Selection and characterization of Bifidobacterium strains isolated from breast-milk as potential probiotics for neonates.

GUEIMONDE, MIGUEL; ARBOLEYA, S.; BINETTI, ANA G; SALAZAR, NURIA; RÚAS-MADIEDO, PATRICIA; MARGOLLES, A.; SALMINEN, S.; FERNÁNDEZ, N.; SOLÍS, G.; DE LOS REYES-GAVILÁN, C.

Oviedo (Asturias, España)

Congreso; 3rd International Symposium on Propionibacteria and Bifidobacteria: Dairy and Probiotic applications; 2010

TEXT (Field for free text): The initial establishment of the gut microbial community and its further development constitutes the starting point for the long-term well-being of the individual, providing essential signals for immune maturation and intestinal development. It has been shown that aberrancies in this process may increase the later risk of certain diseases; such aberrancies appear to be present in different infants’ groups including preterm babies. Identification of these aberrancies constitutes the first key step for the development of strategies directed towards counterbalancing them favouring the development of a healthy microbiota. Breast-feeding has been found to play an important role on the development of the intestinal microbiota, and it has been shown that breast-fed infants have less allergies and infections than formula-fed ones. Therefore, breast-feeding is considered the “gold” standard for infant nutrition. Moreover, the microbial profile associated with the exclusively breast-fed, full-term baby is considered the reference of a healthy infant microbiota and therefore used as reference to improve infant formulas.