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The influence of artificial colonization with E. coli strain O83 on the intestinal flora in infants
M Slavíková1, R Lodinová-Zádníková, L A Hanson
1Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague.
Insights
Colonization with E. coli O83 in infants showed that this strain possesses type 1 fimbriae and adheres better to the gut lining in breast-fed infants. This colonization also altered the overall intestinal microbial flora composition.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infant Gut Microbiome Research
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- The infant gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune system development and overall health.
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common inhabitant of the infant gut, with specific strains potentially influencing microbial dynamics.
- Understanding the colonization patterns and characteristics of specific E. coli strains, like O83, is important for infant gut health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of dominant bacterial strains, particularly E. coli, in different infant feeding groups.
- To examine the presence of fimbriae and adherence properties of E. coli O83 in colonized versus control infants.
- To determine the impact of E. coli O83 colonization on the overall intestinal microbial flora in healthy newborns.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples from four infant groups (breast-fed, bottle-fed, E. coli O83-colonized, and control) were analyzed for dominant bacterial strains.
- Hemagglutination assays were used to detect fimbriae, and PPA latex tests identified P-fimbriae-bearing strains.
- Adherence to the HT-29 cell line and serotyping were performed on selected E. coli strains.
Main Results:
- E. coli O83 was confirmed to possess type 1 fimbriae.
- E. coli O83 colonized breast-fed infants more effectively than bottle-fed infants, demonstrating higher adherence to HT-29 cells.
- Infants colonized with E. coli O83 exhibited a higher frequency of E. coli isolates compared to non-colonized infants, indicating an influence on the gut microbiota.
Conclusions:
- E. coli O83 possesses type 1 fimbriae and shows differential colonization efficiency based on feeding method, favoring breast-fed infants.
- Colonization with E. coli O83 significantly impacts the composition of the infant intestinal microbiota.
- These findings highlight the specific interactions between E. coli O83, infant feeding practices, and the developing gut microbiome.
Abstract:
Dominant bacterial strains present in stool (with particular emphasis on E. coli strains) were examined in 4 groups of healthy infants: breast-fed and bottle-fed, colonized with E. coli O83, and control (non-colonized) breast-fed and bottle-fed newborns. The presence of fimbriae was examined by hemagglutination, the P-fimbriae-bearing strains were tested by the PPA latex test. In addition, adherence to cell line HT-29 and serotyping was performed in selected strains. The E. coli strain O83 was found to possess type 1 fimbriae. Fewer bacterial strains possessing type 1 fimbriae were found in E. coli O83-colonized infants (except the O83 serotype) than in control infants. The E. coli O83 strain colonized significantly better the breast-fed than the bottle-fed infants; its higher adherence activity was demonstrated even in cell line HT-29. Finally, colonization with E. coli O83 influenced the character of microbial intestinal flora: the frequency of positive E. coli isolates was significantly higher in colonized (both breast- and bottle-fed) than noncolonized infants.