Affinity of the Bifidobacterium to Intestinal Mucosal Epithelial Cells

Abstract

The affinity of Bifidobacterium (bifidus) to the mucosal epithelial cells of the ileum was studied. It was clarified that the polysaccharide fraction of the bifidus partici pated in the process of affinity. The changes of the intestinal flora of newborn infants were studied. Within two or three months of birth , a predominance of anaerobic bacteria was established, after which gradual changes in the common intestinal flora of the children occurred. Research on the species level of the bifidus in a mother and her baby revealed that soon after birth both mother and baby had the same species but that in the baby, there was a gradual change in species specific to the individual. The time of these displacements coincided with the appearance of antibody production of blood type substance in the newborn infant .