TOBBI trial

Background

The gut microbiota are a diverse ecosystem of bacteria, archaea and fungi that live in our gut. They are of great importance to human health, and the stability and composition of the gut microbiota plays a vital role in health and wellbeing throughout life from as early as birth, or even before that. Antibiotics are quite commonly prescribed in toddlers as they are used effectively to treat bacterial infections. However, they can also affect the growth and composition of the “good” bacteria that live in the gut, such as bifidobacteria.

Synbiotics are a combination of a live microbe and a prebiotic substance that could work to achieve one or more health benefits. They may increase the speed of recovery of the gut microbiota composition after a disruption caused by antibiotics. 

Aim and approach

The TOBBI trial (Toddlers receiving synbiotics after antibiotics) is designed to explore what the effects are of a Young Child Formula supplemented with a synbiotic on the speed of recovery of the toddler’s gut after treatment with antibiotics. The Young Child Formula is supplemented with short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS), long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS) and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V.

This study will provide more insights into the effects of antibiotics followed by synbiotics on the toddler’s gut microbiota composition.

Thesis project

The thesis project is done within the TOBBI trial, and entails the following items (this might change depending on the start-date of the thesis):

1) Helping in setting up the electronic data capturing system in the first – second month

2) Visiting parents and children who would like to participate in the study, expected to start around April / May. Depending on the COVID rules this may need to be done partially online.

3) Making an outline of the literature on synbiotic products studied after antibiotic treatment from clinical trials in infants and toddlers. Research questions for this part:

-      Which pre-and probiotic products are commonly studied after antibiotic treatment from clinical trials in infants and toddlers? 

-      What is currently known on the effect of pre- and probiotics on proportion and composition of species belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium and total microbiota composition after amoxicillin treatment in infants and toddlers?

-      What is currently known on the effect of pre- and probiotics on proportion and composition of species belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium and total microbiota composition after antibiotics other than amoxicillin treatment in infants and toddlers?

-      What is currently known on the effect of pre-and probiotics on faecal pH, short-chain fatty acid composition of faecal samples, stool characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms?

Learning outcomes

-      You will learn how to set up an electronic data capturing system which is essential in every clinical trial;

-      You will learn how to conduct study visits (including informing parents of the study and guiding them through the project);

-      You will learn how to conduct a literature review.

-      If there is something else you’d like to learn, we can discuss this!

Are you the perfect candidate?

We are looking for someone who is interested in the effects of pre-and probiotic products on gut microbiota and health. You can work systematically, which is needed for setting up an electronic data capturing system and for performing a literature review. In addition, you enjoy social interaction, which is important when you are visiting parents and children for the study.

Are you interested to join us?

We look forward to hear from you! Note that the start date is flexible.

Please do not hestitate to contact the researcher: Maaike Alkema (maaike.alkema@wur.nl), or the group leader (clara.belzer@wur.nl).