Prevention of opportunistic infections in immune-comprised subjects

Abstract

This invention relates to a composition suitable for use in the prevention of opportunistic infections in immune-compromised individuals comprising a probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium breve or Bifidobacterium longum and a fucosylated oligosaccharide selected from the group comprising 2′-fucosyllactose, 3′ fucosyllactose, difucosyllactose, lacto-N-fucopentaose, lacto-N-fucohexaose, fucosyllacto-N-hexaose and fucosyllacto-N-neohexaose. The invention further extends to the use of such a composition in the prevention of opportunistic infections in immune-comprised individuals.

1 . A method for the prevention of opportunistic infections in immune-compromised individuals comprising administering to the individual a composition comprising a probiotic selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium lactic, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium breve  and  Bifidobacterium longum  and a fucosylated oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of 2′-fucosyllactose, 3′ fucosyllactose, difucosyllactose, lacto-N-fucopentaose, lacto-N-fucohexaose, fucosyllacto-N-hexaose and fucosyllacto-N-neohexaose. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the opportunistic infection is an infection caused by  Pseudomonas aeruginosa.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the infection caused by  Pseudomonas aeruginosa  is an infection of the respiratory, urinary or gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the fucosylated oligosaccharide is 2′-fucosyllactose. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the probiotic is selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium lactic  CNCM 1-3446 and  Bifidobacterium longum  ATCC BAA-999. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the composition is an infant formula. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the composition is a supplement and which comprises from 0.1 to 3 g fucosylated oligosaccharide and from 10e5 to 10e12 cfu of the probiotic per unit dose. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6  which comprises from 0.1 to 3 g fucosylated oligosaccharide/100 g composition. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6  which comprises from 10e3 to 10e12 cfu of the probiotic/g infant formula. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6  which comprises from 10e6 to 10e9 cfu of the probiotic/g infant formula. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 6  which comprises at least one prebiotic in an amount of from 0.3 to 10% by weight of the composition.