Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025
Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
Altered Faecal Microbiota Composition and Structure of Ghanaian Children with Acute Gastroenteritis
Emmanuel Kofi Quaye1, Raymond Lovelace Adjei2, Abiola Isawumi1
1West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 54, Ghana.
Insights
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in young Ghanaian children is linked to reduced gut microbial diversity. Their gut bacteria show an increase in disease-associated microbes compared to healthy children.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Global Health
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) poses a significant global health challenge.
- Altered gut microbiota composition is observed in children with AGE.
- Limited data exists on gut microbiota differences in Ghanaian children with AGE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fecal microbiota profiles in young Ghanaian children with and without AGE.
- To compare microbial diversity and composition between AGE cases and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples.
- Analysis of microbiota profiles in 57 AGE cases and 50 healthy controls (children ≤ 5 years).
- Comparison of microbial diversity, composition, and correlation networks.
Main Results:
- AGE cases exhibited lower microbial diversity compared to controls.
- Fecal microbiota in AGE cases were enriched with genera like *Enterococcus*, *Streptococcus*, and *Staphylococcus*.
- Healthy controls showed enrichment of beneficial genera such as *Faecalibacterium*, *Prevotella*, *Ruminococcus*, and *Bacteroides*.
- Distinct microbial correlation network structures were identified between AGE cases and controls.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences exist in the fecal microbiota of young Ghanaian children with AGE compared to healthy children.
- The gut microbiota in Ghanaian children with AGE is characterized by an enrichment of potentially pathogenic bacteria.
- Findings highlight the role of gut dysbiosis in pediatric AGE within the Ghanaian context.
Abstract:
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a disease of global public health importance. Recent studies show that children with AGE have an altered gut microbiota relative to non-AGE controls. Yet, how the gut microbiota differs in Ghanaian children with and without AGE remains unclear. Here, we explore the 16S rRNA gene-based faecal microbiota profiles of Ghanaian children five years of age and younger, comprising 57 AGE cases and 50 healthy controls. We found that AGE cases were associated with lower microbial diversity and altered microbial sequence profiles relative to the controls. The faecal microbiota of AGE cases was enriched for disease-associated bacterial genera, including Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus. In contrast, the faecal microbiota of controls was enriched for potentially beneficial genera, including Faecalibacterium, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, and Bacteroides. Lastly, distinct microbial correlation network characteristics were observed between AGE cases and controls, thereby supporting broad differences in faecal microbiota structure. Altogether, we show that the faecal microbiota of Ghanaian children with AGE differ from controls and are enriched for bacterial genera increasingly associated with diseases.
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...
01:18Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents
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.
01:50What is Monogastric Digestion?