Baseline microbiota composition modulates antibiotic-mediated effects on the gut microbiota and host

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Genomics

Background:

• Gut microbiota is crucial for mammalian development and homeostasis.
• Antibiotics can disrupt gut microbiota, leading to adverse host effects.
• Individual responses to antibiotic-induced microbiota changes vary.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if different human microbiomes respond differently to antibiotics.
• To determine if these differences impact host response.

Main Methods:

• Germ-free mice were humanized with microbiota from two donors (A and B).
• Mice received a 7-day amoxicillin-clavulanate antibiotic challenge.
• Microbiome and colonic transcriptome analyses were performed at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• Distinct microbial profiles emerged based on the donor.
• Donor A's microbiota showed marked destabilization post-antibiotics; Donor B's remained more stable.
• Both groups exhibited significant transcriptome alterations, with Donor A showing greater changes and correlations between host pathways and microbes.

Conclusions:

• Humanized microbiotas maintain distinct profiles and respond uniquely to antibiotics.
• Host responses correlate with microbiome disequilibrium after antibiotic challenge.
• Inter-individual gut microbiota variations may drive personalized host responses to perturbations.