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Gut Bifidobacterium microbiota in one-month-old Brazilian newborns

Łukasz Grześkowiak1, Tatiana Fiche Sales Teixeira2, Solange Mara Bigonha2

  • 1Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Food Technology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Anaerobe
|July 25, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Infant gut bifidobacteria composition differs between full-term and pre-term babies. Gestational age impacts bacterial numbers, while delivery mode affects prevalence, with potential probiotic applications for Bifidobacterium species in pre-term infants.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Neonatology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Gut colonization by bifidobacteria in infancy is crucial for infant well-being.
  • Gestational age and delivery mode are key factors influencing early gut microbiota establishment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the bifidobacterial composition in one-month-old Brazilian infants.
  • To compare full-term versus pre-term infants and analyze the impact of delivery mode (vaginal vs. caesarean).

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze bifidobacterial composition in infant stool samples.
  • Forty-nine infants were divided into full-term (n=24) and pre-term (n=25) groups, with further subgrouping by delivery mode.

Main Results:

  • All infants were colonized by Bifidobacterium, with Bifidobacterium longum present in all newborns.
  • Significant differences in Bifidobacterium genus and B. longum counts were observed between full-term and pre-term infants.
  • Bifidobacterium lactis prevalence differed significantly between pre-term infants born via caesarean section and vaginally.

Conclusions:

  • Gut bifidobacterial composition in one-month-old infants is influenced by gestational age and mode of delivery.
  • B. longum and B. lactis may offer insights into probiotic applications for pre-term infants at risk of postnatal complications.

Keywords:
BifidobacteriaBrazilDonor milkGut microbiotaNeonatal intensive care unitPre-term infants

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