Oral administration of Bifidobacterium bifidum TMC3115 to neonatal mice may alleviate IgE-mediated allergic risk in adulthood

This study aimed to demonstrate whether exposure to bifidobacteria during early life influences immunity and alleviates the risk of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies in adulthood. BALB/c neonatal mice (n=54) were administered with a lyophilised cell preparation of Bifidobacterium bifidum TMC3115 (TMC3115) for 3 weeks. Following the intervention, the mice were immunised with intraperitoneal ovalbumin (OVA). The morphology and function of the intestinal epithelium were determined using histopathological examinations. Intestinal microbiota was detected using quantitative PCR and characterised using next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from faecal DNA. Caecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) and the percentage of splenic CD4+ T cells were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, respectively. TMC3115 did not s...