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Nutrients
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Dietary Interventions to Enhance the Intestinal Barrier to Counteract Infections
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Dietary Interventions to Enhance the Intestinal Barrier to Counteract Infections

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 December 2024) | Viewed by 959

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria José Rodríguez-Lagunas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: immunonutrition; microbiota; intestinal epithelial barrier; infection; breast milk; bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The complex interplay between diet, the gut microbiota, and host immunity is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier and protecting against infections. This Special Issue explores the potential of dietary interventions, specific nutrients, phytochemicals, and bioactive compounds to enhance the intestinal barrier. Contributions will examine the influence of diet on microbiota composition and function, its subsequent effects on the host's immune system, and the overall impact on infection susceptibility. We will delve into the mechanisms by which these dietary components influence gut health, focusing on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses, modulation of gut microbiota composition, strengthening of tight junctions, and enhancement of mucosal immunity, among others.

Given the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, it is increasingly important to prevent infections rather than rely on antibiotics. This issue will highlight how dietary strategies can play a pivotal role in reducing the need for antibiotics by fortifying the gut's natural defenses against pathogens. By understanding these processes, we can identify dietary strategies to support gut health, prevent infections, and enhance overall well-being. This comprehensive exploration will provide valuable insights into the symbiotic relationship between diet, the microbiota, and immunity, paving the way for novel nutritional therapies and preventive measures to maintain and improve intestinal health.

Dr. Maria José Rodríguez-Lagunas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • infection
  • epithelial barrier
  • microbiota
  • immune system
  • diet
  • bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 6571 KiB  
Article
Bacillus subtilis-Derived Surfactin Alleviates Offspring Intestinal Inflammatory Injuries Through Breast Milk
by Qi Zhang, Shuang Xie, Qiu Zhong, Xinyue Zhang, Liufang Luo and Qian Yang
Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17061009 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 663
Abstract
Background: Enteric and diarrheal diseases pose a significant threat to infant health, highlighting the importance of immune defenses in early life, especially maternal protection, in establishing a robust gastrointestinal environment. Surfactin, a bioactive peptide from Bacillus subtilis, has immunomodulatory properties, yet its [...] Read more.
Background: Enteric and diarrheal diseases pose a significant threat to infant health, highlighting the importance of immune defenses in early life, especially maternal protection, in establishing a robust gastrointestinal environment. Surfactin, a bioactive peptide from Bacillus subtilis, has immunomodulatory properties, yet its influence on offspring via maternal gut interference is not fully understood. This study examines the effects of maternal surfactin consumption on breast milk’s immunological properties and its consequent effects on neonatal intestinal health. Methods: Twenty-eight gravid mice were randomly categorized into two cohorts and were given surfactin or not in drinking water from one week after conception to 21 days postpartum. Cross-fostering experiments were conducted within 12 h after birth. Pups from the surfactin-supplemented dams were fostered and nursed by the control dams, while the pups from the control dams were nursed by the surfactin-supplemented dams. Results: The findings show that the pups from the surfactin-supplemented dams had increased body weight, improved intestinal morphology with longer villus and deeper crypts, the upregulation of genes related to mucins and antimicrobial peptides, and an increase in IgA+ and CD3+ T cells within the intestinal mucosa. Further, the cross-fostering experiments suggested that the pups nursed by the surfactin-supplemented dams gained more weight, had less intestinal damage, less inflammation, and lower oxidative stress levels induced by Salmonella typhimurium, indicating the immunological benefits of surfactin conveyed through breast milk. Additionally, the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, including nitric oxide, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, and ROS, induced by LPS in the macrophages was significantly inhibited with milk from the surfactin-supplemented dam (MSD) treatment. Interestingly, the MSD treatment induced a shift in macrophage polarization from pro-inflammatory (M1-like) to anti-inflammatory (M2-like), evidenced by the decreased expression of IL-12p40 and iNOS and the increased expression of CD206, TGF-β, and Arg-1. In terms of mechanism, surfactin improved the contents of the anti-inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β in the breast milk. Conclusions: This research contributes to understanding how maternal interference can modulate breast milk composition, influence infant gastrointestinal development and immunity, and provide nutritional strategy insights. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Interventions to Enhance the Intestinal Barrier to Counteract Infections)
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