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Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing
Published on: March 19, 2018
[Features of intestinal flora in children with food protein-induced proctocolitis based on high-throughput
Shun-Li Chen1, Zheng-Zhen Tang, Bo Huang
1Graduate School of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, China.
Insights
Infants with food protein-induced proctocolitis (FPIP) exhibit altered gut microbiota, with reduced diversity and specific bacterial genus changes. These dysbiotic shifts may contribute to FPIP development.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Gut Microbiome Research
Background:
- Food protein-induced proctocolitis (FPIP) is an allergic condition in infants.
- The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in infant health and immune development.
- Understanding FPIP-associated gut dysbiosis is essential for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of the intestinal flora in infants diagnosed with FPIP.
- To compare the gut microbiome composition between FPIP infants and healthy controls.
- To identify specific bacterial taxa associated with FPIP.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 31 infants with FPIP and 31 healthy controls (<6 months old).
- High-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA V3-V4 fragments from fecal samples.
- Bioinformatic analysis to assess microbial diversity and composition at phylum and genus levels.
Main Results:
- Infants with FPIP showed reduced microbial diversity (Shannon index) but increased abundance (Chao index) compared to controls.
- FPIP group exhibited a significant decrease in Actinobacteria and an increase in Proteobacteria at the phylum level.
- Key genus-level alterations in FPIP included reduced Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcus, and increased Clostridium and Shigella.
Conclusions:
- FPIP is associated with decreased gut microbial diversity and altered bacterial abundance.
- Specific changes in bacterial genera, such as Bifidobacterium and Clostridium, are linked to FPIP.
- Gut dysbiosis at the genus level may be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of FPIP.
Objectives:
To study the features of intestinal flora in children with food protein-induced proctocolitis (FPIP) by high-throughput sequencing.
Methods:
A total of 31 children, aged <6 months, who experienced FPIP after exclusive breastfeeding and attended the outpatient service of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from October 2018 to February 2021 were enrolled as the FPIP group. Thirty-one healthy infants were enrolled as the control group. Fecal samples were collected to extract DNA for PCR amplification. High-throughput sequencing was used to perform a bioinformatics analysis of 16S rDNA V3-V4 fragments in fecal samples.
Results:
The diversity analysis of intestinal flora showed that compared with the control group, the FPIP group had a lower Shannon index for diversity (P>0.05) and a significantly higher Chao index for abundance (P<0.01). At the phylum level, the intestinal flora in both groups were composed of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Compared with the control group, the FPIP group had a significant reduction in the composition ratio of Actinobacteria (P<0.001) and a significant increase in the composition ratio of Proteobacteria (P<0.05). At the genus level, the intestinal flora in the FPIP group were mainly composed of Escherichia, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Bifidobacterium, and the intestinal flora in the control group were mainly composed of Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus. Compared with the control group, the FPIP group had a significant reduction in the composition ratio of Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcus (P<0.05) and significant increases in the composition ratios of Clostridium and Shigella (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Compared with the control group, the FPIP group has a reduction in the diversity of intestinal flora and an increase in their abundance, and there are certain differences in several bacterial genera. These results suggest that changes in the composition of intestinal flora at genus level may play an important role in the development and progression of FPIP.
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