Methods and compositions for determining, and for minimizing, the likelihood of development of allergy in infants

Abstract

The invention relates to allergic disease, to the development of allergic disease in infants, to determining the likelihood of development of allergic disease in infants and to minimizing the likelihood of development of allergic disease in infants.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for minimizing the likelihood of development of allergy in offspring of a female individual comprising the step of administering Prevotella to a female individual, thereby minimizing the likelihood of development of allergy in offspring of the female individual. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the female individual is administered with Prevotella 1 to 3 months, preferably no more than about 6 months, prior to her falling pregnant. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the female individual is administered with Prevotella in the 1 st , 2 nd  or 3 rd  trimester, or in all trimesters. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the Prevotella is administered for at least 2 months, preferably for at least 4 months before delivery. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the Prevotella that is administered to the female individual comprises Prevotella copri. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the female individual is administered with Prevotella to provide from 1×10 6  to 1×10 11  colony forming units (cfu) of Prevotella per day to the female individual. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the Prevotella is administered once or twice daily, or once every 2 or 3 days, or once weekly. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the Prevotella is provided orally to the female individual in the form of a capsule, tablet or like formulation adapted for oral administration, or in the form of a food or beverage. 
     
     
         27 . A composition comprising:
 Prevotella copri; and   a further ingredient that is beneficial for a pregnant or lactating woman.   
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27  wherein the further ingredient is folate or vitamin D. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 27  wherein the further ingredient is iron. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 27 , further comprising a carbohydrate. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 28 , further comprising a carbohydrate. 
     
     
         32 . A method for determining the likelihood of a female individual forming offspring having allergic disease comprising:
 providing a control describing the relative abundance of Prevotella 16S rDNA in the stool of a mother who has offspring who do not have allergic disease;   obtaining a sample from the female individual for whom the likelihood of forming offspring having allergic disease is to be determined, thereby forming a test sample;   comparing the test sample with the control to assess whether the test sample has a relative abundance of Prevotella 16S rDNA as described in the control;   determining that the female individual has a low likelihood of forming offspring having allergic disease where the test sample has a relative abundance of Prevotella 16S rDNA as described in the control   determining that the female individual has a high likelihood of forming offspring having allergic disease where the test sample has a relative abundance of Prevotella 16S rDNA that is not described in the control.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein where a female individual has a lower relative abundance of a Prevotella 16S rDNA, preferably of OTU00041 or SEQ ID No: 1 than the control, the female individual is assessed as having a higher likelihood of forming offspring having allergic disease. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the test sample is a stool sample.