Microbiota Supplementation with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus Modifies the Preterm Infant Gut Microbiota and Metabolome: An Observational Study

Abstract

Summary Supplementation with members of the early-life microbiota as “probiotics” is increasingly used in attempts to beneficially manipulate the preterm infant gut microbiota. We performed a large observational longitudinal study comprising two preterm groups: 101 infants orally supplemented with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus (Bif/Lacto) and 133 infants non-supplemented (control) matched by age, sex, and delivery method. 16S rRNA gene profiling on fecal samples (n = 592) showed a predominance of Bifidobacterium and a lower abundance of pathobionts in the Bif/Lacto group. Metabolomic analysis showed higher fecal acetate and lactate and a lower fecal pH in the Bif/Lacto group compared to the control group. Fecal acetate positively correlated with relative abundance of Bifidobacterium, consistent with the ability of the supplemented Bifidobacterium strain to metabolize human milk oligosaccharides into acetate. This study demonstrates that microbiota supplementation is associated with a Bifidobacterium -dominated preterm microbiota and gastrointestinal environment more closely resembling that of full-term infants.

Preterm Infants Harbour a Rapidly Changing Mycobiota That Includes Candida Pathobionts

“…In total, six Candida species were identified, including most notably C. albicans , C. metapsilosis , C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis , all of which are human-associated and fungal pathobionts [ 47 ]. In the case of the other two species, namely C. natalensis and C. railenensis , both were discounted from further analyses based on their inability to survive above 30 °C [ 35 ].…”

“…All were born preterm at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), with gestational ages ranging from 25 weeks (extremely preterm) to 36 weeks (late preterm), with a median age of 30 + 4 weeks. All 11 infants were participants in the BAMBI study (Reference no: ‘2012/2013—42HT’), a longitudinal microbiota profiling study to determine the impact of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus supplementation on the bacterial composition of the preterm infant gut [ 35 ]. All subjects gave their informed consent for inclusion before they participated in the study.…”

Effects of Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation on the gut microbiota in extremely preterm infants in a randomized placebo-controlled trial

“…27 Recently, an observational study in which infants born before gestational week 34 were supplemented with a combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus confirmed our result. 28 Besides an increased relative abundance of the supplemented Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains, they reported a reduction of genera within the Enterobacteriaceae family during the whole neonatal period and a weak reduction of Clostridium in the end of the neonatal period. Although being consistent with our results, the differences between the two study groups seemed to be larger than in our trial.…”

Integrated Microbiome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals a Positive Change in the Intestinal Environment of Myostatin Edited Large White Pigs

“…Hence, our observations suggest an upregulation in the production of butyrate in the MSTN group that subsequently enhances energy metabolism. Bifidobacterium is associated with health promoting outcomes due to the production of bacteriocins ( Martinez et al, 2013 ), and might contribute to improved metabolic end-products (e.g., acetate and lactate) ( Alcon-Giner et al, 2020 ). Accordingly, the upregulated of Bifidobacterium in the MSTN group indicate that the production of acetate, lactate and bacteriocins is likely upregulated in MSTN group, which promotes energy metabolism and health.…”