Metaproteomics reveals functional shifts in microbial and human proteins during a preterm infant gut colonization
Jacque C Young1,2, Chongle Pan2, Rachel M Adams1,2
1Genome Sciences and Technology Graduate School, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Insights
The gut microbiome
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Proteomics
- Infant health
Background:
- Gut microbiome establishment is crucial for infant health.
- Functional changes in the early gut microbiome are not well understood.
- Simultaneous analysis of host and microbial proteins offers new insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time-dependent functional profiles of microbial and human proteins in a preterm infant's gut.
- To understand the interplay between the developing microbiome and host immune responses.
- To provide a proteomic snapshot of early gut colonization.
Main Methods:
- Shotgun proteomics was used to analyze fecal samples.
- Samples were collected from a preterm infant over the first month of life.
- Microbial community composition and protein expression were monitored.
Main Results:
- Microbial community complexity and functional capabilities (e.g., carbohydrate metabolism) increased over time.
- Host proteins related to epithelial barrier function, antimicrobial activity, and immune response (neutrophil proteins) were identified.
- Increased cytoskeletal and mucin proteins suggested host adaptation to microbial load.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals coordinated host-microbial protein expression during early gut development.
- Early gut colonization involves dynamic shifts in microbial function and host immune/structural responses.
- This proteomic approach provides a novel understanding of preterm infant gut maturation.
Abstract:
Microbial colonization of the human gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in establishing health and homeostasis. However, the time-dependent functional signatures of microbial and human proteins during early colonization of the gut have yet to be determined. To this end, we employed shotgun proteomics to simultaneously monitor microbial and human proteins in fecal samples from a preterm infant during the first month of life. Microbial community complexity increased over time, with compositional changes that were consistent with previous metagenomic and rRNA gene data. More specifically, the function of the microbial community initially involved biomass growth, protein production, and lipid metabolism, and then switched to more complex metabolic functions, such as carbohydrate metabolism, once the community stabilized and matured. Human proteins detected included those responsible for epithelial barrier function and antimicrobial activity. Some neutrophil-derived proteins increased in abundance early in the study period, suggesting activation of the innate immune system. Likewise, abundances of cytoskeletal and mucin proteins increased later in the time course, suggestive of subsequent adjustment to the increased microbial load. This study provides the first snapshot of coordinated human and microbial protein expression in a preterm infant's gut during early development.
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