Early-life immune imprinting by a B. infantis-HMO synbiotic shapes infant immune signatures and protects against experimental respiratory disease

Early life colonization with microbes is important for immune system development and health. Infants are colonized with infant-type Bifidobacterium, including Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis (B. infantis), which consumes human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) to facilitate development of the gut microbiota and immunity. Decreased levels of B. infantis have been associated with increased risk of inflammation in the intestines, imbalance between Th2/Th17 responses, and allergic and respiratory diseases.

In our work, we studied the effect of infants’ type synbiotic that contains HMOs, B. infantis, and B. lactis in sub-cohort from the randomized double-blinded infant formula study as well as preclinical models of respiratory infections and allergic airway inflammation. Early-life intake of synbiotic was shown to promote immunoregulation, increase disease tolerance, and decrease the risk of respiratory infections and asthma.

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