1
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Houngbédji M, Jespersen JS, Wilfrid Padonou S, Jespersen L. Cereal-based fermented foods as microbiota-directed products for improved child nutrition and health in sub-Saharan Africa. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2024:1-22. [PMID: 38973125 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2024.2365342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Several strategies, programs and policies have long been developed and implemented to alleviate child malnutrition in sub-Saharan African countries. However, stunting and wasting still persist at an alarming rate, suggesting that alternative strategies are needed to induce faster progress toward the 2030 SDGs targets of reducing malnutrition. Gut microbiota-directed intervention is now being recognized as an unconventional powerful approach to mitigate malnutrition and improve overall child health. In an African setting, manufactured probiotic and synbiotic foods or supplements may not be successful owing to the non-affordability and high attachment of African populations to their food tradition. This review analyses the potential of indigenous fermented cereal-based products including porridges, doughs, beverages, bread- and yoghurt-like products, to be used as microbiota-directed foods for over 6 months children. The discussion includes relevant strategies to effectively enhance the beneficial effects of these products on gut microbiota composition for improved child health and nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa. Characterization of probiotic features and general safety of food processing in sub-Saharan Africa as well as randomized clinical studies are still lacking to fully ascertain the health effects and suitability of these fermented foods in preventing and treating child malnutrition and diarrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Houngbédji
- Laboratoire de Sciences et Technologies des Aliments, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Jéricho, Cotonou, Benin
- Laboratoire de Sciences et Technologie des Aliments, des Bioressources et de Nutrition Humaine, Université Nationale d'Agriculture, Sakété, Bénin
| | | | - Sègla Wilfrid Padonou
- Laboratoire de Sciences et Technologies des Aliments, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Jéricho, Cotonou, Benin
- Laboratoire de Sciences et Technologie des Aliments, des Bioressources et de Nutrition Humaine, Université Nationale d'Agriculture, Sakété, Bénin
| | - Lene Jespersen
- Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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2
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Dubois L, Valles-Colomer M, Ponsero A, Helve O, Andersson S, Kolho KL, Asnicar F, Korpela K, Salonen A, Segata N, de Vos WM. Paternal and induced gut microbiota seeding complement mother-to-infant transmission. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:1011-1024.e4. [PMID: 38870892 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.05.004] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Microbial colonization of the neonatal gut involves maternal seeding, which is partially disrupted in cesarean-born infants and after intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. However, other physically close individuals could complement such seeding. To assess the role of both parents and of induced seeding, we analyzed two longitudinal metagenomic datasets (health and early life microbiota [HELMi]: N = 74 infants, 398 samples, and SECFLOR: N = 7 infants, 35 samples) with cesarean-born infants who received maternal fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). We found that the father constitutes a stable source of strains for the infant independently of the delivery mode, with the cumulative contribution becoming comparable to that of the mother after 1 year. Maternal FMT increased mother-infant strain sharing in cesarean-born infants, raising the average bacterial empirical growth rate while reducing pathogen colonization. Overall, our results indicate that maternal seeding is partly complemented by that of the father and support the potential of induced seeding to restore potential deviations in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léonard Dubois
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Mireia Valles-Colomer
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; MELIS Department, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alise Ponsero
- Human Microbiota Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 0014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otto Helve
- Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki, and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 0014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sture Andersson
- Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki, and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaija-Leena Kolho
- Human Microbiota Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 0014 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Katri Korpela
- Human Microbiota Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 0014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Salonen
- Human Microbiota Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 0014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nicola Segata
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy.
| | - Willem M de Vos
- Human Microbiota Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 0014 Helsinki, Finland; Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Wageningen, 6703 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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3
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Lordan C, Roche AK, Delsing D, Nauta A, Groeneveld A, MacSharry J, Cotter PD, van Sinderen D. Linking human milk oligosaccharide metabolism and early life gut microbiota: bifidobacteria and beyond. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0009423. [PMID: 38206006 PMCID: PMC10966949 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00094-23] [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] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYHuman milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex, multi-functional glycans present in human breast milk. They represent an intricate mix of heterogeneous structures which reach the infant intestine in an intact form as they resist gastrointestinal digestion. Therefore, they confer a multitude of benefits, directly and/or indirectly, to the developing neonate. Certain bifidobacterial species, being among the earliest gut colonizers of breast-fed infants, have an adapted functional capacity to metabolize various HMO structures. This ability is typically observed in infant-associated bifidobacteria, as opposed to bifidobacteria associated with a mature microbiota. In recent years, information has been gleaned regarding how these infant-associated bifidobacteria as well as certain other taxa are able to assimilate HMOs, including the mechanistic strategies enabling their acquisition and consumption. Additionally, complex metabolic interactions occur between microbes facilitated by HMOs, including the utilization of breakdown products released from HMO degradation. Interest in HMO-mediated changes in microbial composition and function has been the focal point of numerous studies, in recent times fueled by the availability of individual biosynthetic HMOs, some of which are now commonly included in infant formula. In this review, we outline the main HMO assimilatory and catabolic strategies employed by infant-associated bifidobacteria, discuss other taxa that exhibit breast milk glycan degradation capacity, and cover HMO-supported cross-feeding interactions and related metabolites that have been described thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Lordan
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland
| | - Aoife K. Roche
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Arjen Nauta
- FrieslandCampina, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
| | | | - John MacSharry
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Paul D. Cotter
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
| | - Douwe van Sinderen
- APC Microbiome Ireland, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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4
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Zhang L, Agrawal M, Ng SC, Jess T. Early-life exposures and the microbiome: implications for IBD prevention. Gut 2024; 73:541-549. [PMID: 38123972 PMCID: PMC11150004 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-330002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The early-life period is one of microbiome establishment and immune maturation. Early-life exposures are increasingly being recognised to play an important role in IBD risk. The composition of functions of the gut microbiome in the prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal period may be crucial towards development of health or disease, including IBD, later in life. We herein present a comprehensive summary of the interplay between early-life factors and microbiome perturbations, and their association with risk of IBD. In addition, we provide an overview of host and external factors in early life that are known to impact gut microbiome maturation and exposures implicated in IBD risk. Considering the emerging concept of IBD prevention, we propose strategies to minimise maternal and offspring exposure to potentially harmful variables and recommend protective measures during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This holistic view of early-life factors and microbiome signatures among mothers and their offspring will help frame our current understanding of their importance towards IBD pathogenesis and frame the roadmap for preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Microbiota I-Center (MagIC), Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Manasi Agrawal
- Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PREDICT), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Dr. Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, New York, USA
| | - Siew C Ng
- Microbiota I-Center (MagIC), Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tine Jess
- Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PREDICT), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
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5
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Ayeni K, Seki D, Pjevac P, Hausmann B, Krausová M, Braun D, Wisgrill L, Berry D, Warth B, Ezekiel CN. Biomonitoring of Dietary Mycotoxin Exposure and Associated Impact on the Gut Microbiome in Nigerian Infants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2236-2246. [PMID: 38252460 PMCID: PMC10851434 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Mycotoxins are toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health. Here, we assessed the influence of mycotoxin exposure on the longitudinal development of early life intestinal microbiota of Nigerian neonates and infants (NIs). Human biomonitoring assays based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry were applied to quantify mycotoxins in breast milk (n = 68) consumed by the NIs, their stool (n = 82), and urine samples (n = 15), which were collected longitudinally from month 1-18 postdelivery. Microbial community composition was characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of stool samples and was correlated to mycotoxin exposure patterns. Fumonisin B1 (FB1), FB2, and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) were frequently quantified in stool samples between months 6 and 18. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), AME, and citrinin were quantified in breast milk samples at low concentrations. AFM1, FB1, and ochratoxin A were quantified in urine samples at relatively high concentrations. Klebsiella and Escherichia/Shigella were dominant in very early life stool samples (month 1), whereas Bifidobacterium was dominant between months 3 and 6. The total mycotoxin levels in stool were significantly associated with NIs' gut microbiome composition (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was observed between specific microbiota and the detection of certain mycotoxins. Albeit a small cohort, this study demonstrates that mycotoxins may influence early life gut microbiome composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kolawole
I. Ayeni
- Department
of Microbiology, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo PMB 4003, Ogun State, Nigeria
- University
of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and
Toxicology, Währinger
Straße 38, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - David Seki
- Joint
Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University
of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
- Division
of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Petra Pjevac
- Joint
Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University
of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
- Department
of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and
Environmental Systems Science, University
of Vienna, Djerassiplatz
1, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Bela Hausmann
- Joint
Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University
of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
- Division
of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Magdaléna Krausová
- University
of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and
Toxicology, Währinger
Straße 38, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Dominik Braun
- University
of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and
Toxicology, Währinger
Straße 38, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Lukas Wisgrill
- Division
of Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care and Neuropediatrics, Comprehensive
Center for Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
- Exposome
Austria, Research Infrastructure and National EIRENE Node, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - David Berry
- Joint
Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University
of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
- Department
of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and
Environmental Systems Science, University
of Vienna, Djerassiplatz
1, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Benedikt Warth
- University
of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and
Toxicology, Währinger
Straße 38, Vienna 1090, Austria
- Exposome
Austria, Research Infrastructure and National EIRENE Node, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Chibundu N. Ezekiel
- Department
of Microbiology, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo PMB 4003, Ogun State, Nigeria
- University
of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Department of
Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute for Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Konrad-LorenzStr. 20, Tulln 3430, Austria
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6
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Ennis D, Shmorak S, Jantscher-Krenn E, Yassour M. Longitudinal quantification of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis reveals late colonization in the infant gut independent of maternal milk HMO composition. Nat Commun 2024; 15:894. [PMID: 38291346 PMCID: PMC10827747 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45209-y] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast milk contains human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that cannot be digested by infants, yet nourish their developing gut microbiome. While Bifidobacterium are the best-known utilizers of individual HMOs, a longitudinal study examining the evolving microbial community at high-resolution coupled with mothers' milk HMO composition is lacking. Here, we developed a high-throughput method to quantify Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (BL. infantis), a proficient HMO-utilizer, and applied it to a longitudinal cohort consisting of 21 mother-infant dyads. We observed substantial changes in the infant gut microbiome over the course of several months, while the HMO composition in mothers' milk remained relatively stable. Although Bifidobacterium species significantly influenced sample variation, no specific HMOs correlated with Bifidobacterium species abundance. Surprisingly, we found that BL. infantis colonization began late in the breastfeeding period both in our cohort and in other geographic locations, highlighting the importance of focusing on BL. infantis dynamics in the infant gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dena Ennis
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shimrit Shmorak
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Moran Yassour
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
- The Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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7
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Momo Cabrera P, Rachmühl C, Derrien M, Bourdet-Sicard R, Lacroix C, Geirnaert A. Comparative prebiotic potential of galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides, native inulin, and acacia gum in Kenyan infant gut microbiota during iron supplementation. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae033. [PMID: 38774131 PMCID: PMC11107946 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
Iron fortification to prevent anemia in African infants increases colonic iron levels, favoring the growth of enteropathogens. The use of prebiotics may be an effective strategy to reduce these detrimental effects. Using the African infant PolyFermS gut model, we compared the effect of the prebiotics short-chain galacto- with long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS) and native inulin, and the emerging prebiotic acacia gum, a branched-polysaccharide-protein complex consisting of arabinose and galactose, during iron supplementation on four Kenyan infant gut microbiota. Iron supplementation did not alter the microbiota but promoted Clostridioides difficile in one microbiota. The prebiotic effect of scGOS/lcFOS and inulin was confirmed during iron supplementation in all investigated Kenyan infant gut microbiota, leading to higher abundance of bifidobacteria, increased production of acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and a significant shift in microbiota composition compared to non-supplemented microbiota. The abundance of the pathogens Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens was also inhibited upon addition of the prebiotic fibers. Acacia gum had no effect on any of the microbiota. In conclusion, scGOS/lcFOS and inulin, but not acacia gum, showed a donor-independent strong prebiotic potential in Kenyan infant gut microbiota. This study demonstrates the relevance of comparing fibers in vitro prior to clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Momo Cabrera
- Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carole Rachmühl
- Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Muriel Derrien
- Danone Global Research & Innovation Center, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
- Present address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute KU, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Christophe Lacroix
- Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annelies Geirnaert
- Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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8
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Rachmühl C, Lacroix C, Cabrera PM, Geirnaert A. Long-term continuous cultivation of Kenyan infant fecal microbiota using the host adapted PolyFermS model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20563. [PMID: 37996456 PMCID: PMC10667343 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47131-7] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Appropriate in vitro models to investigate the impact of novel nutritional strategies on the gut microbiota of infants living in rural Africa are scarce. Here, we aimed to develop such a continuous gut fermentation model based on the PolyFermS platform, which allows controlled and stable long-term cultivation of colon microbiota in conditions akin the host. Nine immobilized Kenyan infant fecal microbiota were used as inoculum for continuous PolyFermS colon models fed with medium mimicking the weaning infant diet. Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) supplementation (1, 4 and 8 g/L) and cultivation pH (5.8 and 6.3) were investigated stepwise. Conditions providing a close match between fecal and in vitro microbiota (pH 5.8 with 1 g/L FOS) were selected for investigating long-term stability of four Kenyan infant PolyFermS microbiota. The shared fraction of top bacterial genera between fecal and in vitro microbiota was high (74-89%) and stable during 107 days of continuous cultivation. Community diversity was maintained and two distinct fermentation metabolite profiles of infant fecal microbiota were observed. Three propiogenic and one butyrogenic metabolite profile of infant fecal microbiota established from day 8 onwards and stayed stable. We present here the first rationally designed continuous cultivation model of African infant gut microbiota. This model will be important to assess the effect of dietary or environmental factors on the gut microbiota of African infants with high enteropathogen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Rachmühl
- Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Lacroix
- Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Paula Momo Cabrera
- Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annelies Geirnaert
- Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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9
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Pheeha SM, Tamuzi JL, Chale-Matsau B, Manda S, Nyasulu PS. A Scoping Review Evaluating the Current State of Gut Microbiota Research in Africa. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2118. [PMID: 37630678 PMCID: PMC10458939 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota has emerged as a key human health and disease determinant. However, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the composition, diversity, and function of the gut microbiota, specifically in the African population. This scoping review aims to examine the existing literature on gut microbiota research conducted in Africa, providing an overview of the current knowledge and identifying research gaps. A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant studies. Databases including MEDLINE (PubMed), African Index Medicus (AIM), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Science Citation index (Web of Science), Embase (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles. Studies investigating the gut microbiota in African populations of all age groups were included. The initial screening included a total of 2136 articles, of which 154 were included in this scoping review. The current scoping review revealed a limited number of studies investigating diseases of public health significance in relation to the gut microbiota. Among these studies, HIV (14.3%), colorectal cancer (5.2%), and diabetes mellitus (3.9%) received the most attention. The top five countries that contributed to gut microbiota research were South Africa (16.2%), Malawi (10.4%), Egypt (9.7%), Kenya (7.1%), and Nigeria (6.5%). The high number (n = 66) of studies that did not study any specific disease in relation to the gut microbiota remains a gap that needs to be filled. This scoping review brings attention to the prevalent utilization of observational study types (38.3%) in the studies analysed and emphasizes the importance of conducting more experimental studies. Furthermore, the findings reflect the need for more disease-focused, comprehensive, and population-specific gut microbiota studies across diverse African regions and ethnic groups to better understand the factors shaping gut microbiota composition and its implications for health and disease. Such knowledge has the potential to inform targeted interventions and personalized approaches for improving health outcomes in African populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Pheeha
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7500, South Africa; (S.M.P.)
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | - Jacques L. Tamuzi
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7500, South Africa; (S.M.P.)
| | - Bettina Chale-Matsau
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Samuel Manda
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Peter S. Nyasulu
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7500, South Africa; (S.M.P.)
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
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10
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Rachmühl C, Lacroix C, Cabrera PM, Geirnaert A. Long-term continuous cultivation of Kenyan infant fecal microbiota using the host adapted PolyFermS model. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3101157. [PMID: 37461546 PMCID: PMC10350169 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3101157/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Appropriate in vitro models to investigate the impact of novel nutritional strategies on the gut microbiota of infants living in rural Africa are scarce. Here, we aimed to develop such a continuous gut fermentation model based on the PolyFermS platform. Eight immobilized Kenyan infant fecal microbiota were used as inoculum for continuous PolyFermS colon models fed with medium mimicking the weaning infant diet. Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) supplementation (1, 4 and 8 g/L) and cultivation pH (5.8 and 6.3) were stepwise investigated. Conditions providing a close match between fecal and in vitro microbiota (pH 5.8 with 1 g/L FOS) were selected for investigating long-term stability of four Kenyan infant PolyFermS microbiota. The shared fraction of top bacterial genera between fecal and in vitro microbiota was high (74-89%) and stable during 107 days of continuous cultivation. Community diversity was maintained, and two distinct fermentation metabolite profiles, propiogenic and butyrogenic, of infant fecal microbiota established from day 8 onwards and stayed stable. We present here the first rationally designed and accurate continuous cultivation model of African infant gut microbiota. This model will be important to assess the effect of dietary or environmental factors on the gut microbiota of African infants with high enteropathogen exposure.
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11
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Ladeira R, Tap J, Derrien M. Exploring Bifidobacterium species community and functional variations with human gut microbiome structure and health beyond infancy. MICROBIOME RESEARCH REPORTS 2023; 2:9. [PMID: 38047280 PMCID: PMC10688807 DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2023.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Aim: The human gut Bifidobacterium community has been studied in detail in infants and following dietary interventions in adults. However, the variability of the distribution of Bifidobacterium species and intra-species functions have been little studied, particularly beyond infancy. Here, we explore the ecology of Bifidobacterium communities in a large public dataset of human gut metagenomes, mostly corresponding to adults. Methods: We selected 9.515 unique gut metagenomes from curatedMetagenomicData. Samples were partitioned by applying Dirichlet's multinomial mixture to Bifidobacterium species. A functional analysis was performed on > 2.000 human-associated Bifidobacterium metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) paired with participant gut microbiome and health features. Results: We identified several Bifidobacterium-based partitions in the human gut microbiome differing in terms of the presence and abundance of Bifidobacterium species. The partitions enriched in both B. longum and B. adolescentis were associated with gut microbiome diversity and a higher abundance of butyrate producers and were more prevalent in healthy individuals. B. bifidum MAGs harboring a set of genes potentially related to phages were more prevalent in partitions associated with a lower gut microbiome diversity and were genetically more closely related. Conclusion: This study expands our knowledge of the ecology and variability of the Bifidobacterium community, particularly in adults, and its specific association with the gut microbiota and health. Its findings may guide the rational selection of Bifidobacterium strains for gut microbiome complementation according to the individual's endogenous Bifidobacterium community. Our results also suggest that gut microbiome stratification for particular genera may be relevant for studies of variations of species and associations with the gut microbiome and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Ladeira
- Advanced Health & Science, Danone Global Research & Innovation Center, Gif-sur-Yvette 91190, France
| | - Julien Tap
- Advanced Health & Science, Danone Global Research & Innovation Center, Gif-sur-Yvette 91190, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas 78350, France
| | - Muriel Derrien
- Advanced Health & Science, Danone Global Research & Innovation Center, Gif-sur-Yvette 91190, France
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