal gut loop model and a murine oral challenge model. In tissue culture adherence and invasion assays with HT-29-16E cells, the presence of approximately 2 mM Bimuno significantly reduced the invasion of S. Typhimurium SL1344nal(r) (P<0.0001). In the murine ligated ileal gut loops, the presence of Bimuno prevented colonization and the associated pathology of S. Typhimurium. In the BALB/c mouse model, the oral delivery of Bimuno prior to challenge with S. Typhimurium resulted in significant reductions in colonization in the five organs sampled, with highly significant reductions being observed in the spleen at 72 and 96 h post-challenge (P=0.0002, <0.0001, respectively). Collectively, the results indicate that Bimuno significantly reduced the colonization and pathology associated with S. Typhimurium infection in a murine model system, possibly by reducing the invasion of the pathogen into host cells.