Microbiological and Immunological Markers in Milk and Infant Feces for Common Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The objective of this pilot study was to assess the fecal microbiome and different immunological parameters in infant feces and maternal milk from mother–infant pairs in which the infants were suffering from different gastrointestinal disorders (colic, non-IgE-mediated cow milk protein allergy (CMPA), and proctocolitis). A cohort of 30 mother–infant pairs, in which the infants were diagnosed with these gastrointestinal disorders or included as healthy controls, were recruited. Bacterial composition of infant feces and breast milk was determined by metataxonomic sequencing. Immunological compounds were quantified using multiplexed immunoassays. A higher abundance of Eggerthellaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Peptostreptococcaceae, and lower abundance of Bifidobacterium and higher abundance of Rothia were registered in fecal samples from the CMPA group. Eggerthellaceae was also significantly more abundant in milk samples of the CMPA group. There were no differences in the concentration of immunological compounds in infant fecal samples between the four groups. In contrast, differences were found in the concentration and/or frequency of compounds related to acquired immunity and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) in breast milk samples. In conclusion, a few microbial signatures in feces may explain part of the difference between CMPA and other infants. In addition, some milk immunological signatures have been uncovered among the different conditions addressed in this pilot study.

Non–IgE- or Mixed IgE/Non–IgE-Mediated Gastrointestinal Food Allergies in the First Years of Life: Old and New Tools for Diagnosis

“…It was recently reported that some patients with FPIES showed an increase in TARC about 24 h after being exposed to the trigger food, whether accidentally or during OFC. This increase only appears alongside gastrointestinal symptoms, suggesting that changes in serum TARC levels are likely linked to allergy reactions in intestinal epithelium cells [ 157 , 158 ]. This study is an example of how the measurement of cytokines and changes in their levels following OFC may help in the diagnosis of non IgE-mediated FA.…”

A Combined Analysis of Gut and Skin Microbiota in Infants with Food Allergy and Atopic Dermatitis: A Pilot Study

“…These disorders are difficult to diagnose in early infancy, as there are no specific markers, and diagnosis is based mainly on their symptoms. Although previous studies have yielded varying results, it has been found that gut microbiota differed between otherwise healthy subjects and those who were food sensitized (FS) or food allergic (FA) [ 20 , 21 ]. It has been shown that the composition of the microbiota in the neonatal period may be associated with the development of allergies up to the age of one year.…”

Fecal Microbial Signatures Are Associated With Engraftment Failure Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Patients With IL10RA Deficiency

“…Previous studies also detected a high abundance of Klebsiella and Streptococcus , besides Enterococcus ( Stein-Thoeringer and Nichols, 2019 ). Similarly, a high abundance of Rothia was found in fecal samples of infants with non-IgE-mediated cow milk protein allergy ( Aparicio et al, 2020 ). We found that Acinetobacter was dominant in fecal microbiota of the F3 patient who died of sepsis, supporting the notion that many genera can cause substantial infections ( Visca et al, 2011 ).…”