Barrier effect of Bifidobacterium longum on a pathogenic Escherichia coli strain by gut colonization in the germ-free rat.

The predominance of Bifidobacteria in normal breast-fed babies is well established. Even under unfavourable hygienic conditions of delivery and during the breast-feeding period Bifidobacteria develop and colonize the intestinal tract at high concentrations. In the present study we investigated the interaction between Bifidobacterium longum and a pathogenic E. coli strain in the germ-free rat. Sequential counts of the two bacterial strains allowed their proliferation to be followed. Electron microscopic as well as light microscopic examinations of selected intestinal mucosa segments revealed minor morphological changes. Bifidobacterium completely protected the rats against mortality from a consecutive infection with E. coli. Repeated inoculation of Bifidobacteria even decreased and kept down the initial E. coli population. Thus it appears that the germ-free rat is an appropriate model to study the development and interaction of both bacterial species and that the sequence of inoculation is most important.