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Published on: June 24, 2020
Maternal Mycobiome, but Not Antibiotics, Alters Fungal Community Structure in Neonatal Piglets
Tausha L Prisnee1, Janelle M Fouhse1, Natalie E Diether1
1Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract:
Early-life antibiotic exposure is associated with diverse long-term adverse health outcomes. Despite the immunomodulatory effects of gastrointestinal fungi, the impact of antibiotics on the fungal community (mycobiome) has received little attention. The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of commonly prescribed infant antibiotic treatments on the microbial loads and structures of bacterial and fungal communities in the gastrointestinal tract. Thirty-two piglets were divided into four treatment groups: amoxicillin (A), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AC), gentamicin-ampicillin (GA), and flavored placebo (P). Antibiotics were administered orally starting on postnatal day (PND) 1 until PND 8, except for GA, which was given on PNDs 5 and 6 intramuscularly. Fecal swabs were collected from piglets on PNDs 3 and 8, and sow feces were collected 1 day after farrowing. The impacts of antibiotics on bacterial and fungal communities were assessed by sequencing the 16S rRNA and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rRNA genes, respectively, and quantitative PCR was performed to determine total bacterial and fungal loads. Antibiotics did not alter the α-diversity (P = 0.834) or β-diversity (P = 0.565) of fungal communities on PND 8. AC increased the ratio of total fungal/total bacterial loads on PND 8 (P = 0.027). There was strong clustering of piglets by litter on PND 8 (P < 0.001), which corresponded to significant differences in the sow mycobiome, especially the presence of Kazachstania slooffiae. In summary, we observed a strong litter effect and showed that the maternal mycobiome is essential for shaping the piglet mycobiome in early life. IMPORTANCE This work provides evidence that although the fungal community composition is not altered by antibiotics, the overall fungal load increases with the administration of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Additionally, we show that the maternal fungal community is important in establishing the fungal community in piglets.
Insights
Early antibiotic exposure did not change fungal community structure but increased fungal loads with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The maternal mycobiome significantly influences piglet gut fungal communities.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Early-life antibiotic exposure has long-term health implications.
- Gastrointestinal fungi (mycobiome) play immunomodulatory roles, yet their response to antibiotics is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of common infant antibiotics on gut bacterial and fungal communities in early life.
- To assess changes in microbial loads and community structures.
Main Methods:
- Piglets were treated with amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, gentamicin-ampicillin, or placebo from postnatal day 1 to 8.
- Bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene sequencing.
- Quantitative PCR determined total bacterial and fungal loads.
Main Results:
- Antibiotics did not alter fungal alpha or beta diversity.
- Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid significantly increased the fungal-to-bacterial load ratio.
- Piglet gut communities showed strong litter clustering, linked to sow mycobiome composition.
Conclusions:
- Maternal mycobiome composition is crucial for establishing the piglet mycobiome.
- While antibiotic treatment did not alter fungal community structure, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid increased fungal load relative to bacterial load.
