Role of Nutrients and Bacterial Colonization in the Development of Intestinal Host Defense

• Published in: Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition Vol. 30 Suppl 2; pp. S2 - S7
• Main Author: Walker, W Allan
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 2000; Lippincott
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Animals; Bacteria - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Cell interactions; Epithelial Cells - microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - microbiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - prevention & control; Gastrointestinal Diseases - therapy; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Immunobiology; Infant, Newborn; Intestine. Mesentery; Intestines - immunology; Intestines - microbiology; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Probiotics; Vertebrates: digestive system; Human; Elaboration; Probiotic; Immunology; Newborn; Immune response; Digestive system; Gut; Cell cell interaction; Microflora; Biological activity; Colonization
• ISSN: 0277-2116; 1536-4801
• DOI: 10.1097/00005176-200000002-00002

In this introduction to the supplement on the use of pre- and probiotics in the health and disease of pediatric patients, I have summarized factors affecting the initial colonization of the neonatal intestine. The term bacterial-epithelial cross-talk was defined, and examples of the enterocyte response to both pathologic and indigenous flora stimulation illustrated. Immaturities in the human neonatal intestinal response to bacteria and their toxins were reviewed in the context of the pathogenesis of age-specific, bacterial gastrointestinal infectious diseases. Finally, the importance of pre- and probiotics as measures to strengthen the neonate's intestinal host defenses in the prevention and treatment of specific age-related disease were considered.