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Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Intestinal microbiota dataset revealed by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA in children with anemia in southern
Jani Pacheco-Aranibar1,2, Karla Diaz-Rodriguez1, Rosemary Zapana-Begazo1
1Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José s/n, Umacollo, Arequipa 04013, Peru.
Insights
Anemia affects many children in Peru. This study identified gut microbiota in children with persistent anemia, revealing specific bacterial phyla like Actinobacteria, crucial for understanding iron metabolism and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Public Health
- Gut Microbiota and Human Health
- Pediatric Hematology
Background:
- Anemia is a significant public health concern in Peru, particularly affecting children under three, with high prevalence rates in rural and specific regions.
- Iron-deficiency anemia in children can lead to serious complications, including developmental delays and cognitive deficits.
- The gut microbiota's role in health is increasingly recognized, yet its specific composition in children with persistent anemia remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the gut microbiota composition in Peruvian children suffering from anemia who did not respond to iron treatment.
- To investigate the potential link between specific microbial profiles and persistent anemia in pediatric populations.
- To provide foundational data for understanding the functional roles of gut bacteria in iron metabolism and anemia.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of microbial composition using next-generation 16S rRNA sequencing (NGS) on stool samples.
- Study focused on children with anemia in southern Peru, specifically those with persistent symptoms despite iron therapy.
- Comparison of microbial data with previous findings on children with iron-deficiency anemia, including predominant phyla like Actinobacteria.
Main Results:
- Previous research indicated Actinobacteria as a predominant phylum in children with anemia.
- The study identified specific bacterial groups, including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi, in children with iron-deficiency anemia.
- Data are being generated to understand bacterial functionality, metabolic pathways, and their connection to iron metabolism in persistent anemia.
Conclusions:
- The gut microbiota composition is linked to anemia, and further investigation is needed to understand this bidirectional relationship.
- Identifying specific bacterial genera and species, along with their metabolic functions, can offer insights into persistent anemia.
- This research contributes to understanding the intestinal microbiota's implications in anemia, a critical public health issue.
Abstract:
Anemia is the most common hematological disorder affecting humans. In Peru, anemia is a pressing issue that present the most significant concern due to its adverse effects, such as delayed growth and psychomotor development, in addition to a deficiency in cognitive development. Anemia is a significant public health issue in Peru, which has one of the highest prevalence rates in infants in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region, affecting approximately 43.6 % of children under three years nationally as of 2017, with rural areas experiencing a higher prevalence of approximately 53.3 %. In 2019, the prevalence was highest in the Sierra (48.8 %) and Selva regions (44.6 %), whereas the coast had a lower rate of 33.9 % in children under 36 months. Although the composition of the gut microbiota is relatively well described in children, there is little information on the identification of the microbiota in iron-deficiency anemia. There is evidence that diseases or health conditions can change the microbiota, or vice versa. This study aimed to identify the microbiota in children with anemia who did not recover after iron treatment. In a previous study, we found that the phylum Actinobacteria was predominant in the microbiota of children with anemia. These data will be useful for understanding the functionality of the most important bacteria found in each group at the genus or species level, especially the metabolic pathways in which they participate and their links with iron metabolism. Microbial composition data were obtained through next-generation 16S rRNA sequencing (NGS) of stool samples from children with anemia in southern Peru. Numerous studies have underscored the importance of early symbiotic development in infant health and its long-term impact on health. From infancy, modulation of the gut microbiota can promote long-term health. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), iron-deficiency anemia may cause serious complications, such as fatigue, headaches, restless legs syndrome, heart problems, pregnancy complications, and developmental delays in children. The development of the gut microbiota is regulated by a complex interplay between host and environmental factors. The bidirectional link between the gut microbiota and anemia plays an important role in tracking the gut microbiota and will be useful in understanding the composition of the intestinal microbiota and its implications in anemia, which has now become a public health problem. Our previous study investigated the microbial composition in children with iron-deficiency anemia and revealed the presence of several bacterial groups, including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi. In addition, these data may be useful for investigating the association between the intestinal microbiota of children with persistent anemia and those who have recovered.
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