The individual-specific and diverse nature of the preterm infant microbiota
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the composition of the evolving microbiota of preterm infants at weeks 2 and 4 of life. SETTINGS: The paediatric intensive care unit of the Cork University Maternity Hospital. METHODS: The microbial diversity of faecal samples from 10 preterm infants was determined using 16S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing technology. RESULTS: In total, 452 863 sequences were obtained from 20 faecal samples collected from 10 preterm infants, allowing a level of analysis not previously reported. The preterm infant microbiota samples were dominated by Proteobacteria (46%), followed by Firmicutes (45%), while the phyla Actinobacteria (2%) and Bacteroidetes (7%) were detected at much lower levels at week 2 of life. This colonisation pattern was similar at week 4 of life. At the family level, Enterobacteriaceae were detected at 50% and 58% at weeks 2 and 4, respectively. The preterm infants were characterised by a lack of detectable Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera commonly associated with the infant gut. In addition to the dominance of the Proteobacteria, a high level of interindividual variation was observed, indeed the relative proportions of different phyla, families and genera in different infants ranged from <1% to >90%. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that in addition to an uncharacteristic microbiota relative to that reported for healthy term infants, there was a large interindividual variation in the faecal microbiota diversity of preterm infants suggesting that the preterm microbiota is individual-specific and does not display a uniformity among infants.
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Several factors are known to influence microbial composition at different stages of life, including genetic factors, mode of delivery, gestational age, exercise, medication use, living environment, and diet.
“Several factors are known to influence microbial composition at different stages of life, including genetic factors, mode of delivery [vaginal birth or Caesarean section (C-section)], gestational age, exercise, medication use, living environment, and diet (237-240).”
From Diet and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Sowing the Seeds of Good Mental Health (2021) · cites this paper as [238]
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- Authors
- Barrett, E., Kerr, C., Murphy, K., O'Sullivan, O., Ryan, C. A., Dempsey, E. M., Murphy, B. P., O'Toole, P. W., Cotter, P. D., Fitzgerald, G. F., Ross, R. P., & Stanton, C.
- Affiliations
- Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (IE)
- University College Cork (IE)
- Food Biosciences Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
- Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland
- National University of Ireland (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Stanton, Catherine
- ORCID
- Venue
- Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2013-01-08
- Volume
- 98
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- F334-F340
- ISSN
- 1359-2998 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-2052
- OpenAlex
- W2079266218
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 4.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal & Neonatal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Health Research Board
- Teagasc
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Keywords
- preterm infants, gut microbiota, fecal microbiota, microbial diversity, interindividual variability, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Enterobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus
- MeSH terms
- Feces, Fungi, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Gram-Positive Bacteria, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Ireland, Gastrointestinal Tract, Metagenome
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