A novel synbiotic concept derived from cow's milk-free source materials beneficially affects in vivo immune responses in murine models for influenza vaccination and cow's milk allergy

RATIONALE: Specific prebiotic and synbiotic mixtures, which contain galacto-oligosaccharides that are derived indirectly from dairy sources, were previously shown to reduce allergy-related symptoms and beneficially affect immune responses. For applications in severe cow's milk allergic (CMA) infants, an innovative synbiotic concept was designed from source materials and probiotic bacteria that were cultured completely cow's milk-free. The immunomodulatory potential of this concept was tested in murine models for influenza vaccination and whey protein allergy. METHODS: Dietary effects of the synbiotic concept (short-chain fructo-, long-chain fructo- and pectin derived acidic oligosaccharides plus Bifidobacterium breve M-16V) were analyzed in influenza-vaccinated C57BL/6 mice, measuring cellular delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. Furthermore, allergy-related effects were tested in orally sensitized C3H mice to whey protein, using cholera toxin as adjuvant. Pretreatment of an amino acid-based formula (AAF) with the synbiotic concept was compared with control AAF and whey feeding prior to sensitization on acute allergic skin responses after intradermal whey injection. RESULTS: The Th1-dependent DTH vaccination response was significantly increased in the synbiotic group compared to control diet (p