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Published on: December 15, 2011
Temporal characterization of the gut microbiome and metabolome in preterm infants
Lauren C Beck1, Thomas Sproat2, Christopher A Lamb1,3
1Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
Insights
The preterm infant gut microbiome changes with age, showing links between bacteria and metabolites. Diet influences this dynamic, offering insights into infant gut health.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neonatal Research
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Preterm infants often have abnormal gut microbial colonization, increasing disease risk due to their immature physiology.
- Understanding the gut microbiome's temporal development and its interaction with host-derived metabolites is crucial for preterm infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the gut microbial structure and metabolic function in very preterm infants.
- To investigate the relationships between gut microbiota, metabolites, and influencing factors like diet and age.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal stool samples (n=266) from 66 very preterm infants were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbial structure.
- Stool metabolomics (n=101) was performed on a subset of samples to assess functional metabolites.
- Statistical analyses identified associations between age, microbiota, and metabolome, and correlations between bacterial taxa and metabolites.
Main Results:
- Significant associations were found between age and both gut microbiota (P<0.001) and metabolite profiles (P<0.001).
- A strong concordance was observed between the gut microbiome and metabolome, with 691 significant correlations identified.
- Lactobacillus species showed the most significant correlations (31%), including a positive link with equol sulphate.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates consistent relationships between diet, gut microbiota composition, and metabolic function in preterm infants.
- Findings offer valuable insights into the microbial and metabolic dynamics of the preterm gut.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore their implications for infant health and development.
Abstract:
Preterm infants experience abnormal microbial colonization, which coupled with their vulnerable physiology can increase the risk of disease. Understanding the factors influencing the complex relationship between the temporal development of the gut microbiome and functional metabolites derived from microbe-microbe and microbe-host interaction is therefore critical. In this study, 266 longitudinal stool samples from 66 very preterm infants underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyse gut microbial structure. To further explore the functional status of these gut members, a subset of these samples underwent stool metabolomics (n=101). Statistically significant associations were found with age for both the gut microbiota (P<0.001) and metabolite profiles (P<0.001). Relationships between the gut microbiome and metabolome showed concordance, with 691 significant correlations after adjustment between the top 10 most abundant bacterial taxa and all 977 identified metabolites. Lactobacillus had the highest number of significant correlations (31%), amongst which was a strong positive correlation with equol sulphate, an oestrogen produced by intestinal bacteria. This study reveals consistent relationships between the diet, gut microbiota composition and metabolic function. The findings provide valuable insights into the microbial and metabolic dynamics of the preterm gut and the relationships underlying gut microbiome structure and function in vulnerable preterm infants. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore their implications for infant health and development.
