Next Article in Journal
Impact of the Co-Administration of N-3 Fatty Acids and Olive Oil Components in Preclinical Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Models: A Mechanistic View
Next Article in Special Issue
Safety Assessment of Bacteroides Uniformis CECT 7771, a Symbiont of the Gut Microbiota in Infants
Previous Article in Journal
An Acute, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Blind, Crossover, Dose-Response, Exploratory Study to Assess the Effects of New Zealand Pine Bark Extract (Enzogenol®) on Glycaemic Responses in Healthy Participants
Previous Article in Special Issue
A Probiotic Preparation Hydrolyzes Gliadin and Protects Intestinal Cells from the Toxicity of Pro-Inflammatory Peptides
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Nutrients
Volume 12
Issue 2
10.3390/nu12020498
nutrients-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

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

by
Ignasi Azagra-Boronat
1,2,
Malén Massot-Cladera
1,2,
Karen Knipping
3,4,
Johan Garssen
3,4,
Kaouther Ben Amor
3,
Jan Knol
3,5,
Àngels Franch
1,2,
Margarida Castell
1,2,
María J. Rodríguez-Lagunas
1,2,* and
Francisco J. Pérez-Cano
1,2
1
Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
2
Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
3
Danone Nutricia Research, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
4
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CA Utrecht, The Netherlands
5
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2020, 12(2), 498; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12020498
Submission received: 25 January 2020 / Revised: 10 February 2020 / Accepted: 13 February 2020 / Published: 15 February 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Prebiotics and Probiotics in Health and Disease)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

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.

1. Introduction

Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host” [1]. Several commensal microorganisms with probiotic properties are known to reside in the gastrointestinal tract of humans as part of the microbiota [2]. In this context, probiotics are currently being used to prevent illness, improve health, and treat intestinal diseases such as infections triggered by numerous pathogens, including viruses [2,3,4]. In the past decades there has been an increasing interest in the use of probiotics to prevent and ameliorate viral diarrhea [5,6].
The most common viral forms of gastroenteritis are caused by the rotavirus (RV), norovirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus [7,8]. RV is the main cause of diarrheal death among children <5 years worldwide, accounting for 146,000 deaths in 2015 [9]. The disease burden of RV is substantial in both developed and developing countries; in fact, almost every child has been infected by the age of 5, and probably more than once, because reinfections are frequent [10,11,12]. Although RV vaccines are available to prevent the infection, they are not globally implemented due to their high cost, cold storage requirements, and the lower protection they offer in developing countries as a consequence of malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and suboptimal breastfeeding [13,14]. Treatment of RV diarrhea mainly relies on oral rehydration solutions to replace fluid loss. However, this strategy is not effective in reducing the severity and shortening the duration of the disease [15,16].
Several studies have reported beneficial outcomes in terms of RV severity and duration after the use of probiotics. Among the mechanisms involved in the protection or amelioration of RV infection, it has been reported that probiotics may reinforce the mucosal barrier [5,17], stimulate the production of antimicrobial substances (such as lactic acid or H2O2) [7,18,19] and mucins [20,21], modulate the innate and adaptive immune response [5,22,23,24], interfere in the adherence and replication process [25,26,27], and reduce chloride secretion and oxidative stress [28].
Prevention and management of RV infection and symptoms in babies have been mainly studied using Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains [5,7,29,30,31]. However, before moving to clinical trials, the safety and efficacy of probiotics need to be proven in preclinical models. In this sense, preclinical evidence has been accumulated for the following species: Lactobacillus casei [32,33,34], Lactobacillus plantarum [31], Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG [5,14,26,35], Bifidobacterium adolescentis [34], Bifidobacterium bifidum [29], Bifidobacterium infantis [29], Bifidobacterium breve [13,36], and Bifidobacterium lactis [35]. In addition, these previous studies led to the further study of the clinical evidence for the following species: Lactobacillus acidophilus [16,20,32,37], L. casei [26], Lactobacillus reuteri [38,39], L. rhamnosus GG [16,17,20,22,40,41,42,43], Lactobacillus sporogenes [44,45], B. lactis [46,47,48], and Bifidobacterium longum [16,20,37].
Some studies show the efficacy of certain probiotics for preventing and ameliorating RV diarrhea, but little is known about the strain-specific compared efficacy. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish and compare the strain-specific activity of four probiotics belonging to different Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera and origin sources (feces, dairy culture, and breastmilk), with potential for pediatric use, in RV diarrhea induced in neonatal rats.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Animals

G15 pregnant Lewis rats (LEW/OrlRj, n = 18) were obtained from Janvier Labs (Le Genest-saint-Isle, France), and for the purpose of nesting and undisturbed delivery individually housed in cages (2184L Eurostandard Type II L, Tecniplast, West Chester, PA, USA) containing bedding of large fibrous particles (Souralit 1035, Bobadeb S.L., Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Spain) and tissue papers (Gomà-Camps S.A.U., La Riba, Spain). Pregnant rats were monitored daily and allowed to deliver at term. The day of birth was established as day 1 of life. On day 2, litters were randomly assigned to the six experimental groups (three dams with their litters/group) and culled to eight pups per lactating dam, with a similar number of each sex in each litter. Dams had free access to a commercial diet corresponding to the American Institute of Nutrition 93M formulation [49] (Teklad Global Diet 2014, Envigo, Indianapolis, IN, USA) and water. To avoid the influence and disturbance of biological rhythms, animal handling was performed on a scheduled basis during the first hours of the light phase. Daily handling and oral administration were performed after separating all the mothers and keeping the pups in the home-cage. Afterwards, the dam was reunited with the whole litter. Animals were housed under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity in a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle, in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science animal facility (University of Barcelona, Spain). All experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with the institutional guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals and were approved by the Ethical Committee for Animal Experimentation of the University of Barcelona and the Catalan Government (CEEA-UB Ref. 74/05 and DAAM 3046, respectively), in full compliance with national legislation following the EU-Directive 2010/63/EU for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.

2.2. Experimental Design

Upon natural delivery, newborn rats were distributed into six groups of 24 animals each (three litters of eight animals/group): the reference (REF) group, the rotavirus-infected (RV) group, and four rotavirus-infected groups supplemented with: (1) Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, isolated from feces of a healthy infant [50]; (2) Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, isolated from adult human feces [51]; (3) Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, isolated from dairy culture [52]; and (4) Lactobacillus salivarius LMG P-27027 also referred to as Lactobacillus salivarius PS2, isolated from human milk [53]. All supplementations were provided by Danone Nutricia Research (Utrecht, The Netherlands).
Suckling rats received oral administration once daily, as previously described [13], with the same normalized volume/body weight of vehicle or probiotics (5.5 µL/g/day), from days 2–14 of life, corresponding to the strict lactation period. The probiotics were administered at a dose of 1 × 109 CFU/100 g/day. Finally, the REF and RV groups received the same volume of water.
The RV (simian SA-11) was obtained as previously described [54], and inoculation took place at day 5 of life (4 × 108 Tissue Culture Infectious Dose 50 (TCID50)/rat) in all the experimental groups with the exception of the REF group, which received the same volume of phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) under the same conditions.
Body weight was recorded daily, and the weight gain was studied in the pre-diarrhea, diarrhea, and post-diarrhea periods. Moreover, the body mass index (BMI) was calculated as body weight/length2 (g/cm2), and the Lee Index was calculated as (weight0.33/length) × 1000 (g0.33/cm). Animals were sacrificed on day 14 in order to analyze the effects of the supplementations once the diarrhea was resolved.

2.3. Sample Collection and Clinical Indices

Fecal sampling was performed once daily throughout the study (from day 4 to day 14 of life) by gently pressing and massaging the abdomen. Fecal samples were stored at −20 °C for the analysis of RV shedding and pH measurement. Severity of diarrhea was expressed by fecal weight and by scoring fecal samples from 1 to 4 (diarrhea index, DI) based on color, texture, and amount, as follows: normal feces (1); soft yellow-green feces (2); totally loose yellow-green feces (3); high amount of watery feces (4). Scores ≥2 indicate diarrheic feces, whereas scores <2 indicate absence of diarrhea [54]. The severity-area under the curve (S-AUC) during days 5–11, coinciding with the period in which animals displayed diarrhea, was calculated as a global value of severity. The maximum severity (MS) was defined as the highest score during the period with diarrhea.
Incidence of diarrhea was expressed by the percentage of diarrheic animals (%DA), which was based on the percentage of animals displaying scores of DI ≥ 2 in each group. The incidence-area under the curve (I-AUC) during days 5–11, coinciding with the period in which animals displayed diarrhea, was calculated as a global value of incidence. The maximum incidence (MI) was defined as the highest %DA during the diarrhea period.
The beginning and final day of diarrhea (BDD and FDD, respectively) were recorded. The diarrhea period (DP) was calculated as the interval between BDD and FDD. The days with diarrhea (DwD) were calculated by counting the actual number of days in which the animals displayed DI ≥ 2 within the DP.
At days 8 and 14, half of each litter were intramuscularly injected with ketamine (90 mg/kg) (Merial Laboratories S.A., Barcelona, Spain) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) (Bayer A.G., Leverkusen, Germany) to induce terminal anesthesia. Plasma was obtained after blood centrifugation and kept at −20 °C for immunoglobulin (Ig) analysis.

2.4. Fecal SA11 Shedding

Fecal samples from day 6 (1 day post-inoculation, DPI) were diluted in PBS (10 mg/mL) and homogenized using Pellet Pestles Cordless Motor (Sigma-Aldrich, Madrid, Spain). Homogenates were centrifuged (170 g, 5 min, 4 °C) and supernatants were frozen at −20 °C until analysis. SA-11 virus particles were quantified by ELISA, as previously described [55]. Briefly, wells were coated with anti-p42 Mab (Meridian Life Science, Memphis, TN, USA) and blocked with PBS–BSA 1%. Afterwards, samples were added to PBS-Tween–1% BSA (3 h, room temperature (RT)). Polyclonal sheep anti-RV peroxidase-conjugated antibody (MyBioSource, San Diego, CA, USA) was added (2 h, RT). Captured SA-11 virus particles were quantified by adding substrate solution and measuring the absorbance on a microtiter plate photometer (Labsystems, Helsinki, Finland) after stopping the enzymatic reaction with 3 M H2SO4. Data were interpolated by means of Multiskan Ascent v.2.6. software (Thermo Fisher Scientific SLU, Barcelona, Spain). Titrated dilutions of inactivated SA-11 particles, ranging from 106 to 104 / mL, were used as standard curve.

2.5. Fecal pH Measurement

The fecal pH was determined by means of a surface electrode coupled to a pH-meter (Crison 52 07, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain). The fecal sample was diluted with distilled water up to a concentration of 200 mg/mL and placed in a petri dish. The measures were performed in triplicate for each sample.

2.6. Specific Humoral Response

Plasma concentrations of anti-RV total Ig and IgM on day 14 were quantified by ELISA technique. Hence, 96-well plates (Nunc Maxisorp, Wiesbaden, Germany) were coated with UV-inactivated SA-11 at 105 particles/mL. Then, plates were blocked with PBS–1% bovine serum albumin and diluted sera (1/8) was added. After washing, polyclonal anti-rat Ig-peroxidase for the quantification of total Ig (Dakocytomation, Glostrup, Denmark) or biotin anti-rat IgM G53-238 Mab (BD Biosciences, Heidelberg, Germany) was added. Subsequently, peroxidase-conjugated extravidin (Sigma-Aldrich, Madrid, Spain) was added. Finally, the substrate solution of o-phenylenediamine and hydrogen peroxide was added. After stopping the enzymatic reaction with 3 M H2SO4, the absorbance was measured at 492 nm using a microtiter plate photometer (Labsystems, Helsinki, Finland). Data were interpolated by means of Multiskan Ascent v2.6 software (Thermo Fisher Scientific SLU, Barcelona, Spain). The standard used was pooled sera of RV-inoculated dams ranging from 1/80 to 1/5120 for the analysis of total Ig and from 1/8 to 1/800 for the analysis of IgM. The highest dilution in each analysis corresponded to 1 arbitrary unit (AU).

2.7. Statistical Analysis

The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v22.0) (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Data were tested for homogeneity of variance and normality distribution by the Levene’s and Shapiro–Wilk tests, respectively. When data was homogeneous and had a normal behavior, conventional one-way ANOVA test followed by the post hoc Bonferroni was performed. Otherwise, the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test followed by the post hoc Mann–Whitney U (MWU) test was performed. Finally, the chi-square test was used to compare percentages of diarrhea incidence. Significant differences were established when p < 0.05.
The number of pups in each group was established by the Appraising Project Office’s program from the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (Alicante), which allowed the detection of statistically significant differences among groups assuming that there was no dropout rate and a type I error of 0.05 (two-sided). Moreover, independently of the number of animals obtained before, at least three litters were required for each group, as previous studies demonstrated remarkable variability between litters [55]. According to the estimation performed, three litters of eight animals per group were sufficient. The final number of animals was not affected by the dropouts or outliers, as they did not occur in the present study.

3. Results

3.1. Growth and Morphometry

The weight of the animals was similar in most of the groups throughout the study (Figure 1A). Moreover, RV infection did not induce body weight loss, as shown on comparison to the REF group. However, although some differences appeared in specific days due to the probiotic supplementations, only the group receiving L. salivarius PS2 showed consistently higher body weight throughout the study compared to the RV group (p < 0.05). In terms of body weight gain (Figure 1B), the L. acidophilus NCFM group displayed ~7% more weight gain in the diarrhea period and the L. salivarius PS2 group ~5% more in the post-diarrhea period, as compared to the RV group.
The analysis of morphometric variables was performed at the end of the study (Table 1). Although we did not observe body weight loss due to RV infection, the body mass index of the RV group was slightly lower than that of the REF group (p < 0.05). In addition, the supplementation with L. salivarius PS2 induced higher BMI and Lee Index (p < 0.05), confirming the previous results on body weight. The rest of the supplementations did not show any effects on these variables.

3.2. Clinical Evaluation of Diarrhea

Diarrhea was studied in terms of severity and incidence variables (Figure 2 and Table 2). RV infection resulted in a mild diarrhea in suckling rats, with DI scores around 2–3, showing the peak of severity (MSd) and incidence (MId) on day 8 and an overall prevalence of diarrhea (%DA) of 88.9%, similarly to previous studies [13,56]. The B. breve M-16V, L. acidophilus NCFM, and L. helveticus R0052 groups displayed clinical amelioration of severity (DI) and incidence (%DA) during the peak of diarrhea (p < 0.05 on day 8, Figure 2A–F). Moreover, animals receiving B. breve M-16V showed reduced DI on day 9 (p < 0.05, Figure 2A) and animals receiving L. acidophilus NCFM showed reduced DI and %DA on day 7 (p < 0.05, Figure 2C,D). The severity and incidence of the group supplemented with L. salivarius PS2 was similar to that of the RV group.
The mean severity-area under the curve (S-AUC) was calculated as a good indicator of the global process. Accordingly, the reduction in the DI score observed in the B. breve M-16V, L. acidophilus NCFM, and L. helveticus R0052 groups during the peak of diarrhea was reflected in a lower value of the S-AUC compared to the RV group (Figure 2A,C,E). Similarly, these three probiotic strains displayed lower values of the I-AUC (Figure 2B,D,F), with L. acidophilus NCFM being the most effective (~41% reduction), followed by B. breve M-16V (~34% reduction) and L. helveticus R0052 (~22% reduction). The S-AUC and I-AUC of the group supplemented with L. salivarius PS2 was comparable to the RV group.
Other variables associated to the severity, incidence and duration of diarrhea were also calculated (Table 2). The maximum severity (MS) was similar in all groups. However, the maximum severity day (MSd) was approximately half a day earlier in the animals receiving B. breve M-16V, L. acidophilus NCFM, and L. helveticus R0052, as compared to the RV group (p < 0.05). The maximum incidence (MI) was reduced by supplementations with B. breve M-16V (~40% reduction) and L. acidophilus NCFM (~34% reduction), as compared to the RV group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, all probiotic supplementations displayed the maximum incidence day (MId) between one day (L. helveticus and L. salivarius strains) and two days (B. breve and L. acidophilus strains) before the RV group. The duration of the diarrhea was also modified by probiotic supplementations. In this regard, animals receiving B. breve M-16V and L. acidophilus NCFM displayed the shortest duration, with a more than 50% reduction in both the diarrhea period (DP) and the days with diarrhea (DwD), as compared to the RV group (p < 0.05). In contrast, the supplementation with L. helveticus R0052 only evidenced a shorter DP (~27% reduction), as compared to the RV group (p < 0.05). None of these variables were affected due to the supplementation with L. salivarius PS2.
Finally, L. salivarius PS2 did not show any statistically significant differences as compared to the RV group in any of the variables analyzed.

3.3. Fecal Weight and pH

The fecal weight was measured throughout the study (Figure 3A), allowing us to characterize the diarrheic process. No differences in fecal weight were detected in the pre-diarrheic process in any of the groups. However, in the diarrhea period all groups infected with RV increased the fecal weight compared to the REF group (p < 0.05). All probiotic supplementations displayed a lower mean fecal weight in this period, from which only L. acidophilus NCFM evidenced statistical differences with the RV group (p < 0.05), although B. breve M-16V showed a tendency to reduction.
The fecal pH was measured before the infection (0 DPI) and after the infection (2, 3, and 4 DPI) (Figure 3B). No differences in fecal pH were observed at 0 and 2 DPI. Conversely, at 3 DPI the group supplemented with B. breve M-16V displayed a higher pH compared to REF group and the same was seen for L. salivarius PS2 compared to both the REF and RV groups (p < 0.05). Finally, all infected groups displayed a higher pH at 4 DPI compared to the REF group (p < 0.05), regardless of the probiotic supplementations.

3.4. Viral Shedding

The viral shedding was determined by ELISA at 1 DPI (Figure 4), which corresponded to the day of maximum elimination of RV [13,56]. All RV-infected groups displayed higher RV elimination compared to the REF group (p < 0.05), which acted as the background signal (no RV infection). All supplementations with Lactobacillus strains displayed a more than 60% reduction in the viral detection compared to the RV group (p < 0.05). No differences were detected when supplementing suckling rats with the Bifidobacterium strain.

3.5. Anti-RV Humoral Response

Once the RV infection was resolved, and coinciding with the end of the study (day 14), the determination of anti-RV specific Ig was performed (Figure 5). No differences were detected in the levels of anti-RV total Ig and IgM due to the RV infection or the probiotic supplementations.

4. Discussion

The role of probiotics in modulating RV diarrhea has gained interest in the past few decades. In this context, there is evidence that several Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains are effective against RV gastroenteritis [7,13]. Moreover, nowadays there is a vast number of probiotics commercially available, although only a few have been tested in the context of RV. Therefore, in the present study we performed a preclinical screening of four probiotic strains in the RV SA-11 model. The rationale behind the probiotic selection was established through pediatric use or following their source of origin linking with early life (i.e., isolation from infant feces or human milk). Moreover, some of them are actually included in infant formulas [50,57,58]. The dose was established in accordance with other studies [59,60]. The results of this study show a significant protective effect against RV-induced diarrhea in animals administered daily with B. breve 16-MV, L. acidophilus NCFM, and L. helveticus R0052.
RV infection did not modify the body weight of the animals in terms of absolute body weight and body weight gain. Nevertheless, we detected a slight decrease of the BMI at the end of the study in the group infected with RV without probiotic supplementation. This may suggest that probiotic intervention may prevent this low weight loss associated with RV infection. Overall, the induced diarrhea was moderate and did not have a relevant effect on the weight of the animals, which is a similar finding from previous studies in our lab using this RV SA-11 model [13,30,36,56].
The severity and incidence of RV diarrhea in the present study was moderate and similar to previous studies [13,30,36,56]. This model is optimal for characterizing nutritional components because it induces mild diarrhea. Stronger diarrhea models, such as those in mice and piglets [61,62], would most probably hinder the nutritional effects. Another advantage of this model is its high prevalence of ~90% in the RV group (percentage of animals with DI > 2 throughout the study).
All probiotics displayed positive effects in the clinical assessment of the RV diarrhea, with the exception of L. salivarius PS2 which did not modify the course of the diarrhea. B. breve M-16V, L. acidophilus NCFM, and L. helveticus R0052 reduced the severity of diarrhea on day 8, which corresponded with the day with the maximum severity (MSd) in the RV group. Moreover, these probiotics clearly reduced the incidence of diarrhea on the day of the maximum incidence (MId), reducing the I-AUC ~20%–40%, and thus indicating that they were effective in ameliorating RV diarrhea. Importantly, the duration of diarrhea, which is one of the outcomes analyzed in most studies, was also shortened (by 25%–60%). In previous studies in our lab we also found decreased severity, incidence, and duration of diarrhea following supplementation with B. breve M-16V [13,36]. Interestingly, a study by Liu et al. supplementing gnotobiotic pigs with L. acidophilus NCFM, the same strain used here, reported reduced duration and clinical score only when administering intermediate doses of the probiotic (103–106 CFU/day) [63]. Additionally, there is scientific evidence that L. acidophilus displays efficacy in reducing RV diarrhea duration in children [16,20,32,37,63]. However, most studies are performed with a mixture of probiotics, and the specific strain used is not detailed. Furthermore, although the severity of the disease is not usually scored directly, other indicators such as reduction of fever or reduced days of hospitalization are often reported [20,32,37]. In addition, L. helveticus R0052 seems to be a good candidate to ameliorate RV diarrhea. Nevertheless, there are no studies available in the context of RV, and thus, this opens up a new window for further study of this probiotic. Finally, the lack of action of L. salivarius PS2 in the clinical variables analyzed does not necessary imply that the strain is not effective against RV diarrhea, but rather that it did not show any effect in the conditions used here (e.g., dose, age of the animals, RV strain, length of the treatment). The probiotic strain L. salivarius LMG P-27027 (also referred to as L. salivarius PS2), has been recently isolated from human milk and has been shown in a clinical study to prevent infectious mastitis in lactating women by decreasing the mastitis incidence rates [64]. Furthermore, the authors demonstrated that when mastitis occurred, the milk bacterial counts in the probiotic group were significantly lower than those obtained in the placebo group. These results might suggest that L. salivarius LMG P-27027 (L. salivarius PS2) is effective in alleviating bacterial infection-related symptoms and not those related to viral infection.
The fecal weight is also a good objective indicator of the severity of diarrhea. In the present study we detected a three-fold increase in the fecal weight of the RV group compared to the REF group. All probiotic supplementations displayed a lower mean fecal weight during the diarrhea period, especially in the group supplemented with L. acidophilus NCFM, which reduced the mean fecal weight relative to the RV group by 30%. Accordingly, clinical studies in children reported a reduction in the number of stools per day after the supplementation with L. acidophilus [20,32]. Although in the present study we found a tendency to reduce the fecal weight in the B. breve M-16V group, previous studies in our group using this probiotic in the RV SA-11 model showed a clear reduction [13,36].
The fecal pH can also be an indicator of the diarrhea process because the intestinal pH is reduced as a consequence of the malabsorption of carbohydrates and electrolyte imbalance [65,66]. Conversely to past studies in our laboratory, we did not detect a drop in fecal pH due to RV infection in the peak of the diarrhea period [67]. Instead, we detected an increase of the fecal pH in the end of the diarrhea period in all groups infected with RV, independently of probiotic supplementation. Another study in our laboratory using a double infection RV model also displayed an increase of pH at 1 DPI in the primary infection [36]. Further studies should be conducted for its use in the assessment of the diarrhea process.
When RV arrives in the small intestine it infects epithelial cells and starts the replication process. Then, a high viral load is found in feces as a reflection of the elimination of the initial virus inoculum and the new virions produced. Herein, RV elimination in feces at 1 DPI, coinciding with the day of maximum elimination [13,56], was notably reduced in the groups supplemented with the Lactobacillus strains, but not Bifidobacterium. Accordingly, previous studies using B. breve M-16V did not show any reduction of viral shedding [13,36]. However, other Bifidobacterium strains, such as B. bifidum, have shown activity in the reduction of viral elimination in infants [68] and in mice [69]. On the other hand, herein the reduction of viral shedding exerted by Lactobacillus is in line with other studies, which found that L. rhamnosus GG was able to reduce RV elimination in gnotobiotic piglets infected with human RV [14] and in children [59]. In vitro studies have reported that Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus are able to inhibit RV infection [2,37], for example by interfering in the adhesion step. In this regard, it may be possible that glycans or other molecules found on the surface of the bacteria interact with the virus, therefore blocking the infection, similar to oligosaccharides present in breastmilk [70,71] and infant formula [13].
Finally, the specific anti-RV antibody response was not modified by the administration of probiotics, most probably because the humoral response on day 14 of life is still immature or is hindered by the Ig transferred through breastmilk. Indeed, no differences were observed between the non-infected and infected groups.

5. Conclusions

The present study provides insight into the potential of supplementation with specific probiotic strains in early life to prevent RV diarrhea. Particularly, this study highlights the differential efficacy of four bacterial strains, thus reinforcing the idea that probiotics have strain-specific effects [72,73]. L. acidophilus NCFM is a highly effective probiotic in the present experimental design, in addition to B. breve M-16V and L. helveticus R0052. Previous data in our lab also are in line with the finding that B. breve M-16V may prevent RV diarrhea [13,36]. A thorough study should be performed with L. acidophilus NCFM and L. helveticus R0052, which have shown promising effects in the present model. Moreover, although one of the means by which these probiotics confer protection might be the reduction of viral shedding, more studies should be performed in order to decipher the exact mechanisms of action involved.

Author Contributions

I.A.-B., M.M.-C., K.K., J.G., K.B.A., J.K., M.J.R.-L., À.F., M.C., F.J.P.-C. were involved in the experiments; I.A.-B. and F.J.P.-C. analyzed and interpreted the results and drafted the paper; all the authors contributed to the critical revision of the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from Danone Nutricia Research (FBG308185). IAB holds a fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (FPU15-02719).

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Anna Escalada and Marina Méndez for their support and assistance in this project.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research. K.K., J.G., K.B.A., and J.K. are employees of Danone Nutricia Research. J. Garssen is head of the Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science at the Utrecht University, and partly employed by Danone Nutricia Research. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Hill, C.; Guarner, F.; Reid, G.; Gibson, G.R.; Merenstein, D.J.; Pot, B.; Morelli, L.; Canani, R.B.; Flint, H.J.; Salminen, S.; et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotcs and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2014, 11, 506–514. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  2. Salas-Cárdenas, S.P.; Olaya-Galán, N.N.; Fernández, K.; Velez, F.; Guerrero, C.A.; Gutiérrez, M.F. Decreased rotavirus infection of MA104 cells via probiotic extract binding to Hsc70 and ß3 integrin receptors. Univ. Sci. 2018, 23, 219–239. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Verna, E.C.; Lucak, S. Use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders: What to recommend? Therap. Adv. Gastroenterol. 2010, 3, 307–319. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  4. Britton, R.A.; Versalovic, J. Probiotics and gastrointestinal infections. Interdiscip. Perspect. Infect. Dis. 2008, 2008, 290769. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Pant, N.; Marcotte, H.; Brüssow, H.; Svensson, L.; Hammarström, L. Effective prophylaxis against rotavirus diarrhea using a combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and antibodies. BMC Microbiol. 2007, 7, 86. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  6. Isolauri, E.; Kaila, M.; Mykkänen, H.; Ling, W.H.; Salminen, S. Oral bacteriotherapy for viral gastroenteritis. Dig. Dis. Sci. 1994, 39, 2595–2600. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  7. Gonzalez-Ochoa, G.; Flores-Mendoza, L.K.; Icedo-Garcia, R.; Gomez-Flores, R.; Tamez-Guerra, P. Modulation of rotavirus severe gastroenteritis by the combination of probiotics and prebiotics. Arch. Microbiol. 2017, 199, 953–961. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  8. Tran, A.; Talmud, D.; Lejeune, B.; Jovenin, N.; Renois, F.; Payan, C.; Leveque, N.; Andreoletti, L. Prevalence of rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus, and astrovirus infections and coinfections among hospitalized children. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2010, 48, 1943–1946. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  9. GBD. 2015 Mortality and Causes of Death Collaborators Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980−2015: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet 2016, 388, 1459–1544. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  10. Bishop, R. Discovery of rotavirus: Implications for child health. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2009, 24, S81–S85. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Crawford, S.E.; Ramani, S.; Tate, J.E.; Parashar, U.D.; Svensson, L.; Hagbom, M.; Franco, M.A.; Greenberg, H.B.; O’Ryan, M.; Kang, G.; et al. Rotavirus infection. Nat. Rev. Dis. Prim. 2018, 3, 17083. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  12. Latipov, R.; Utegenova, E.; Kuatbayeva, A.; Kasymbekova, K.; Abdykarimov, S.; Juraev, R.; Ismailov, U.; Flem, E. Epidemiology and burden of rotavirus disease in Central Asia. Int. J. Infect. Dis. 2011, 15, e464–e469. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  13. Rigo-Adrover, M.; Saldaña-Ruíz, S.; van Limpt, K.; Knipping, K.; Garssen, J.; Knol, J.; Franch, A.; Castell, M.; Pérez-Cano, F.J. A combination of scGOS/lcFOS with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V protects suckling rats from rotavirus gastroenteritis. Eur. J. Nutr. 2017, 56, 1657–1670. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  14. Kandasamy, S.; Vlasova, A.N.; Fischer, D.; Kumar, A.; Chattha, K.S.; Rauf, A.; Shao, L.; Langel, S.N.; Rajashekara, G.; Saif, L.J. Differential effects of Escherichia coli Nissle and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG on human rotavirus binding, infection, and B cell immunity. J. Immunol. 2016, 196, 1780–1789. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  15. Telmesani, A.M.A. Oral rehydration salts, zinc supplement and rotavirus vaccine in the management of childhood acute diarrhea. J. Fam. Community Med. 2010, 17, 79–82. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Grandy, G.; Medina, M.; Soria, R.; Terán, C.G.; Araya, M. Probiotics in the treatment of acute rotavirus diarrhoea. A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial using two different probiotic preparations in Bolivian children. BMC Infect. Dis. 2010, 10, 253. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  17. Sindhu, K.N.C.; Sowmyanarayanan, T.V.; Paul, A.; Babji, S.; Ajjampur, S.S.R.; Priyadarshini, S.; Sarkar, R.; Balasubramanian, K.A.; Wanke, C.A.; Ward, H.D.; et al. Immune response and intestinal permeability in children with acute gastroenteritis treated with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clin. Infect. Dis. 2014, 58, 1107–1115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Gänzle, M.G.; Höltzel, A.; Walter, J.; Jung, G.; Hammes, W.P. Characterization of reutericyclin produced by Lactobacillus reuteri LTH2584. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2000, 66, 4325–4333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  19. Reid, G. Probiotics in the treatment of diarrheal diseases. Curr. Infect. Dis. Rep. 2000, 2, 78–83. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Teran, C.G.; Teran-escalera, C.N.; Villarroel, P. Nitazoxanide vs. probiotics for the treatment of acute rotavirus diarrhea in children: A randomized, single-blind, controlled trial in Bolivian children. Int. J. Infect. Dis. 2009, 13, 518–523. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  21. Isolauri, E. The role of probiotics in paediatrics. Curr. Paediatr. 2004, 14, 104–109. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Kaila, M.; Isolauri, E.; Saxelin, M.; Arvilommi, H.; Vesikari, T. Viable versus inactivated Lactobacillus strain GG in acute rotavirus diarrhoea. Arch. Dis. Child. 1995, 72, 51–53. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  23. Liu, F.; Li, G.; Wen, K.; Bui, T.; Cao, D.; Zhang, Y.; Yuan, L. Porcine small intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) of rotavirus infection as a new model for the study of innate immune responses to rotaviruses and probiotics. Viral Immunol. 2010, 23, 135–149. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  24. Macpherson, C.; Audy, J.; Mathieu, O.; Tompkins, T.A. Multistrain probiotic modulation of intestinal epithelial cells’ immune response to a double-stranded RNA ligand, poly (IC). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2014, 80, 1692–1700. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  25. Varyukhina, S.; Freitas, M.; Bardin, S.; Robillard, E.; Tavan, E.; Sapin, C.; Grill, J.-P.; Trugnan, G. Glycan-modifying bacteria-derived soluble factors from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Lactobacillus casei inhibit rotavirus infection in human intestinal cells. Microbes Infect. 2012, 14, 273–278. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Maragkoudakis, P.A.; Chingwaru, W.; Gradisnik, L.; Tsakalidou, E.; Cencic, A. Lactic acid bacteria efficiently protect human and animal intestinal epithelial and immune cells from enteric virus infection. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 2010, 141, S91–S97. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Moreno Muñoz, J.A.; Chenoll, E.; Casinos, B.; Bataller, E.; Ramón, D.; Genovés, S.; Montava, R.; Ribes, J.M.; Buesa, J.; Fàbrega, J.; et al. Novel probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 strain active against rotavirus infections. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2011, 77, 8775–8783. [Google Scholar]
  28. Buccigrossi, V.; Laudiero, G.; Russo, C.; Miele, E.; Sofia, M.; Monini, M.; Ruggeri, F.M.; Guarino, A. Chloride secretion induced by rotavirus is oxidative stress-dependent and inhibited by Saccharomyces boulardii in human enterocytes. PLoS ONE 2014, 9, e99830. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  29. Qiao, H.; Duffy, L.C.; Griffiths, E.; Dryja, D.; Leavens, A.; Rossman, J.; Rich, G.; Riepenhoff-Talty, M.; Locniskar, M. Immune responses in rhesus rotavirus-challenged Balb/c mice treated with bifidobacteria and prebiotic supplements. Pediatr. Res. 2002, 51, 750–755. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Del Rigo-Adrover, M.M.; Knipping, K.; Garssen, J.; van Limpt, K.; Knol, J.; Franch, À.; Castell, M.; Rodríguez-Lagunas, M.J.; Pérez-Cano, F.J. Prevention of rotavirus diarrhea in suckling rats by a specific fermented milk concentrate with prebiotic mixture. Nutrients 2019, 11, 189. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  31. Thompson, A.; Van Moorlehem, E.; Aich, P. Probiotic-induced priming of innate immunity to protect against rotaviral infection. Probiotics Antimicro Prot. 2010, 2, 90–97. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  32. Gaon, D.; Garcia, H.; Winter, L.; Rodriguez, N.; Quintas, R.; Gonzalez, S.N.; Oliver, G. Effect of Lactobacillus strains and Saccharomyces boulardii on persistent diarrhea in children. Medicina 2003, 63, 293–298. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  33. Guérin-Danan, C.; Meslin, J.; Chambard, A.; Charpilienne, A.; Relano, P.; Bouley, C.; Cohen, J.; Andrieux, C. Nutrient interactions and toxicity food supplementation with milk fermented by Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 protects suckling rats from rotavirus-associated diarrhea. Nutr. Interact. Toxic. 2001, 131, 111–117. [Google Scholar]
  34. Olaya Galán, N.N.; Ulloa Rubiano, J.C.; Velez Reyes, F.A.; Fernandez Duarte, K.P.; Salas Cárdenas, S.P.; Gutierrez Fernandez, M.F. In vitro antiviral activity of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium adolescentis against rotavirus infection monitored by NSP4 protein production. J. Appl. Microbiol. 2016, 120, 1041–1051. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  35. Chattha, K.S.; Vlasova, A.N.; Kandasamy, S.; Rajashekara, G.; Saif, L.J. Divergent immunomodulating effects of probiotics on T cell responses to oral attenuated human rotavirus vaccine and virulent human rotavirus infection in a neonatal gnotobiotic piglet disease model. J. Immunol. 2013, 191, 2446–2456. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  36. Del Rigo-Adrover, M.M.; van Limpt, K.; Knipping, K.; Garssen, J.; Knol, J.; Costabile, A.; Franch, À.; Castell, M.; Pérez-cano, F.J. Preventive effect of a synbiotic combination of galacto- and fructooligosaccharides Mixture With Bifidobacterium breve M-16V in a model of multiple rotavirus infections. Front. Immunol. 2018, 9, 1318. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  37. Lee, D.K.; Park, J.E.; Kim, M.J.; Seo, J.G.; Lee, J.H.; Ha, N.J. Probiotic bacteria, B. longum and L. acidophilus inhibit infection by rotavirus in vitro and decrease the duration of diarrhea in pediatric patients. Clin. Res. Hepatol. Gastroenterol. 2015, 39, 237–244. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Shornikova, A.-V.; Casas, I.A.; Mykkänen, H.; Salo, E.; Vesikari, T. Bacterotherapy with Lactobacillus reuteri in rotavirus gastroenteritis. Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 1997, 16, 1103–1107. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Wanke, M.; Szajewska, H. Probiotics for preventing healthcare-associated diarrhea in children: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pediatr. Pol. 2014, 89, 8–16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Aggarwal, S.; Upadhyay, A.; Shah, D.; Teotia, N.; Agarwal, A.; Jaiswal, V. Lactobacillus GG for treatment of acute childhood diarrhoea: An open labelled, randomized controlled trial. Indian J. Med. Res. 2014, 379–385. [Google Scholar]
  41. Guandalini, S.; Pensabene, L.; Zikri, M.A.; Dias, J.A.; Casali, L.G.; Hoekstra, H.; Kolacek, S.; Massar, K.; Micetic–Turk, D.; Papadopoulou, A.; et al. Lactobacillus GG administered in oral rehydration solution to children with acute diarrhea: A multicenter european trial. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 2000, 30, 54–60. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  42. Guarino, A.; CAnani, R.B.; Spagnuolo, M.I.; Albano, F.; Di Benedetto, L. Oral bacterial therapy reduces the duration of symptoms and of viral excretion in children with mild diarrhea. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 1997, 25, 516–519. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  43. Isolauri, E.; Juntunen, M.; Rautanen, T.; Sillanaukee, P.; Koivula, T. A human Lactobacillus strain (Lactobacillus casei sp strain GG) promotes recovery from acute diarrhea in children. Pediatrics 1991, 88, 90–97. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  44. Chandra, R.K. Effect of Lactobacillus on the incidence and severity of acute rotavirus diarrhoea in infants. A prospective placebo-controlled double-blind study. Nutr. Res. 2002, 22, 65–69. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Dutta, P.; Mitra, U.; Dutta, S.; Rajendran, K.; Saha, T.K.; Chatterjee, M.K. Randomised controlled clinical trial of Lactobacillus sporogenes (Bacillus coagulans), used as probiotic in clinical practice, on acute watery diarrhoea in children. Trop. Med. Int. Health 2011, 16, 555–561. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  46. Mao, M.; Yu, T.; Xiong, Y.; Wang, Z.; Liu, H.; Gotteland, M.; Brunser, O. Effect of a lactose-free milk formula supplemented with bifidobacteria and streptococci on the recovery from acute diarrhoea. Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nutr. 2008, 17, 30–34. [Google Scholar]
  47. Phuapradit, P.; Vathanophas, K.; Podhipak, A.; Nopchinda, S.; Haschke, F.; Varavithya, W.; Sangchai, R.; Suthutvoravut, U.; Chantraruksa, V. Reduction of rotavirus infection in children receiving bifidobacteria-supplemented formula. J. Med. Assoc. Thai. 1999, 82, S43–S48. [Google Scholar]
  48. Erdogan, Ö.; Tanyeri, B.; Torun, E.; Gönüllü, E.; Arslan, H.; Erenberk, U.; Öktem, F. The comparition of the efficacy of two different probiotics in rotavirus gastroenteritis in children. J. Trop. Med. 2012, 2012, 787240. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  49. Reeves, P.G.; Nielsen, F.H.; Fahey, G.C. AIN-93 purified diets for laboratory rodents: Final report of the American Institute of Nutrition ad hoc Writing Committee on the reformulation of the AIN-76A rodent diet. J. Nutr. 1993, 123, 1939–1951. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Wong, C.B.; Iwabuchi, N.; Xiao, J. Exploring the science behind Bifidobacterium breve M-16V in infant health. Nutrients 2019, 11, 1724. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  51. Gilliland, S.E.; Speck, M.L.; Morgan, C.G. Detection of Lactobacillus acidophilus in feces of humans, pigs, and chickens. Appl. Microbiol. 1975, 30, 541–545. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  52. Tompkins, T.A.; Barreau, G.; Broadbent, J.R. Complete genome sequence of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, a commercial probiotic strain. J. Bacteriol. 2012, 194, 6349. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  53. Espinosa-Martos, I.; Jiménez, E.; de Andrés, J.; Rodríguez-Alcalá, L.M.; Tavárez, S.; Manzano, S.; Fernández, L.; Alonso, E.; Fontecha, J.; Rodríguez, J.M. Milk and blood biomarkers associated to the clinical efficacy of a probiotic for the treatment of infectious mastitis. Benef. Microbes 2016, 7, 305–318. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  54. Pérez-Cano, F.J.; Castell, M.; Castellote, C.; Franch, À. Characterization of clinical and immune response in a rotavirus diarrhea model in suckling Lewis rats. Pediatr. Res. 2007, 62, 658–663. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  55. Rigo-Adrover, M.; Pérez-Berezo, T.; Ramos-Romero, S.; van Limpt, K.; Knipping, K.; Garssen, J.; Knol, J.; Franch, À.; Castell, M.; Pérez-Cano, F.J. A fermented milk concentrate and a combination of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides/pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides protect suckling rats from rotavirus gastroenteritis. Br. J. Nutr. 2017, 117, 209–217. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  56. Azagra-Boronat, I.; Massot-Cladera, M.; Knipping, K.; van’t Land, B.; Stahl, B.; Garssen, J.; Rodríguez-Lagunas, M.J.; Franch, À.; Castell, M.; Pérez-Cano, F.J. Supplementation with 2’-FL and scGOS/lcFOS ameliorates rotavirus-induced diarrhea in suckling rats. Front. Cell Infect. Microbiol. 2018, 8, 372. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  57. Abrahamse-Berkeveld, M.; Alles, M.; Franke-Beckmann, E.; Helm, K.; Knecht, R.; Köllges, R.; Sandner, B.; Knol, J.; Ben Amor, K.; Bufe, A. Infant formula containing galacto-and fructo-oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V supports adequate growth and tolerance in healthy infants in a randomised, controlled, double-blind, prospective, multicentre study. J. Nutr. Sci. 2016, 5, e42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  58. Sanders, M.E.; Klaenhammer, T.R. Invited review: The scientific basis of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM functionality as a probiotic. J. Dairy Sci. 2001, 84, 319–331. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. Lee, H.; Hu, J.; Hou, S.; Liu, H.; Fang, H.; Free, R.; Hospital, M.M. Dose-dependent effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus on quantitative reduction of faecal rotavirus shedding in children. J. Trop. Pediatr. 2009, 55, 297–301. [Google Scholar]
  60. Basu, S.; Chatterjee, M.; Ganguly, S.; Chandra, P.K. Efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in acute watery diarrhoea of Indian children: A randomised controlled trial. J. Paediatr. Child Health 2007, 43, 837–842. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  61. Wolf, J.L.; Cukor, G.; Blacklow, N.R.; Dambrauskas, R.; Trier, J.S. Susceptibility of mice to rotavirus infection: Effects of age and administration of corticosteroids. Infect. Immun. 1981, 33, 565–574. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  62. Ciarlet, M.; Conner, M.E.; Finegold, M.J.; Estes, M.K. Group A rotavirus infection and age-dependent diarrheal disease in rats: A new animal model to study the pathophysiology of rotavirus infection. J. Virol. 2002, 76, 41–57. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  63. Liu, F.; Wen, K.; Li, G.; Yang, X.; Kocher, J.; Bui, T.; Jones, D.; Pelzer, K.; Clark-Deener, S.; Yuan, L. Dual functions of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM at the intermidiate dose in protection against rotavirus diarrhea in gnotobiotic pigs vaccinated with a human rotavirus vaccine. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 2014, 58, 171–178. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  64. Fernández, L.; Cárdenas, N.; Arroyo, R.; Manzano, S.; Jiménez, E.; Martín, V.; Rodríguez, J.M. Prevention of infectious mastitis by oral administration of Lactobacillus salivarius PS2 during late pregnancy. Clin. Infect. Dis. 2016, 62, 568–573. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  65. Sack, D.A.; Rhoads, M.; Molla, A.; Molla, A.M.; Wahed, M.A. Carbohydrate malabsorption in infants with rotavirus diarrhea. AM J Clin Nutr 1982, 36, 1112–1118. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  66. Gómez-gómez, M.; Danglot-banck, C.; Vega-franco, L. Intolerancia transitoria a lactosa: Criterios y procedimientos de diagnóstico. Rev. Mex. Pediatría 2007, 74, 24–31. [Google Scholar]
  67. Rigo-Adrover, M.D.M.; Knipping, K.; Garssen, J.; Saldaña-Ruíz, S.; Franch, À.; Castell, M.; Pérez-Cano, F.J. Rotavirus double infection model to study preventive dietary interventions. Nutrients 2019, 11, 131. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  68. Saavedra, J.M.; Bauman, N.A.; Perman, J.A.; Yolken, R.H.; Saavedra, J.M.; Bauman, N.A.; Oung, I. Feeding of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophilus to infants in hospital for prevention of diarrhoea and shedding of rotavirus. Lancet 1994, 344, 1046–1049. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  69. Duffy, L.C.; Zielezny, M.A.; Riepenhoff-Talty, M.; Dryja, D.; Sayahtaheri-Altaie, S.; Griffiths, E.; Ruffin, D.; Barrett, H.; Rossman, J.; Ogra, P.L. Effectiveness of Bifidobacterium bifidum in mediating the clinical course of murine rotavirus diarrhea. Pediatr. Res. 1994, 35, 690–695. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  70. Morozov, V.; Hansman, G.; Hanisch, F.G.; Schroten, H.; Kunz, C. Human milk oligosaccharides as promising antivirals. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2018, 62, 1700679. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  71. Bode, L. Human milk oligosaccharides: Every baby needs a sugar mama. Glycobiology 2012, 22, 1147–1162. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  72. Guarner, F.; Khan, A.G.; Garisch, J.; Eliakim, R.; Gangl, A.; Thomson, A.; Krabshuis, J.; Le Mair, T.; Kaufmann, P.; de Paula, J.A.; et al. World Gastroenterology Organisation practice guideline: Probiotics and prebiotics. Arab J. Gastroenterol. 2009, 10, 33–42. [Google Scholar]
  73. Fijan, S. Microorganisms with claimed probiotic properties: An overview of recent literature. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 4745–4767. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Nutrients 12 00498 g001 550
Figure 1. Assessment of animal growth. (A) Graph displaying the mean animal weight, which was measured daily from days 4 to 13 of life. (B) Graph displaying the body weight increase in the pre-diarrhea, diarrhea and post-diarrhea periods. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 24/group). * p < 0.05 compared to the reference (REF) group; # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus-infected (RV) group. B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Figure 1. Assessment of animal growth. (A) Graph displaying the mean animal weight, which was measured daily from days 4 to 13 of life. (B) Graph displaying the body weight increase in the pre-diarrhea, diarrhea and post-diarrhea periods. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 24/group). * p < 0.05 compared to the reference (REF) group; # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus-infected (RV) group. B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Nutrients 12 00498 g001
Nutrients 12 00498 g002 550
Figure 2. Clinical indices of diarrhea. Severity and incidence of diarrhea in animals receiving (A,B) B. breve M-16, (C,D) L. acidophilus NCFM, (E,F) L. helveticus R0052, and (G,H) L. salivarius PS2. The severity is expressed with the diarrhea index (DI) on a scale of 1 to 4. Scores of DI ≥ 2 indicate presence of diarrhea. The incidence of diarrhea is represented as the percentage of diarrheic animals (%DA), which corresponds to the percentage of animals displaying DI scores ≥ 2 in each group. The mean area under the curve (AUC) of severity and incidence, S-AUC and I-AUC, respectively, is represented with a colored shadow and its value is displayed in the right side of the graph. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 4–21/group, depending on fecal sample availability). # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus (RV) group. REF: reference; B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Figure 2. Clinical indices of diarrhea. Severity and incidence of diarrhea in animals receiving (A,B) B. breve M-16, (C,D) L. acidophilus NCFM, (E,F) L. helveticus R0052, and (G,H) L. salivarius PS2. The severity is expressed with the diarrhea index (DI) on a scale of 1 to 4. Scores of DI ≥ 2 indicate presence of diarrhea. The incidence of diarrhea is represented as the percentage of diarrheic animals (%DA), which corresponds to the percentage of animals displaying DI scores ≥ 2 in each group. The mean area under the curve (AUC) of severity and incidence, S-AUC and I-AUC, respectively, is represented with a colored shadow and its value is displayed in the right side of the graph. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 4–21/group, depending on fecal sample availability). # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus (RV) group. REF: reference; B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Nutrients 12 00498 g002
Nutrients 12 00498 g003 550
Figure 3. Fecal variables. (A) Mean fecal weight during the pre-diarrhea, diarrhea, and post-diarrhea periods. (B) Fecal pH before the infection (0 days post-inoculation, DPI) and after the infection (2, 3, and 4 DPI). Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 4–21/group, depending on fecal sample availability). * p < 0.05 compared to the reference (REF) group; # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus (RV) group. B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Figure 3. Fecal variables. (A) Mean fecal weight during the pre-diarrhea, diarrhea, and post-diarrhea periods. (B) Fecal pH before the infection (0 days post-inoculation, DPI) and after the infection (2, 3, and 4 DPI). Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 4–21/group, depending on fecal sample availability). * p < 0.05 compared to the reference (REF) group; # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus (RV) group. B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Nutrients 12 00498 g003
Nutrients 12 00498 g004 550
Figure 4. Fecal rotavirus elimination. The detection of rotavirus particles was performed in feces 1 DPI, which corresponded to the day of maximum elimination. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 6–10/group, depending on fecal sample availability). * p < 0.05 compared to the reference (REF) group; # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus (RV) group. B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Figure 4. Fecal rotavirus elimination. The detection of rotavirus particles was performed in feces 1 DPI, which corresponded to the day of maximum elimination. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 6–10/group, depending on fecal sample availability). * p < 0.05 compared to the reference (REF) group; # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus (RV) group. B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Nutrients 12 00498 g004
Nutrients 12 00498 g005 550
Figure 5. Specific anti-RV immunoglobulins (Ig). The quantification of anti-rotavirus (RV) Ig in plasma was performed by ELISA at the end of the study (day 14). The relative amount of (A) total and (B) IgM anti-RV Ig are displayed for the different experimental groups. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 24/group) of arbitrary units (AUs). The highest dilution of the standard (pooled sera) corresponded to 1 AU. REF: reference; B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Figure 5. Specific anti-RV immunoglobulins (Ig). The quantification of anti-rotavirus (RV) Ig in plasma was performed by ELISA at the end of the study (day 14). The relative amount of (A) total and (B) IgM anti-RV Ig are displayed for the different experimental groups. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 24/group) of arbitrary units (AUs). The highest dilution of the standard (pooled sera) corresponded to 1 AU. REF: reference; B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Nutrients 12 00498 g005
Table
Table 1. Growth-associated measurements at the end of the study (day 14).
Table 1. Growth-associated measurements at the end of the study (day 14).
REFRVB. breve M-16VL. acidophilus NCFML. helveticus R0052L. salivarius PS2
Morphometrics
BMI (g/cm2)0.31 ± 0.020.29 ± 0.01 *0.30 ± 0.010.30 ± 0.000.30 ± 0.000.32 ± 0.01 #
Body/tail length ratio2.12 ± 0.022.11 ± 0.042.05 ± 0.032.09 ± 0.022.03 ± 0.022.07 ± 0.03
Lee Index (g0.33/cm × 103)330.86 ± 2.90323.97 ± 2.92325.50 ± 2.51326.77 ± 2.03329.64 ± 2.44335.44 ± 3.79 #
Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 24/group). * p < 0.05 compared to the reference (REF) group. #p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus (RV) group. BMI: body mass index; B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.
Table
Table 2. Variables describing severity, incidence and duration of diarrhea.
Table 2. Variables describing severity, incidence and duration of diarrhea.
RVB. breve M-16VL. acidophilus NCFML. helveticus R0052L. salivarius PS2
Severity
MS2.20 ± 0.072.14 ± 0.132.06 ± 0.102.13 ± 0.122.23 ± 0.14
MSd7.40 ± 0.186.87 ± 0.21 #6.82 ± 0.21 #6.72 ± 0.23 #7.14 ± 0.26
Incidence
MI62.9637.50 #41.66 #54.5452.38
MId86677
Duration
DDB7.00 ± 0.186.84 ± 0.216.58 ± 0.236.62 ± 0.186.87 ± 0.31
DDE8.04 ± 0.197.29 ± 0.237.27 ± 0.307.63 ± 0.248.06 ± 0.32
DP0.93 ± 0.220.36 ± 0.12 #0.36 ± 0.17 #0.68 ± 0.23 #0.91 ± 0.28
DwD1.67 ± 0.211.14 ± 0.17 #0.86 ± 0.15 #1.35 ± 0.261.52 ± 0.29
Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 12–24/group depending on fecal sample availability), # p < 0.05 compared to the rotavirus (RV) group. MS: maximum severity; MSd: maximum severity day; MI: maximum incidence; MId: maximum incidence day; DDB: day of diarrhea beginning; DDE: day of diarrhea ending; DP: diarrhea period; DwD: days with diarrhea. REF: reference; B.: Bifidobacterium; L.: Lactobacillus.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Azagra-Boronat, I.; Massot-Cladera, M.; Knipping, K.; Garssen, J.; Ben Amor, K.; Knol, J.; Franch, À.; Castell, M.; Rodríguez-Lagunas, M.J.; Pérez-Cano, F.J. Strain-Specific Probiotic Properties of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli for the Prevention of Diarrhea Caused by Rotavirus in a Preclinical Model. Nutrients 2020, 12, 498. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12020498

AMA Style

Azagra-Boronat I, Massot-Cladera M, Knipping K, Garssen J, Ben Amor K, Knol J, Franch À, Castell M, Rodríguez-Lagunas MJ, Pérez-Cano FJ. Strain-Specific Probiotic Properties of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli for the Prevention of Diarrhea Caused by Rotavirus in a Preclinical Model. Nutrients. 2020; 12(2):498. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12020498

Chicago/Turabian Style

Azagra-Boronat, Ignasi, Malén Massot-Cladera, Karen Knipping, Johan Garssen, Kaouther Ben Amor, Jan Knol, Àngels Franch, Margarida Castell, María J. Rodríguez-Lagunas, and Francisco J. Pérez-Cano. 2020. "Strain-Specific Probiotic Properties of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli for the Prevention of Diarrhea Caused by Rotavirus in a Preclinical Model" Nutrients 12, no. 2: 498. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12020498

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop