Photo: StockXchange

The prebiotic, called galacto-oligosaccharides are being analysed both to reduce the risk of the bacteria entering the food chain and to increase knowledge on prebiotics' benefits. So far the research has thrown up some exciting results.

Galacto-oligosaccharides occur naturally in breast milk and are known to play a role in building the healthy of infants at a time when their immune systems are undeveloped.

They have also been used in foods aimed at adults, to help foster growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome - as well as stomach upsets and diarrhoea.

Now, according to Jess Halliday of Nutraingredients, researchers are looking at using prebiotics further up the food chain, in place of antibiotics to block pathogens and stop animals getting sick.

They say that Laura Searle from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in the UK has reported positive findings on the use of a mixture of galacto-oligosaccharide mixture intended for human use, in a murine model.

So far her work has centered around reducing the invasion capabilities of Salmonella typhimurium and reducing the seriousness of the symptoms in the mice.

According to the news agency, she reported that after treatment with the mixture, fewer Salmonella bacteria were found in systemic and intestinal tissues.

Full details of the study and findings, will be presented at the meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Edinburgh.

Further Reading

-

Find out more on Salmonellosis by clicking here.