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Trueba G, Cardenas P, Romo G, Gutierrez B. Reevaluating human-microbiota symbiosis: Strain-level insights and evolutionary perspectives across animal species. Biosystems 2024; 244:105283. [PMID: 39103138 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
The prevailing consensus in scientific literature underscores the mutualistic bond between the microbiota and the human host, suggesting a finely tuned coevolutionary partnership that enhances the fitness of both parties. This symbiotic relationship has been extensively studied, with certain bacterial attributes being construed as hallmarks of natural selection favoring the benefit of the human host. Some scholars go as far as equating the intricate interplay between humans and their intestinal microbiota to that of endosymbiotic relationships, even conceptualizing microbiota as an integral human organ. However, amidst the prevailing narrative of bacterial species being categorized as beneficial or detrimental to human health, a critical oversight often emerges - the inherent functional diversity within bacterial strains. Such reductionist perspectives risk oversimplifying the complex dynamics at play within the microbiome. Recent genomic analysis at the strain level is highly limited, which is surprising given that strain information provides critical data about selective pressures in the intestine. These pressures appear to focus more on the well-being of bacteria rather than human health. Connected to this is the extent to which animals depend on metabolic activity from intestinal bacteria, which varies widely across species. While omnivores like humans exhibit lower dependency, certain herbivores rely entirely on bacterial activity and have developed specialized compartments to house these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Trueba
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador.
| | - Paul Cardenas
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - German Romo
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Bernardo Gutierrez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Vegetal, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
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2
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Samarra A, Cabrera-Rubio R, Martínez-Costa C, Collado MC. Unravelling the evolutionary dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes in the infant gut microbiota during the first four months of life. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2024; 23:72. [PMID: 39138497 PMCID: PMC11323388 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-024-00725-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alongside microbiota development, the evolution of the resistome is crucial in understanding the early-life acquisition and persistence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs). Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive view of the evolution and dynamics of the neonatal resistome from 7 days to 4 months of age using a high-throughput qPCR platform. METHODS In the initial phase, a massive screening of 384 ARGs using a high-throughput qPCR in pooled healthy mother-infant pairs feces from the MAMI cohort was carried out to identify the most abundant and prevalent ARGs in infants and in mothers. This pre-analysis allowed for later targeted profiling in a large number of infants in a longitudinal manner during the first 4 months of life. 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing was performed to asses microbial composition longitudinally. Potential factors influencing the microbiota and ARGs in this period were also considered, such as mode of birth and breastfeeding type. RESULTS Following the massive screening, the top 45 abundant ARGs and mobile genetic elements were identified and studied in 72 infants during their first months of life (7 days, 1, 2, and 4 months). These genes were associated with resistance to aminoglycosides, beta-lactams and tetracyclines, among others, as well as integrons, and other mobile genetic elements. Changes in both ARG composition and quantity were observed during the first 4 months of life: most ARGs abundance increased over time, but mobile genetic elements decreased significantly. Further exploration of modulating factors highlighted the effect on ARG composition of specific microbial genus, and the impact of mode of birth at 7 days and 4 months. The influence of infant formula feeding was observed at 4-month-old infants, who exhibited a distinctive resistome composition. CONCLUSIONS This study illustrates the ARG evolution and dynamics in the infant gut by use of a targeted, high-throughput, quantitative PCR-based method. An increase in antibiotic resistance over the first months of life were observed with a fundamental role of delivery mode in shaping resistance profiles. Further, we highlighted the influence of feeding methods on the resistome development. These findings offer pivotal insights into dynamics of and factors influencing early-life resistome, with potential avenues for intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Samarra
- Departament of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology- National Spanish Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Raúl Cabrera-Rubio
- Departament of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology- National Spanish Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cecilia Martínez-Costa
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Section, Hospital Clínico Universitario Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Departament of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology- National Spanish Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Trosvik P, Noordzij HT, de Muinck EJ. Antibiotic resistance gene dynamics in the commensal infant gut microbiome over the first year of life. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18701. [PMID: 39134593 PMCID: PMC11319485 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69275-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Colonization of the infant gut is an important developmental process characterized by high carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and high abundances of pathobionts. The horizontal transfer of ARGs to pathogenic bacteria represents a major public health concern. However, there is still a paucity of longitudinal studies surveilling ARGs in healthy infant guts at high temporal resolution. Furthermore, we do not yet have a clear view of how temporal variation in ARG carriage relates to the dynamics of specific bacterial populations, as well as community virulence potential. Here, we performed deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing of monthly fecal samples from a cohort of 12 infants, covering the first year of life to interrogate the infant gut microbiome for ARG content. We further relate ARG dynamics to the dynamics of taxa, virulence potential, as well as the potential for ARG mobilization. We identify a core resistome dominated by efflux systems typically associated with Enterobacteriaceae. Overall ARG carriage declined over the first year of life and showed strong contemporaneous correlation with the population dynamics of Proteobacteria. Furthermore, the majority of ARGs could be further mapped to metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) classified to this phylum. We were able to assign a large number of ARGs to E. coli by correlating the temporal dynamics of individual genes with species dynamics, and we show that the temporal dynamics of ARGs and virulence factors are highly correlated, suggesting close taxonomic associations between these two gene classes. Finally, we identify ARGs linked with various categories of mobile genetic elements, demonstrating preferential linkage among mobility categories and resistance to different drug classes. While individual variation in ARG carriage is substantial during infancy there is a clear reduction over the first year of life. With few exceptions, ARG abundances closely track the dynamics of pathobionts and community virulence potential. These findings emphasize the potential for development of resistant pathogens in the developing infant gut, and the importance of effective surveillance in order to detect such events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pål Trosvik
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Hanna Theodora Noordzij
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eric Jacques de Muinck
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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4
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Özçam M, Lynch SV. The gut-airway microbiome axis in health and respiratory diseases. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:492-506. [PMID: 38778224 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01048-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Communication between the gut and remote organs, such as the brain or the cardiovascular system, has been well established and recent studies provide evidence for a potential bidirectional gut-airway axis. Observations from animal and human studies indicate that respiratory insults influence the activity of the gut microbiome and that microbial ligands and metabolic products generated by the gut microbiome shape respiratory immunity. Information exchange between these two large mucosal surface areas regulates microorganism-immune interactions, with significant implications for the clinical and treatment outcomes of a range of respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. In this Review, we summarize the most recent data in this field, offering insights into mechanisms of gut-airway crosstalk across spatial and temporal gradients and their relevance for respiratory health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Özçam
- Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susan V Lynch
- Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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5
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Gao Y, Zhang W, Zhang T, Yu Y, Mao S, Liu J. Fructo-oligosaccharide supplementation enhances the growth of nursing dairy calves while stimulating the persistence of Bifidobacterium and hindgut microbiome's maturation. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:5626-5638. [PMID: 38522831 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-24468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The colonization and development of the gut microbiome in dairy calves play a crucial role in their overall health and future productivity. Despite the widely proposed benefits of inulin-related products on the host, there is insufficient information about how supplementing fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) affects the colonization and development of the gut microbiome in calves. In a randomized intervention trial involving newborn male Holstein dairy calves, we investigated the effect of FOS on the calf hindgut microbiome, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), growth performance, and the incidence of diarrhea. The daily administration of FOS exhibited a time-dependent increase in the ADG and the concentration of SCFA. Concurrently, FOS delayed the natural decline of Bifidobacterium, promoting the maturation and stabilization of the hindgut microbiome. These findings not only contribute to a theoretical understanding of the judicious application of prebiotics but also hold significant practical implications for the design of early life dietary interventions in the rearing of dairy calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Gao
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wanqiu Zhang
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yueying Yu
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shengyong Mao
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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Heston SM, Hurst JH, Kelly MS. Understanding the influence of the microbiome on childhood infections. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38605646 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2024.2340664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The microbiome is known to have a substantial impact on human health and disease. However, the impacts of the microbiome on immune system development, susceptibility to infectious diseases, and vaccine-elicited immune responses are emerging areas of interest. AREAS COVERED In this review, we provide an overview of development of the microbiome during childhood. We highlight available data suggesting that the microbiome is critical to maturation of the immune system and modifies susceptibility to a variety of infections during childhood and adolescence, including respiratory tract infections, Clostridioides difficile infection, and sexually transmitted infections. We discuss currently available and investigational therapeutics that have the potential to modify the microbiome to prevent or treat infections among children. Finally, we review the accumulating evidence that the gut microbiome influences vaccine-elicited immune responses among children. EXPERT OPINION Recent advances in sequencing technologies have led to an explosion of studies associating the human microbiome with the risk and severity of infectious diseases. As our knowledge of the extent to which the microbiome influences childhood infections continues to grow, microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics will increasingly be incorporated into clinical practice to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases among children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Heston
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, UK
| | - Jillian H Hurst
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, UK
| | - Matthew S Kelly
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, UK
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Devarajalu P, Kumar J, Dutta S, Attri SV, Kabeerdoss J. Gut microbiota of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit: a study from a tertiary care center in northern India. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1329926. [PMID: 38389529 PMCID: PMC10881769 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1329926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Disruptions of the gut microbiota of preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the first 2 weeks of life are of critical importance. These infants are prone to various complications, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis. Studying the gut microbiota will improve outcomes in preterm infants. In the present study, we examined the gut microbiota of preterm infants admitted to the NICU in the first month of life. Methods Neonates admitted to the NICU were recruited, and stool samples were collected weekly from the seventh day of the infant's life until the 30th day of life. DNA was extracted using a DNeasy Powersoil DNA isolation kit. 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V3-V4 region was performed using the MiSeq platform. Sequenced reads were processed on DADA2 pipeline to obtain an amplicon sequence variant (ASV) table. All bioinformatic and statistical analyses were performed using different packages in the R statistical framework. Results Fourteen preterm infants were recruited, and 48 samples were collected. Alpha diversity metrics, observed ASV count, and Shannon index were found to have no differences in any clinical variables. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) showed discrimination of neonates by gestational age and administration of probiotics. Differential abundance analysis showed a decreased abundance of Bifidobacterium Breve in extremely preterm infants (gestational age <28 weeks) compared to moderate preterm infants (gestational age 29-32 weeks). Supplementation with probiotics decreased Acinetobacter and increased Bifidobacterium in the gut of preterm neonates regardless of gestational age. Conclusion Gestational age and probiotic supplementation alter the gut microbiota of preterm infants admitted to the NICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabavathi Devarajalu
- Pediatric Biochemistry Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Jogender Kumar
- Newborn Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Sourabh Dutta
- Newborn Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Savita Verma Attri
- Pediatric Biochemistry Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Jayakanthan Kabeerdoss
- Pediatric Biochemistry Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
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Bernabeu M, Cabello-Yeves E, Flores E, Samarra A, Kimberley Summers J, Marina A, Collado MC. Role of vertical and horizontal microbial transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes in early life: insights from maternal-infant dyads. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102424. [PMID: 38237429 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Early life represents a critical window for metabolic, cognitive and immune system development, which is influenced by the maternal microbiome as well as the infant gut microbiome. Antibiotic exposure, mode of delivery and breastfeeding practices modulate the gut microbiome and the reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Vertical and horizontal microbial gene transfer during early life and the mechanisms behind these transfers are being uncovered. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the transfer of antibiotic resistance in the mother-infant dyad through vertical and horizontal transmission and to highlight the main gaps and challenges in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Bernabeu
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology - National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Elena Cabello-Yeves
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia-Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 46010 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Eduard Flores
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology - National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Anna Samarra
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology - National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Joanna Kimberley Summers
- Wellington Lab, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Marina
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia-Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - M Carmen Collado
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology - National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
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DuPont HL, Salge MMH. The Importance of a Healthy Microbiome in Pregnancy and Infancy and Microbiota Treatment to Reverse Dysbiosis for Improved Health. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1617. [PMID: 37998819 PMCID: PMC10668833 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12111617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microbiome of newborn infants during the first 1000 days, influenced early on by their mothers' microbiome health, mode of delivery and breast feeding, orchestrates the education and programming of the infant's immune system and determines in large part the general health of the infant for years. METHODS PubMed was reviewed for maternal infant microbiome health and microbiota therapy in this setting with prebiotics, probiotics, vaginal seeding and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). RESULTS A healthy nonobese mother, vaginal delivery and strict breast feeding contribute to microbiome health in a newborn and young infant. With reduced microbiome diversity (dysbiosis) during pregnancy, cesarean delivery, prematurity, and formula feeding contribute to dysbiosis in the newborn. Microbiota therapy is an important approach to repair dysbiosis in pregnant women and their infants. Currently available probiotics can have favorable metabolic effects on mothers and infants, but these effects are variable. In research settings, reversal of infant dysbiosis can be achieved via vaginal seeding or FMT. Next generation probiotics in development should replace current probiotics and FMT. CONCLUSIONS The most critical phase of human microbiome development is in the first 2-3 years of life. Preventing and treating dysbiosis during pregnancy and early life can have a profound effect on an infant's later health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert L. DuPont
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Kelsey Research Foundation, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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Hurst JH, Heston SM, Kelly MS. Host microbiome-pathogen interactions in pediatric infections. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2023; 36:399-404. [PMID: 37462955 PMCID: PMC10529085 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we discuss recent research that has furthered our understanding of microbiome development during childhood, the role of the microbiome in infections during this life stage, and emerging opportunities for microbiome-based therapies for infection prevention or treatment in children. RECENT FINDINGS The microbiome is highly dynamic during childhood and shaped by a variety of host and environmental factors. In turn, the microbiome influences risk and severity of a broad range of infections during childhood, with recent studies highlighting potential roles in respiratory, gastrointestinal, and systemic infections. The microbiome exerts this influence through both direct interactions with potential pathogens and indirectly through modulation of host immune responses. The elucidation of some of these mechanisms by recent studies and the development of effective microbiome-based therapies for adults with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection highlight the enormous promise that targeting the microbiome has for reducing the burden of infectious diseases during childhood. SUMMARY The microbiome has emerged as a key modifier of infection susceptibility and severity among children. Further research is needed to define the roles of microbes other than bacteria and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying microbiome-host and microbiome-pathogen interactions of importance to infectious diseases in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian H. Hurst
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
- Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Sarah M. Heston
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
- Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Matthew S. Kelly
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
- Duke Microbiome Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
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Saturio S, Rey A, Samarra A, Collado MC, Suárez M, Mantecón L, Solís G, Gueimonde M, Arboleya S. Old Folks, Bad Boon: Antimicrobial Resistance in the Infant Gut Microbiome. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1907. [PMID: 37630467 PMCID: PMC10458625 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of the intestinal microbiome in the neonate starts, mainly, at birth, when the infant receives its founding microbial inoculum from the mother. This microbiome contains genes conferring resistance to antibiotics since these are found in some of the microorganisms present in the intestine. Similarly to microbiota composition, the possession of antibiotic resistance genes is affected by different perinatal factors. Moreover, antibiotics are the most used drugs in early life, and the use of antibiotics in pediatrics covers a wide variety of possibilities and treatment options. The disruption in the early microbiota caused by antibiotics may be of great relevance, not just because it may limit colonization by beneficial microorganisms and increase that of potential pathogens, but also because it may increase the levels of antibiotic resistance genes. The increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is one of the major public health threats that humanity has to face and, therefore, understanding the factors that determine the development of the resistome in early life is of relevance. Recent advancements in sequencing technologies have enabled the study of the microbiota and the resistome at unprecedent levels. These aspects are discussed in this review as well as some potential interventions aimed at reducing the possession of resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Saturio
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; (S.S.); (A.R.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Alejandra Rey
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; (S.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Anna Samarra
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Spain; (A.S.); (M.C.C.)
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Spain; (A.S.); (M.C.C.)
| | - Marta Suárez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
- Pediatrics Service, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA-SESPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Laura Mantecón
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
- Pediatrics Service, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA-SESPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Solís
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
- Pediatrics Service, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA-SESPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Miguel Gueimonde
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; (S.S.); (A.R.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Silvia Arboleya
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Spain; (S.S.); (A.R.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (M.S.); (L.M.); (G.S.)
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