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A key genetic factor for fucosyllactose utilization affects infant gut microbiota development

Takahiro Matsuki1, Kana Yahagi1, Hiroshi Mori2

  • 1Yakult Central Institute, 5-11 Izumi, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo 186-8650, Japan.

Nature Communications
|June 25, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Infant gut microbiota development is influenced by fucosyllactose (FL) utilization by Bifidobacteria. Breast milk

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infant Health
  • Metabolomics

Background:

  • Gut microbiota development is crucial for infant health and host physiology.
  • Factors influencing gut microbiota and their impact on metabolites are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze gut microbiota development in infants during the first month of life.
  • To investigate the role of human milk oligosaccharide utilization by Bifidobacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of gut microbiota development in 27 infants.
  • Investigation of fucosyllactose (FL) utilization by infant Bifidobacteria.
  • Genome analysis to identify genetic factors for FL utilization.

Main Results:

  • Identified three distinct clusters of gut microbiota development, transitioning to Bifidobacteriaceae dominance.
  • Observed significant differences in FL utilization among infant Bifidobacteria.
  • Found that FL-utilizing Bifidobacteria colonization is linked to altered infant gut metabolite profiles and microbiota composition.
  • Identified an ABC transporter as a key genetic factor for FL utilization.

Conclusions:

  • The ability of Bifidobacteria to utilize FL, present in breast milk, influences infant gut microbiota development.
  • This interaction may have implications for infant health and potential therapeutic strategies.

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