F. He et al., Comparison of mucosal adhesion and species identification of bifidobacteria isolated fi-om healthy and allergic infants, FEMS IM MED, 30(1), 2001, pp. 43-47
Fifty bifidobacteria strains were isolated from fecal samples of allergic a
nd age matched healthy infants. Allergic infants were found to have an adul
t type Bifidobacterium flora with high levels of Bifidobacterium adolescent
is. Healthy infants had a typical infant Bifidobacterium flora with high le
vels of Bifidobacterium bifidum. These isolates were tested for their adhes
ive properties to human intestinal mucus. The adhesion of the fecal bifidob
acteria from healthy infants was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than for
allergic infants. This suggests a correlation between allergic disease and
the composition of the intestinal bifidobacteria flora which has reduced a
dhesive abilities to the intestinal mucus. Therefore, dietary supplementati
on of bifidobacteria typical for healthy infants, may be beneficial in the
treatment of allergic disorders. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiolo
gical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.