Feeding a diet containing a fructooligosaccharide mix can enhance Salmonella vaccine efficacy in mice

J Nutr. 2008 Jan;138(1):123-9. doi: 10.1093/jn/138.1.123.

Abstract

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are considered prebiotics because of their ability to promote growth of specific beneficial gut bacteria, such as bifidobacteria. Some studies reported potential immune-modulating properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of FOS:inulin mix on murine response to Salmonella vaccine and evaluate the relevance toward protection against Salmonella infection. Balb/c mice were fed a diet containing 5% FOS:inulin mix or a control diet 1 wk before oral immunization with a suboptimal dose of live attenuated Salmonella typhimurium vaccine. Four weeks after vaccination, mice were infected with LD100 of virulent S. typhimurium. Specific blood Salmonella immunoglobulin G and fecal immunoglobulin A significantly increased in mice fed the diet containing prebiotics compared with control mice 4 wk postimmunization. Peritoneal macrophage phagocytic activity also significantly increased in FOS:inulin-fed mice at 1 wk postimmunization compared with control mice. No detectable effects were observed on the percentage of lymphoid cell subsets in the spleen. However, production of cytokines, interferon-gamma, interleukin-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, was numerically increased in spleen cell cultures stimulated with mitogens from FOS:inulin-fed mice 1 and 4 wk postimmunization. Salmonella translocation to lymphoid organs was not affected by feeding FOS:inulin. However, the improved response to Salmonella vaccine was concomitant with an increase in the survival rate of FOS:inulin-fed mice upon challenge with virulent Salmonella. No detectable effects were observed on the composition or the metabolic activity of the microbiota. Overall, the data suggest that a diet supplemented with FOS:inulin mix stimulates mucosal immunity and seems to improve efficacy of an oral vaccine.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Diet*
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin A / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Inulin / administration & dosage*
  • Inulin / pharmacology
  • Metalloporphyrins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Oligosaccharides / administration & dosage*
  • Oligosaccharides / pharmacology
  • Phagocytes
  • Salmonella Infections / prevention & control
  • Salmonella Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Salmonella Vaccines / immunology*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Metalloporphyrins
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Salmonella Vaccines
  • fructooligosaccharide
  • iron chlorin e(6)
  • Inulin