In a murine NEC model, enteral administration of Bifidobacterium infantis prior to NEC induction partially prevented internalisation of claudin-4 into the enterocyte cytoplasm and preserved claudin-4 protein expression, occludin presence at the TJ complex and co-fractionation of claudins-2 and -4 and the membrane lipid-raft protein caveolin 1. The gene discussed is OCLN; the disease is necrotizing enterocolitis.