Beneficial Bacteria As Probiotics For HIV In Breastfeeding Children - Essay Example

Beneficial Bacteria As Probiotics For HIV In Breastfeeding Children Microbial dietary supplements usually referred to as probiotics are already in use for beneficial health effects to individuals (Boyle, Robin-Browne and Tang, 2006). Ongoing studies in the application of breast milk bacteria as probiotics in prevention of mother-child HIV transmission during breastfeeding are reporting encouraging results that due to the weight of the HIV issue naturally find their way to popular media. From here it can be visualized that they may cause great anticipation among the public. This study seeks to scientifically critique the studies presented in one such media report and provide a conclusion based on the real world application of the findings of such studies. Background Information on the Article Ralloff (2010) reported through a website about the possibility of reducing the risks of HIV transmission during breastfeeding through the use of beneficial bacteria basing his article on scientific studies into the issue. Mother-child transmission of the virus is an area that receives much attention in research since breast milk is quite important for the health of babies but in this case, it is accompanied by the risk of passing the virus to the baby. Hence, considerable research efforts are placed in avenues of reducing the risk of this transmission. Among such studies, focus is now being placed on the use of beneficial bacteria strains that have been shown to inhibit growth and virulence of the HIV virus. Researcher’s interest in this approach is sparked by the observation that although HIV virus is shed in breast milk, a good number of infants still do not acquire the disease when breastfed by infected mothers pointing to a source of inhibition at some point in the transmission stage now identified as the baby’s gut. Radloff reports on two such studies i.e. Connor’s study, in which strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from healthy women were tested and shown to inhibit HIV in vitro and secondly, Tao’s study testing the efficacy of using two beneficial bacteria where one reduces the infectivity of the HIV virus in a similar fashion to Connor’s work and then enhances a baby’s immunity to hugely minimize the risk of transmission. Article Summary and Science of the Studies The first study reported in the article is by Ruth Connor and fellow workers whose objectives were to isolate the bacteria responsible for inhibition of HIV infectivity and to determine whether this ability (inhibition of HIV) was due to specific structural components of the bacteria such as the cell wall or instead the soluble chemical composition of the bacteria. The results of the study would prove or fail to prove the hypothetical basis that lactic acid bacteria in breast milk are responsible for the observed inhibition of transmission of the virus to the baby. To do this, the researchers tested 38 strains of different lactic acid bacteria present in the breast milk of healthy women against HIV-1. Heat-killed virus particles and soluble compounds were utilized to take care of the second objective. The results showed that all the strains tested had antiviral potential with the lowest inhibiting the virus by 6.7% while the highest inhibition was 55.5%. The heat-killed whole particles were, however, more effective with 11 strains achieving an inhibition of 41% and above while only 6 strains of the soluble compounds were inhibitory of which only one strain achieved over 41% inhibition levels. The studies were done in vitro and the results confirm that lactic acid bacteria are indeed responsible for breast milk’s antiviral properties. The implication of the study results is the possibility of production of probiotics to augment maternal milk in maximizing inhibition of the virus. Tao's study, on the other hand, highlights the fact that in vitro inhibitions of only 30-50% are with high concentrations of the bacteria and that inhibition may also be environmental due to the high bacterial concentrations rather than antiviral properties of the bacteria. Thus, he questions the potential efficacy of this approach is applied in practice and instead studies the potential of combining the antiviral bacteria probiotic with a second probiotic that boosts the infant’s immunity. This way the number of viruses required for infection will be increased hence providing maximum protection. Critique of the Experiments The implications and potential application of the results of the studies reported in Radloff' article should be reported based on the internal validity experiments to determine the reliability of the results. Connor's study is complete and hence it will be the subject of this critique. The criteria for appraisal of a study can be based on the availability of correct and proper controls, the strength of the sample size and selection of the samples with the element of possible bias in mind. These considerations alongside support from other experimental evidence dictate the applicability of the results to the general population. Connor’s study utilizes a sample size of 38 strains of lactobacillus drawn from 15 different species. This sample size is largely sufficient for an in vitro study. Her sample selection of lactobacillus is supported by experimental evidence from scientific studies which indicate that most lactobacillus strains are applicable for use as probiotics and have immunity-boosting properties (Health Relationships, 2008). The choice of HIV-1 is also informed by the fact that this is the most common and debilitating strain of HIV. The article does not provide data for validity tests. The application of the results of this study to the general population is however far from realization on the basis of two observations. First, the study is still in its vitro experimental stage and is yet to go through safety and efficacy studies in animal models, adult humans, healthy infants and then the target infants. Through all these stages of development and trials, several obstacles may arise. Besides this, there is emerging concern about the safety of probiotics especially in infants, prompting experimental studies and meta-analyses into this and delivering conflicting results. Boyle, Robin-Browne, and Tang (2006) raise concerns and suggest that further studies should be undertaken to explore the mechanistic and interaction issues observed from probiotic use. On the other hand, Elias, Bozzo, and Einarson (2011) report no significant safety effects of probiotics from their meta-analytic inquiry. Conclusion Studies into the possibility of utilizing probiotics based on lactobacillus strains to reduce mother-child HIV transmission are particularly important and commendable. I, however, believe that not only their application in the general population but also tests on healthy and at-risk infants appears to be premature. More research should be done in vitro and perhaps on animals before this step can be tried since infants are particularly sensitive and considering the fact that there is inconclusive evidence on their safety. This is because we would not wish to experience a repeat of the sad scenario of the Libyan babies who were infected with the HIV virus during drug trials. References Boyle, R. J., Robin-Browne, R. M & Tang, M. L. (2006). Probiotic use in clinical practice. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 83, 1256–1264. Elias, J., Bozzo, P. & Einarson, A. (2011). Are probiotics safe for use during pregnancy and lactation? Canadian Family Physician, 57, 299-301. Health Relationships (2008). List of UK health claims. Retrieved September 30, 2011 from http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/listofukhealthclaims03.pdf Raloff, J. (2010). Beneficial bacteria may protect babies from HIV. Avetra. 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