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Early gut mycobiota and mother-offspring transfer
Kasper Schei1, Ekaterina Avershina2, Torbjørn Øien3
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Postboks 8905, 7491, Trondheim, Norway. kasperschei@gmail.com.
Background:
The fungi in the gastrointestinal tract, the gut mycobiota, are now recognised as a significant part of the gut microbiota, and they may be important to human health. In contrast to the adult gut mycobiota, the establishment of the early gut mycobiota has never been described, and there is little knowledge about the fungal transfer from mother to offspring.
Methods:
In a prospective cohort, we followed 298 pairs of healthy mothers and offspring from 36 weeks of gestation until 2 years of age (1516 samples) and explored the gut mycobiota in maternal and offspring samples. Half of the pregnant mothers were randomised into drinking probiotic milk during and after pregnancy. The probiotic bacteria included Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5. We quantified the fungal abundance of all the samples using qPCR of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 segment, and we sequenced the 18S rRNA gene ITS1 region of 90 high-quantity samples using the MiSeq platform (Illumina).
Results:
The gut mycobiota was detected in most of the mothers and the majority of the offspring. The offspring showed increased odds of having detectable faecal fungal DNA if the mother had detectable fungal DNA as well (OR = 1.54, p = 0.04). The fungal alpha diversity in the offspring gut increased from its lowest at 10 days after birth, which was the earliest sampling point. The fungal diversity and fungal species showed a succession towards the maternal mycobiota as the child aged, with Debaryomyces hansenii being the most abundant species during breast-feeding and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the most abundant after weaning. Probiotic consumption increased the gut mycobiota abundance in pregnant mothers (p = 0.01).
Conclusion:
This study provides the first insight into the early fungal establishment and the succession of fungal species in the gut mycobiota. The results support the idea that the fungal host phenotype is transferred from mother to offspring.
Trial Registration:
Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00159523.
Insights
The gut mycobiota is transferred from mother to offspring, with fungal species succession observed as the child ages. Probiotic milk intake by mothers increased gut mycobiota abundance during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Human Health
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The gut mycobiota, comprising fungi in the gastrointestinal tract, is a significant component of the gut microbiota with potential health implications.
- Unlike adult gut mycobiota, the establishment and maternal transfer of early gut mycobiota remain largely undescribed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the establishment and succession of the gut mycobiota in healthy mothers and offspring from gestation to two years of age.
- To explore the influence of probiotic milk consumption on maternal gut mycobiota during pregnancy and postpartum.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study followed 298 mother-offspring pairs, collecting 1516 samples from 36 weeks gestation to 2 years postpartum.
- Fungal abundance was quantified using qPCR of the ITS1 segment, and 18S rRNA gene ITS1 sequencing was performed on 90 samples.
- Mothers were randomized to consume probiotic milk containing specific bacterial strains (LGG, Bb-12, La-5) or a placebo.
Main Results:
- Gut mycobiota was detected in most mothers and offspring, with offspring more likely to have detectable fungi if their mothers did (OR=1.54).
- Offspring gut fungal diversity increased after birth, showing a succession towards the maternal mycobiota, with distinct fungal species dominating during breastfeeding and after weaning.
- Probiotic consumption by pregnant mothers significantly increased gut mycobiota abundance (p=0.01).
Conclusions:
- This study offers the first comprehensive insight into the early establishment and species succession of the gut mycobiota.
- Findings suggest that the fungal host phenotype is transferred from mother to offspring, highlighting the importance of maternal gut fungi.
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