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Infant gut strain persistence is associated with maternal origin, phylogeny, and traits including surface adhesion

Yue Clare Lou1, Matthew R Olm2, Spencer Diamond3

  • 1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

Cell Reports. Medicine
|October 8, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Maternal gut bacteria are more likely to persist in infants, influencing the developing gut microbiome. This study tracked infant gut colonization, finding that some early colonizers survive the first year, especially in full-term infants.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infant Development
  • Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

  • The infant gut microbiome plays a crucial role in development, but factors influencing early bacterial colonization persistence are not well understood.
  • Understanding these factors is key to potentially modulating the infant gut microbiome for improved health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare gut colonization patterns in preterm and full-term infants over their first year of life.
  • To identify factors, including strain origin and genetic makeup, associated with the persistence of early gut bacterial colonizers.

Main Methods:

  • Strain-resolved metagenomic analysis of fecal samples from 13 full-term and 9 preterm infants.
  • Comparison of infant gut microbiomes with maternal gut strains in 17 mother-infant pairs.
  • Analysis of genetic potential, focusing on genes related to adhesion, nutrient acquisition, and metabolism.

Main Results:

  • Infant gut microbiomes showed convergence by one year of age.
  • Approximately 11% of initial colonizers, mainly Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium, persisted for the first year.
  • Persistent strains were more common in full-term infants, and maternal strains showed higher persistence rates in infants compared to non-maternal strains.
  • Genes for surface adhesion, iron acquisition, and carbohydrate degradation were enriched in persistent strains.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal origin is a significant factor promoting the persistence of gut bacteria in infants.
  • Specific genetic traits, such as those involved in adhesion and nutrient acquisition, contribute to long-term colonization.
  • These findings provide insights into the establishment and stability of the early infant gut microbiome, with potential implications for infant health.

Keywords:
Infant gut microbiomecommunity ecologyearly-life gut colonizationstrain-resolved metagenomics

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