Development and diversity of lactic acid producing bacteria and bifidobacteria in healthy full term Indian infants from Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Background/AimsThe initial microbial colonization is a crucial step for the healthy development of an infant. Previous studies from India reported the dominance of target microbial species among Indian infants without any analysis on the diversity of target groups. This is the first study from India with an objective to investigate the establishment and diversity of lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria in vaginally delivered, full term, breastfed infants for the first 4 months after birth.MethodsPresent study used polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) based sequence analysis of LAB and bifidobacteria in healthy infants. The results were used to compare the development and early colonization by LAB and bifidobacteria using diversity indices during the initial months of development of gut microbiota in infants.ResultsDuring the first 4 months, the Shannon diversity index (H) of LAB increased from 1.16 to 1.318 and for bifidobacteria the H increased from 0.975 to 1.293 (P<0.05). Higher Sorenson’s pair wise similarity coefficient was observed for LAB and bifidobacteria during 2nd and the 3rd month. The species of the genera Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus were dominant among the LAB group whereas Bifidobacterium breve was dominant species among Bifidobacterium group.ConclusionsOur results indicate that in breast fed infants, the microbial diversity of LAB and bifidobacteria increased during the period of study.

Development and Functions of the Infant Gut Microflora: Westernvs. Indian Infants

“…They found that among the lactic acid-producing bacteria, species of the genera Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus were predominant, whereas among bifidobacteria, B. breve was the predominant species. The diversity of both lactic acid-producing bacteria and bifidobacteria increased with time over the 4 months of the study [69]. In a study performed in one of the leading hospitals of New Delhi, India, analysis of the fecal microflora of 29 full-term infants around 4 weeks of age revealed the presence of strictly aerobic, facultatively anaerobic, and anaerobic bacteria.…”

Bifidobacterium from infant stool: the diversity and potential screening

“…Bifidobacterium is commonly found in the vagina and the human digestive tract (Attri et al, 2018) as well as newborn digestive tracts (Penders et al, 2006). Bacterial colonization in the digestive tract begins during birth due to the infant contact to the vaginal tract and fecal microbiota (Palmer et al, 2007).…”

“…LAB and Bifidobacteria are acquired from the environment of which ingested food is presumably the main source. The group of bacteria that dominates the intestines in adult individuals is LAB, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides (Attri et al, 2018).…”