Gut microbial signatures expose the westernized lifestyle of urban Ethiopian children

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pediatric Health
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Gut microbiota research is extensive in Western and rural African children, but understudied in urban African children adopting Western lifestyles.
• Urbanization in Africa involves lifestyle shifts: smaller families, C-section births, processed foods, and increased antibiotic use.
• These changes may significantly impact the gut microbiome composition and function in developing populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the gut microbiota composition and diversity in urban Ethiopian children.
• To identify factors influencing gut microbial structure in this understudied population.
• To compare the gut microbiome of urban Ethiopians with European and rural African cohorts.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of fecal samples from approximately 200 Ethiopian children (aged 2-5 years) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics.
• Assessment of factors including delivery mode, breastfeeding, family size, household crowding, diet, growth status, and Helicobacter pylori infection.
• Bioinformatic analysis to determine microbial composition, diversity (α-diversity), and functional pathways.

Main Results:

• Household crowding and consumption of traditional fermented Eragrostis tef were linked to higher gut microbial α-diversity.
• Delivery mode, breastfeeding, and family size showed minor effects on α-diversity.
• Stunted growth and absence of H. pylori infection correlated with increased microbial diversity.
• Urban Ethiopian children showed a high Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and enrichment of Western diet-associated metabolic pathways.
• Rural African genera (e.g., Segatella, Prevotella) were largely absent, with the microbiome profile resembling European children.

Conclusions:

• An urbanized, Westernized lifestyle significantly alters gut microbiota composition in Ethiopian children.
• Factors like household crowding and traditional fermented foods may influence gut microbial diversity.
• The gut microbiome of urban African children can resemble that of European children, suggesting a globalized impact on microbial ecology.
• Dietary interventions, such as consuming traditional fermented foods, might offer a partial mitigation strategy against Westernization-induced microbiome changes.