Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Longitudinal gut mycobiota changes in Japanese infants during first three years of life
Riko Mishima1, Masaru Tanaka1, Rie Momoda1
1Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Division of Systems Bioengineering, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Abstract:
Although fungi can have a large impact on host health through the stimulation of the immune system and toxin production, few studies have investigated the gut mycobiota during infancy, a period during which sensitivity to internal and external stimuli is high. To capture the trend in fungal colonization during infancy, we evaluated the gut mycobiota of ten Japanese infants during the first 3 years of life. Infants had two major phyla, Ascomycota (68.9%) and Basidiomycota (29.6%), and the most abundant genus was Saccharomyces (26.8%), followed by Malassezia (18.5%), Candida (12.3%), Meyerozyma (8.5%), and Penicillium (8.3%). Alpha diversity analysis revealed a significant decrease in fungal richness and evenness with age, suggesting adaptive selection of the colonizing species in the gut environment. Beta diversity analysis divided infant mycobiota into age-related clusters and showed discrete separation before and after weaning, suggesting shift in microenvironment via weaning. In the initial stage, a variety of fungal species that likely originated from an environment, such as Malassezia spp., was highly colonized and were replaced by yeasts, such as Saccharomyces, after weaning. Further studies are needed to shed light on how the passage of the series of fungal colonizations in infancy affects the development of the host immune system and the other homeostasis involved in health later in life.
Insights
The infant gut mycobiota shifts significantly with age, with fungal diversity decreasing over the first three years. Weaning dramatically alters fungal composition, transitioning from environmental species to yeasts like Saccharomyces.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- The gut mycobiota, fungi in the digestive tract, plays a role in host health, influencing immunity and toxin production.
- Infancy is a critical period for immune system development and is characterized by high sensitivity to environmental factors.
- Limited research exists on the gut mycobiota's composition and dynamics during early childhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the trend of fungal colonization in the infant gut microbiome during the first three years of life.
- To understand how fungal composition changes with infant age and dietary transitions, such as weaning.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gut mycobiota composition in ten Japanese infants over their first three years.
- Utilized alpha and beta diversity analyses to assess fungal richness, evenness, and community structure changes over time.
Main Results:
- The dominant fungal phyla identified were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, with Saccharomyces, Malassezia, and Candida being the most abundant genera.
- Fungal richness and evenness significantly decreased with age, indicating adaptive selection within the infant gut.
- Distinct age-related clusters and a clear separation in mycobiota composition before and after weaning were observed.
Conclusions:
- Infant gut mycobiota undergoes significant compositional shifts during the first three years of life, influenced by age and weaning.
- Early fungal colonization patterns may impact the developing host immune system and overall health homeostasis.
- Further research is necessary to elucidate the long-term health implications of these dynamic fungal colonization events in infancy.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
01:29Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...