Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Multiplex Detection of Bacteria in Complex Clinical and Environmental Samples using Oligonucleotide-coupled Fluorescent Microspheres
Published on: October 23, 2011
[Analyzing Colonization of Bifidobacteria in Infants with Real-time Fluorescent Quantitative PCR]
Miao He1, Ming Li1, Shu-Yue Wang1
1Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Insights
Infant gut Bifidobacteria colonization is a sensitive period, with species diversity increasing significantly by one year. Environmental factors like delivery and feeding may influence this delayed colonization and unique species composition.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Infant gut health
- Bacteriology
Background:
- The infant gut microbiome plays a crucial role in early development and health.
- Bifidobacteria are key commensal bacteria in the infant gut, influencing immune and metabolic functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the species composition and quantitative changes of intestinal Bifidobacteria in infants during their first year.
- To investigate the influence of environmental factors on Bifidobacteria colonization and community development.
Main Methods:
- A non-culture-dependent molecular method (real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR) was employed.
- Fecal samples were collected from 16 full-term infants at multiple time points from birth to one year.
- Genus and species-specific primers were used to detect and quantify Bifidobacteria and eight predominant species.
Main Results:
- Bifidobacteria were detected in 93.4% of samples, with concentrations ranging from 10^5 to 10^11 CFU/g.
- Colonization was initially low, with limited species diversity until 14 days, increasing significantly after 28 days.
- By one year, all infants harbored more than three Bifidobacteria species, with B. breve and B. infantis being most prevalent.
Conclusions:
- The first year of life is a critical period for Bifidobacteria colonization and community establishment in infants.
- Delayed colonization and distinct species composition observed in this study may be influenced by delivery mode, feeding patterns, and environmental factors.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise impact of these factors on infant gut microbiome development.
Objectives:
In order to know how intestinal Bifidobacteria community could be built in the infants and whether the environmental factors could affect them, the present study was conducted to characterizethe species composition and trace the quantitative changes of intestinal Bifidobacteria of the infants in their early stages with non-culture dependent molecular method. The possible association of Bifidobacteria community of the infants with their health was also discussed.
Methods:
Total 16 of full-term newborn infants born between March and April 2013 were recruited for the present study. Fecal samples were collected from them at 1 day, 2 days, 4 days, 7 days, 10 days, 14 days, 28 days, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after birth. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR with genus and species specific premiers was used to detect Bifidobacteria and 8 predominate species in human intestine qualitatively and quantitatively present in these collected fecal samples.
Results:
Total 136 fecal sample were collected and Bifidobacteria were detected from 93.4% (127/136) of them with the concentration of 1.0×10 5 to 1.0×10 11 CFU/g. Bifidobacteria were found in 83.3% of the fecal samples collected from the first day after birth with more than about 10 5 CFU/g. However, Bifidobacteria were detected relative low until 14 days and were taxonomically belonged only to one or two species. Bifidobacteria were found in almost 100% of the fecal samples collected after birth 28 days with more than 108 CFU/g, and the detected species of Bifidobacteria was increased to 3 species after 28 days to 6 months. All of the fecal samples collected from one year had more than 3 species of Bifidobacteria with high cell counts. Among the detected Bifidobacteria were B.breve 92.1%, B.infantis 66.1%, B. catenulatum 59.8%, B. bifidum 25.2%, B. longum 24.4%, B.dentium 13.4%, B.angulatum 5.5% and B.adolescentis 1.6%, respectively.
Conclusions:
The detected Bifidobacteria greatly varied qualitatively and quantitatively after birth to one year which could be considered as the important and sensitive period for Bifidobacteria to colonize and built its communityin the infants. Different from previous studies, the colonization of Bifidobacteria in the tested infants was found delayed and the composition and diversity of Bifidobacteria species was different from other studies. These might result from different deliveryway, feeding pattern and other environmental factors related to the tested infants.
