Key Note speaker: Dr. Ger Rijkers, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Utrecht and Sint Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein.
Co-referee: Prof. Huub Savelkoul, Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University
Ger Rijkers obtained his MSc in Biology at Wageningen University. He subsequently was the first PhD at the Cell Biology & Immunology Group that defended a PhD thesis on the immune defence of carp (1980). He pursued his successful career as a medical immunologist and was for a long period active as researcher and leader of the Dept. of Pediatric Immunology of the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital in Utrecht (UMC). At this moment he combines his activities as senior researcher both in Utrecht and at the Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Immunology of the St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein.
Abstract
Man and animals are surrounded by a world of micro-organisms: viruses, bacteria, yeasts and parasites. Based upon their ability to cause diseases, micro-organisms can be categorized as Good, Bad or Ugly. There also is a fourth category, The Innocent. Ugly micro-organisms, no matter how good the immune system, always cause severe morbidity and mortality (tetanus, ebola). Bad micro-organisms usually do not cause serious disease, unless the immune system does not function properly. From Good micro-organisms man only benefits. The so-called commensal microflora (derived from the Latin “together at the table”) is indispensable for digestion. Probiotic bacteria belong to this category.
The gastro-intestinal tract is the largest area of the body in direct contact with the (microbial) outside world (approximately 200 m2 compared with maximal 2 m2 of skin). The intestine of an adult human being contains 1015 bacteria (10 x more than the number of cells in the body), belonging to about 800 species and 7000 strains. Prevention of intestinal infections and stabilization of the normal gutflora by probiotic bacteria has health promoting effects. They are therefore frequently defined as: ‘’live microbial, food ingredients that are beneficial to health by promoting the endogenous host defense mechanisms” and are being used or tested for a wide variety of diseases and conditions.
When used at low concentrations, antibiotics have a growth promoting effect and for this reason they have been used on a large scale in animal husbandry. Current legislation prohibits this use of antibiotics and therefore there is interest in probiotics as a potential non-antibiotic growth promoter.
First data on reduction of the incidence of eczema in young children will be presented. For this we have included in our studies 160 babies for which the development of clinical eczema, allergy and asthma, as well as modulation of the development of the gut flora and the immune system is being studied for a period of up to 5 years.
Zodiac Lectures
Zodiac academic lectures are an initiative of the Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University. On every first Tuesday of the month, an invited speaker will present a topic related to animal sciences. Speaker and topic will, and are meant to, provoke discussion among the audience of staff, postdocs, PhD and MSc students, and guests. Drinks after the presentation and discussion.
Calendar 2007: 5 Jun ADP, 4 Sep ANU, 2 Oct APS