Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a leading cause of bacterial diarrhea with the potential to cause long-term gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Preventative treatments for ETEC-induced diarrhea exist, yet the effects of these treatments on GI commensals in healthy individuals are unclear. Whether administration of a prophylactic preventative treatment for ETEC-induced diarrhea causes specific shifts in gut microbial populations in controlled environments is also unknown. Here, we studied the effects of a hyperimmune bovine colostrum (IMM-124E) used in the manufacture of Travelan (AUST L 106709) on GI bacteria in healthy C57BL/6 mice. Using next-generation sequencing, we aimed to test the onset and magnitude of potential changes to the mouse gut microbiome in response to the antidiarrheagenic hyperimmune bovine colostrum product, rich in immunoglobulins against select ETEC strains (Travelan, Immuron Ltd). We show that in mice administered colostrum containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibodies, there was an increased abundance of potentially gut-beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia and Desulfovibrio, without disrupting the underlying ecology of the GI tract. Compared to controls, there was no difference in overall weight gain, body or cecal weights, or small intestine length following LPS antibody colostrum supplementation. Overall, dietary supplementation with colostrum containing LPS antibodies produced subtle alterations in the gut bacterial composition of mice. Primarily, Travelan LPS antibody treatment decreased the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes in gut microbial populations in unchallenged healthy mice. Further studies are required to examine the effect of Travelan LPS antibody treatment to engineer the microbiome in a diseased state and during recovery.
Keywords: Akkermansia; Desulfovibrio; bacteria; colostrum; gastrointestinal tract; lipopolysaccharide antibodies; mice.