Influenza virus causes a significant threat to neonatal health characterized by a less robust anti-viral adaptive CD8 T-cell response. In this publication, researchers from the group of Véronique Flamand (IMI) uncovered how maternal probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and lactation empowers neonatal immunity. By enhancing the development and protective function of effector and memory CD8 T cells, probiotics offer robust defense against influenza virus in offspring. Furthermore, in collaboration with the team of Amandine Everard (UCLouvain), they showed profound changes in the offspring's plasma metabolome, optimizing metabolic pathways critical for immune resilience. This dual mechanism—strengthened cellular immunity and metabolic modulation—marks a paradigm shift in maternal-neonatal health strategies.

"Maternal probiotic exposure enhances CD8 T cell protective neonatal immunity and modulates offspring metabolome to control influenza virus infection"

22 Dec 2024 Volume 17, 2025  - Issue 1

https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2024.2442526