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[Dynamic changes of intestinal 16S rDNA metagenome in 5 infants]

Li-Ya Ma1, Min Zhang, Hui-Lin Wang

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Bao'an Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, China. lugj1111@aliyun.com.

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics
|November 20, 2014
PubMed

Insights

The gut microbiome in healthy infants rapidly develops, showing increasing bacterial abundance and diversity from birth through the first year of life. Individual differences in gut bacteria composition are significant.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Infant gut health
  • 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) sequencing

Context:

  • The infant gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune system development and overall health.
  • Early life microbial colonization is influenced by various factors and can have long-term health implications.

Purpose:

  • To track the dynamic changes in the intestinal 16S rDNA metagenome of healthy infants over the first year of life.
  • To analyze the taxonomic composition, abundance, and diversity of gut bacteria in infants at different developmental stages.

Summary:

  • High-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA from fecal samples of 5 infants at 3 days, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year revealed significant shifts in gut bacterial communities.
  • Bacterial abundance and diversity, measured by Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) counts and alpha diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson), increased substantially over the first year.
  • Dominant phyla included Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, with a notable increase in the number of bacterial families present over time.

Impact:

  • This study highlights the rapid maturation of the infant gut microbiome during the first year of life.
  • Findings underscore the presence of distinct individual variations in gut bacterial composition among infants.
  • Understanding these dynamic changes is essential for assessing infant health and potential interventions.
Abstract

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