Identification of Changes in Immune Biomarkers and Microflora of Children with Asthma and Atopy

ARS is interested in determining the impact of health-promoting components in foods including those containing probiotic bacteria. Experimental data generated in our pig model showed that Bifidobacterium lactis (Bb12) can modulate immune function and selectively affect local responses to allergic proteins. The hypothesis is that probiotics can prevent the incidence and severity of allergy in children with high risk of developing atopic diseases. Collaborative studies in children with allergic disease in Baltimore, MD showed that Bifidobacterium spp were reduced when compared to controls. We propose to study a larger population of subjects with atopy and from different environmental conditions (socioeconomic status, age, diet, and ethnic background) to confirm the hypothesis that Bifidobacterium spp (B. animalis, B. infantis, B. cantelatum, B. breve, and B. longum) are needed to maintain intestinal homeostasis and reduce the severity of clinical disease.<P> The project plan has one objective that directly relates to this agreement: 1) To elucidate the mechanisms used by probiotic bacteria to improve respiratory and intestinal mucosal responses to allergens, and correlate intestinal microflora composition of pigs and humans with biomarkers of allergic and intestinal disease. The COOPERATOR is interested in the identification of risk factors for the development of asthma and atopy in children in a tropical region (Cartagena-Colombia). The ultimate goal of both ARS and the COOPERATOR is to develop recommendations for feeding selected probiotics to promote a healthy microflora in the intestine.