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Development of bacterial and bifidobacterial communities in feces of newborn babies

Christine F Favier1, Willem M de Vos, Antoon D L Akkermans

  • 1Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University, Hesselink van Suchtelenweg 4, 6703 CT Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Anaerobe
|August 5, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotics significantly alter infant gut bacteria, disrupting colonization by beneficial Bifidobacterium species. Parental factors also influence the developing fecal bacterial community in newborns.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Neonatal Health
  • Gut Microbiome

Background:

  • The neonatal gut microbiome is crucial for infant health and development.
  • Understanding factors influencing gut bacterial colonization is essential for early life health.
  • Parental influence and antibiotic exposure are key areas of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of antibiotic administration on neonatal gut bacterial colonization.
  • To determine the influence of parental factors on the infant fecal bacterial community.
  • To track the temporal dynamics of gut microbial colonization in healthy and antibiotic-treated infants.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of microbial 16S rDNA from infant fecal samples.
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE).
  • Cloning and sequencing for detailed bacterial identification and community profiling.

Main Results:

  • Healthy infants showed initial colonization by Escherichia coli and Clostridium spp., followed by Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and others.
  • Breast-fed infants showed earlier Bifidobacterium appearance compared to formula-fed infants.
  • Antibiotic treatment led to a simplified gut community dominated by Ruminococcus, with a complete absence of Bifidobacterium.
  • Vertical transmission of bacteria from parents to infants was suggested by shared DGGE profiles.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotics profoundly disrupt the establishment of a diverse neonatal gut microbiome, particularly impacting Bifidobacterium species.
  • Parental factors play a role in shaping the infant gut bacterial community through potential vertical transmission.
  • Early-life antibiotic exposure has long-lasting consequences on gut microbial composition, even with partial breastfeeding.

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