哈尔滨城市和乡村青年居民肠道菌群多样性研究

【目的】分析居住于哈尔滨城市和乡村的青年居民肠道菌群多样性的异同。【方法】采用PCR和DGGE技术相结合的方法对生活于哈尔滨城市和乡村的青年志愿者肠道菌群多样性进行研究。基于DGGE指纹图谱,分别使用聚类和PCA分析对志愿者肠道微生物相似性进行分析,使用Shannon-Weine多样性指数(H′)、丰度(S)和均匀度(EH)对志愿者肠道微生物多样性进行分析,对图谱中具有代表性的共性和特异性条带进行胶回收和克隆测序以分析志愿者肠道微生物组成。基于PCR技术在种水平上对城乡志愿者肠道内乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属多样性进行定性分析。【结果】相似性分析显示,城乡青年居民间肠道微生物群落结构存在分开趋势,相似性小于城市或乡村青年居民内部;多样性分析显示,城乡青年居民肠道微生物多样性差异不显著;测序结果表明,城乡居民肠道微生物组成在门水平上相同,但是在种属水平上存在差异。PCR定性分析显示Lactobacillus plantarum、L.casei和L.salivarius在哈尔滨城乡青年居民肠道内检出率接近100%,Bifidobacterium longum和B.breve的检测率约90%,在哈尔滨城乡青年居民肠道内普遍存在;乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属各细菌种在城乡居民肠道中的检出频率差异不显著。【结论】哈尔滨城市和乡村青年居民肠道微生物多样性差异不显著。     

内蒙古地区传统制作奶豆腐和乌日莫中乳酸菌多样性及分布特征

【背景】传统制作奶豆腐和酸性奶油(乌日莫)是内蒙古农牧地区最喜爱的食品,蕴含着十分丰富的乳酸菌资源,亟待开发利用。【目的】通过解析内蒙古农牧地区传统自制奶豆腐和乌日莫样品中乳酸菌多样性及分布特征,为优良菌株选育与利用提供资源和理论基础。【方法】采用稀释涂布法分离纯化乳酸菌,测定菌株16S rRNA基因序列鉴定种属关系,阐明乳酸菌系统发育、遗传分化及菌群结构。【结果】传统自制样品中共分离得到乳酸菌81株,主要归属于乳酸片球菌(Pediococcus acidilactici)、戊糖片球菌(Pediococcus pentosaceus)、短乳杆菌(Lactobacillus brevis)、瑞士乳杆菌(Lactobacillus helveticus)、副干酪乳杆菌(Lactobacillus paracasei)、食二酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus diolivorans)、奥塔基乳杆菌(Lactobacillus otakiensis)、植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)、开菲尔乳杆菌(Lactobacillus kefir)、乳酸乳球菌(Lactoc...     

益生菌Lactobacillus paracasei subsp.paracasei Zhang对海南地区部分青年人肠道菌群的影响

【目的】以海南地区征集的29名健康青年志愿者为研究对象,分析该地区青年人肠道菌群多样性,并探究益生菌Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei Zhang (LCZ)对其肠道菌群的影响。【方法】29名健康青年志愿者每日补充2 g益生菌LCZ (0.5×10~(10)CFU/g),为期14 d。采集摄入益生菌LCZ第0、14、28天的志愿者粪便样品,采用Pac Bio SMRT测序技术基于16S rRNA基因全长测序分析志愿者粪便微生物组成和结构,评估益生菌LCZ对其肠道菌群的影响。【结果】在门水平上,Firmicutes (54.46%)和Bacteroidetes (33.79%)在志愿者粪便微生物中含量最高;在属水平上,Bacteroides (23.13%)的相对含量最高;在种水平上,优势菌种为Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (9.72%)、Eubacterium rectale (7.00%)和Prevotella copri (6.07%)等。摄入益生菌LCZ 14 d后,肠道中的优势菌属变化不显著,低丰度菌属如Oscillospira和Parabacteroides等显著增加,Aeromonas和Fusicatenibacter等显著减少(P0.05)。此外根据志愿者粪便中Lactobacillus含量的变化情况,将所有志愿者分为两组。其中一组志愿者在摄入LCZ后粪便中Lactobacillus菌属相对含量显著增加,同时该组志愿者肠道中其他菌种如Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum、Lactococcus raffinolactis和Parabacteroides distasoni亦显著增加;而另一组志愿者,Lactobacillus及上述菌种均未发生显著变化。【结论】连续2周摄入益生菌LCZ对志愿者肠道菌群中优势菌属的相对丰度影响不显著,但对低丰度菌属的相对丰度影响显著。     

健康老年人肠道双歧杆菌和乳杆菌种群多样性分析

从31个60岁以上的符合中华医学会老年医学分会健康老年人标准的健康老人中随机选取4例作为研究对象,使用分子生物学方法,对他们的肠道双歧杆菌和乳杆菌种群多样性进行分析.研究结果表明,健康老人肠道中双歧杆菌的优势种群为长双歧杆菌（Bifi∥dobacterium longum）和假小链双歧杆菌（Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum）,分别占双歧杆菌种群的55%和45%;而肠道乳杆菌则有唾液乳杆菌（Lactobacillus salivarius）50%、Lactobacillus mocosae 31.1%、口腔乳杆菌（Lactobacillus oris）6.3%、鼠李糖乳杆菌（Lactobacillus rhamnosus）6.3%和瑞士乳杆菌（Lactobacillus helveticus）6.3%,其中唾液乳杆菌、Lactobacillus mocosae为健康老人肠道优势乳杆菌种群.     

黎族人肠道微生物群落结构特征及其与饮食关联性

【目的】对采集自海南省白沙地区的黎族健康志愿者肠道菌群进行研究,旨在揭示黎族人肠道微生物群落结构特征及其与饮食的相关性。【方法】以海南省白沙黎族自治县征集的22名志愿者晨便为研究对象,应用基于16S r RNA基因V3–V4可变区的高通量测序技术测定其肠道菌群组成,并与其他民族肠道菌群进行比较分析,详细记录黎族22名志愿者的营养物质摄入情况,探索其肠道微生物群落结构特征及其与饮食的相关性。【结果】在门水平上,拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes,58.96%)和硬壁菌门(Firmicutes,37.77%)在黎族志愿者肠道内含量最高;在属的水平上,普氏菌属(Prevotella,49.38%)在黎族健康志愿者肠道内含量最高。基于微生物群落α和β多样性的分析结果表明,黎族人肠道菌群与中国其他民族人群肠道菌群呈现出显著差异且α多样性显著低于其他民族,特征性差异菌属为:链型杆菌属(Catenibacterium)、普氏菌属(Prevotella)、巨型球菌属(Megasphaera)、巨单胞菌属(Megamonas)、考拉杆菌属(Phascolarctobacterium)和布劳特氏菌属(Blautia)。基于肠道核心微生物与营养物质相关性的研究显示,普氏粪杆菌(Faecalibacterium prausnitzii)与膳食纤维、Cu、Mg和Mn的摄入量呈现显著正相关,与脂肪和VB2的摄入量呈现显著负相关,而罗氏乳杆菌(Lactobacillus rogosae)与膳食纤维、Zn和Fe的摄入量呈显著正相关,与烟酸摄入量呈显著负相关。【结论】揭示了肠道微生物在不同地域和民族之间的差异,研究结果提供了一种通过膳食来优化菌群结构、调控宿主肠道微生态平衡的新思路。     

抗生素和高脂饮食对大鼠肠道乳杆菌多样性的影响

【目的】对正常、高脂、抗生素处理大鼠肠道内乳杆菌进行定性和定量分析,比较不同处理组大鼠肠道乳杆菌的多样性。【方法】应用纯培养和非培养技术(16S r RNA基因序列分析、变性梯度凝胶电泳、实时荧光定量PCR)对大鼠肠道乳杆菌进行分离鉴定和多样性分析。【结果】16S r RNA基因序列同源性分析结果显示,正常组大鼠肠道内分离出的乳杆菌包括约氏乳杆菌(Lactobacillus johnsonii)、鼠乳杆菌(Lactobacillus murinus)、嗜酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acidophilus)、罗伊氏乳杆菌(Lactobacillus reuteri)、植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)、肠道乳杆菌(Lactobacillus intestinals)、动物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus animalis)和阴道乳杆菌(Lactobacillus vaginalis);但L.animalis在高脂处理组大鼠肠道内未分离到,L.intestinals和L.vaginalis在抗生素处理组大鼠中未分离到。DGGE结果显示3个组别大鼠肠道中乳杆菌构成差异明显,同一组内样品间相似性较高;相较于正常组和高脂组,抗生素组的丰度较差;且正常组大鼠肠道内乳杆菌的多样性高于高脂组和抗生素组。q-PCR结果显示正常组大鼠肠道乳杆菌的数量明显高于高脂组和抗生素组,高脂组的数量也明显高于抗生素组,且3个组别之间存在显著差异(P0.01)。【结论】高脂饮食及抗生素的使用会减少肠道内乳杆菌多样性。     

内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳中乳酸菌的多样性分析

【目的】对内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳制品中乳酸菌资源的生物多样性进行研究。【方法】采用纯培养和16S rRNA基因序列分析法对内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳中的乳酸菌进行多样性分析。【结果】从8份传统发酵乳制品(6份酸牛奶和2份酸马奶)样品中分离到24株乳酸菌,通过16S rRNA基因序列分析和系统进化关系分析将24株乳酸菌鉴定为2株Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens、2株Lactobacillus kefiri、5株Lactobacillus paracasei、3株Lactobacillus plantarum、1株Lactobacillus rhamnosus、6株Lactococcus lactis subsp.lactis、2株Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.dextranicum、2株Streptococcus thermophilus和1株Enterococcus faecium。【结论】Lactococcus lactis subsp.lactis为内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳制品的优势菌种,占总分离株的25%,其次为Lactobacillus paracasei,占总分离株的20.83%。     

芝麻香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌多样性及其演替规律

【背景】乳酸菌是白酒发酵过程中一类非常重要的微生物,其种类及动态变化对于白酒品质具有重要影响。然而,目前对于芝麻香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌群落结构及其演替规律的认识并不全面。【目的】揭示芝麻香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌的多样性及菌群的演替规律,为更好地探索白酒酿造机理和控制白酒品质提供生物学依据。【方法】利用高通量测序技术对芝麻香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌菌群演替进行跟踪分析,同时采用实时荧光定量PCR对发酵过程中乳酸菌的生物量进行定量分析。【结果】高通量测序结果显示,芝麻香型白酒发酵过程涉及5个属的乳酸菌:魏斯氏菌属(Weissella)、片球菌属(Pediococcus)、乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus)、明串珠菌属(Leuconostoc)和乳球菌属(Lactococcus),共计43种乳酸菌。其中,在发酵过程中平均相对丰度大于0.5%的乳酸菌有10种,分别是类肠膜魏斯氏菌(Weissella paramesenteroides)、食窦魏斯氏菌(Weissella cibaria)、融合魏斯氏菌(Weissella confusa)、戊糖片球菌(Pediococcus pentosaceus)、假肠膜明串珠菌(Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides)、发酵乳杆菌(Lactobacillus fermentum)、植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)、副干酪乳杆菌(Lactobacillus paracasei)、耐酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acetotolerans)和Lactobacillus sp.。在堆积发酵过程中,Weissella属占细菌总量的50%以上,其次是Pediococcus属和Lactobacillus属,而Leuconostoc属和Lactococcus属相对较少。在窖池发酵过程中Lactobacillus属的乳酸菌逐渐成为优势细菌,尤其是Lactobacillus sp.在窖池发酵中后期相对丰度达到80%以上。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,在堆积发酵和窖池发酵前期乳酸菌总量变化不大;从窖池发酵5 d开始,乳酸菌总量迅速上升,30 d时达到最大值。【结论】对白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌种类及动态变化的研究有助于探究白酒酿造过程中乳酸菌功能,进而解析白酒酿造机理,最终达到控制白酒品质的目的。     

青年人肠道菌群分布及关键益生菌群落结构分析

以30例20～25岁中国青年人的肠道菌群为研究对象,采用纯培养方法和16S rDNA测序等分子生物学技术并结合代谢产物β_半乳糖苷酶和短链脂肪酸的测定,分析了此年龄段健康人群肠道菌群分布和益生菌群落结构。实验表明,高厌氧菌水平和高B/E值（175.66）反映出此年龄段人群良好的肠道环境;肠道关键益生菌群落结构分析表明,双歧杆菌由1～4种菌种组成,青春双歧杆菌(检出率93.3%,占总双歧杆菌数量百分比>85%)、长双歧杆菌(检出率86.7%,占总双歧杆菌数量百分比10%)为肠道优势双歧杆菌,其余菌种在不同人肠道中的差异数量只占不到5％,此年龄段青年人肠道具有呈现稳定的双歧杆菌群落结构,肠道双歧杆菌群落结构与膳食结构、生活环境等因素相关性不大,主要与人的生理年龄紧密相关;卷曲乳杆菌和唾液乳杆菌为青年人肠道优势乳杆菌(检出率分别为86.7%和93.3%,两者之和占总乳杆菌的数量百分比为60%～75%),但其余乳杆菌在不同人肠道中的之间的差异数量达到20%～30％,肠道乳杆菌群落结构与饮食结构、生活环境等因素紧密相关,不同个体具有各自独特的乳杆菌群落组成。     

白族成年人肠道菌群多样性研究

【目的】通过研究云南白族成年人肠道菌群群落结构,探索肠道菌群结构与云南白族人健康长寿的相互关系。【方法】以43份采自云南省昆明市(Urban)和大理白族自治州洱源县农村(Rural)成年白族志愿者的粪便样品为研究对象,通过种属特异性聚合酶链式反应(定性PCR)和基于聚合酶链式反应的变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)对其中的优势菌群进行了分析,并测定样品中短链脂肪酸(SCFAs)含量。【结果】短链脂肪酸(SCFAs)含量测定结果显示,Rural和Urban志愿者的短链脂肪酸含量差异不显著;定性PCR结果显示Rural志愿者肠道内的乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属的多样性明显区别于Urban志愿者;依据泳道轨迹光密度的不同对16S rRNA基因V3区PCR-DGGE图谱进行基于非加权平均距离聚类分析(Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means,UPGMA),显示两组样品按照组别明显地聚为两簇,多样性指数分析也呈现Rural志愿者肠道菌群多样性大于Urban的趋势;进一步对Rural谱带回收克隆测序,并构建系统发育树图,结果显示样品中双歧杆菌属、肠杆菌属和肠球菌属具有较高的多样性,是Rural健康成年志愿者肠道中的优势菌群。【结论】综合上述分析,昆明城市志愿者和大理白族自治州洱源县农村志愿者肠道菌群群落结构呈现区分趋势,多样性差异不显著。该研究为后续探索宿主肠道菌群与健康长寿的相互关系提供了数据基础。     

Quantitative PCR with 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers for analysis of human intestinal bifidobacteria

A highly sensitive quantitative PCR detection method has been developed and applied to the distribution analysis of human intestinal bifidobacteria by combining real-time PCR with Bifidobacterium genus- and species-specific primers. Real-time PCR detection of serially diluted DNA extracted from cultured bifidobacteria was linear for cell counts ranging from 10(6) to 10 cells per PCR assay. It was also found that the method was applicable to the detection of Bifidobacterium in feces when it was present at concentrations of >10(6) cells per g of feces. Concerning the distribution of Bifidobacterium species in intestinal flora, the Bifidobacterium adolescentis group, the Bifidobacterium catenulatum group, and Bifidobacterium longum were found to be the three predominant species by examination of DNA extracted from the feces of 46 healthy adults. We also examined changes in the population and composition of Bifidobacterium species in human intestinal flora of six healthy adults over an 8-month period. The results showed that the composition of bifidobacterial flora was basically stable throughout the test period.     

Distribution of bifidobacterial species in human intestinal microflora examined with 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers.

In order to clarify the distribution of bifidobacterial species in the human intestinal tract, a 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific PCR technique was developed and used with DNAs extracted from fecal samples obtained from 48 healthy adults and 27 breast-fed infants. To cover all of the bifidobacterial species that have been isolated from and identified in the human intestinal tract, species-specific primers for Bifidobacterium longum, B. infantis, B. dentium, and B. gallicum were developed and used with primers for B. adolescentis, B. angulatum, B. bifidum, B. breve, and the B. catenulatum group (B. catenulatum and B. pseudocatenulatum) that were developed in a previous study (T. Matsuki, K. Watanabe, R. Tanaka, and H. Oyaizu, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 167:113-121, 1998). The specificity of the nine primers was confirmed by PCR, and the species-specific PCR method was found to be a useful means for identifying Bifidobacterium strains isolated from human feces. The results of an examination of bifidobacterial species distribution showed that the B. catenulatum group was the most commonly found taxon (detected in 44 of 48 samples [92%]), followed by B. longum and B. adolescentis, in the adult intestinal bifidobacterial flora and that B. breve, B. infantis, and B. longum were frequently found in the intestinal tracts of infants. The present study demonstrated that qualitative detection of the bifidobacterial species present in human feces can be accomplished rapidly and accurately.     

Quantitative real-time PCR assays to identify and quantify fecal Bifidobacterium species in infants receiving a prebiotic infant formula

A healthy intestinal microbiota is considered to be important for priming of the infants' mucosal and systemic immunity. Breast-fed infants typically have an intestinal microbiota dominated by different Bifidobacterium species. It has been described that allergic infants have different levels of specific Bifidobacterium species than healthy infants. For the accurate quantification of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium angulatum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium dentium, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium longum in fecal samples, duplex 5' nuclease assays were developed. The assays, targeting rRNA gene intergenic spacer regions, were validated and compared with conventional PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridization methods. The 5' nuclease assays were subsequently used to determine the relative amounts of different Bifidobacterium species in fecal samples from infants receiving a standard formula or a standard formula supplemented with galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides (OSF). A breast-fed group was studied in parallel as a reference. The results showed a significant increase in the total amount of fecal bifidobacteria (54.8% +/- 9.8% to 73.4% +/- 4.0%) in infants receiving the prebiotic formula (OSF), with a diversity of Bifidobacterium species similar to breast-fed infants. The intestinal microbiota of infants who received a standard formula seems to resemble a more adult-like distribution of bifidobacteria and contains relatively more B. catenulatum and B. adolescentis (2.71% +/- 1.92% and 8.11% +/- 4.12%, respectively, versus 0.15% +/- 0.11% and 1.38% +/- 0.98% for the OSF group). In conclusion, the specific prebiotic infant formula used induces a fecal microbiota that closely resembles the microbiota of breast-fed infants also at the level of the different Bifidobacterium species.     

Quantification of human fecal bifidobacterium species by use of quantitative real-time PCR analysis targeting the groEL gene

Quantitative real-time PCR assays targeting the groEL gene for the specific enumeration of 12 human fecal Bifidobacterium species were developed. The housekeeping gene groEL (HSP60 in eukaryotes) was used as a discriminative marker for the differentiation of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B. angulatum, B. animalis, B. bifidum, B. breve, B. catenulatum, B. dentium, B. gallicum, B. longum, B. pseudocatenulatum, B. pseudolongum, and B. thermophilum. The bifidobacterial chromosome contains a single copy of the groEL gene, allowing the determination of the cell number by quantification of the groEL copy number. Real-time PCR assays were validated by comparing fecal samples spiked with known numbers of a given Bifidobacterium species. Independent of the Bifidobacterium species tested, the proportion of groEL copies recovered from fecal samples spiked with 5 to 9 log(10) cells/g feces was approximately 50%. The quantification limit was 5 to 6 log(10) groEL copies/g feces. The interassay variability was less than 10%, and variability between different DNA extractions was less than 23%. The method developed was applied to fecal samples from healthy adults and full-term breast-fed infants. Bifidobacterial diversity in both adults and infants was low, with mostly ≤3 Bifidobacterium species and B. longum frequently detected. The predominant species in infant and adult fecal samples were B. breve and B. adolescentis, respectively. It was possible to distinguish B. catenulatum and B. pseudocatenulatum. We conclude that the groEL gene is a suitable molecular marker for the specific and accurate quantification of human fecal Bifidobacterium species by real-time PCR.     

Predominant genera of fecal microbiota in children with atopic dermatitis are not altered by intake of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07

The effect of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 on the composition of the Lactobacillus group, Bifidobacterium and the total bacterial population in feces from young children with atopic dermatitis was investigated. The study included 50 children randomized to intake of one of the probiotic strain or placebo. Microbial composition was characterized by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, quantitative PCR and, in a subset of subjects, by pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The core population of the Lactobacillus group was identified as Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus oris, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, while the bifidobacterial community included Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium catenulatum. The fecal numbers of L. acidophilus and B. lactis increased significantly after intervention, indicating survival of the ingested bacteria. The levels of Bifidobacterium correlated positively (P=0.03), while the levels of the Lactobacillus group negatively (P=0.01) with improvement of atopic eczema evaluated by the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis index. This correlation was observed across the whole study cohort and not attributed to the probiotic intake. The main conclusion of the study is that administration of L. acidophilus NCFM and B. lactis Bi-07 does not affect the composition and diversity of the main bacterial populations in feces.     

Comparison of mucosal adhesion and species identification of bifidobacteria isolated from healthy and allergic infants

Fifty bifidobacteria strains were isolated from fecal samples of allergic and age matched healthy infants. Allergic infants were found to have an adult type Bifidobacterium flora with high levels of Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Healthy infants had a typical infant Bifidobacterium flora with high levels of Bifidobacterium bifidum. These isolates were tested for their adhesive properties to human intestinal mucus. The adhesion of the fecal bifidobacteria from healthy infants was significantly higher (P<0.0001) than for allergic infants. This suggests a correlation between allergic disease and the composition of the intestinal bifidobacteria flora which has reduced adhesive abilities to the intestinal mucus. Therefore, dietary supplementation of bifidobacteria typical for healthy infants, may be beneficial in the treatment of allergic disorders.     

Genus- and species-specific PCR primers for the detection and identification of bifidobacteria

16SrDNA-targeted genus- and species-specific PCR primers have been developed and used for the identification and detection of bifidobacteria. These primers cover all of the described species that inhabit the human gut, or occur in dairy products. Identification of cultured bifidobacteria using PCR primer pairs is rapid and accurate, being based on nucleic acid sequences. Detection of bifidobacteria can be achieved using DNA extracted from human faeces as template in PCR reactions. We have found that, in adult faeces, the Bifidobacterium catenulatum group was the most commonly detected species, followed by Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and Bifidobacterium bifidum. In breastfed infants, Bifidobacterium breve was the most frequently detected species, followed by Bifidobacterium infantis, B. longum and B. bifidum. It was notable that the B. catenulatum group was detected with the highest frequency in adults, although it has often been reported that B. adolescentis is the most common species. Real-time, quantitative PCR using primers targeting 16S rDNA shows promise in the enumeration of bifidobacteria in faecal samples. The approach to detect the target bacteria with quantitative PCR described in this review will contribute to future studies of the composition and dynamics of the intestinal microflora.     

Differences in faecal bacterial communities in coeliac and healthy children as detected by PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the small intestinal mucosa. Scientific evidence supports a role of the gut microbiota in chronic inflammatory disorders; yet information is not specifically available for CD. In this study, a comparative denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of faecal samples from coeliac children and age-matched controls was carried out. The diversity of the faecal microbiota was significantly higher in coeliac children than in healthy controls. The presence of the species Lactobacillus curvatus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Leuconostoc carnosum was characteristic of coeliac patients, while that of the Lactobacillus casei group was characteristic of healthy controls. The Bifidobacterium population showed a significantly higher species diversity in healthy children than in coeliacs. In healthy children, this population was characterized by the presence of Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Overall, the results highlighted the need for further characterization of the microbiota in coeliac patients, and suggested a potential role of probiotics and/or prebiotics in restoring their gut microbial balance.     

Mother-to-Infant Transmission of Intestinal Bifidobacterial Strains Has an Impact on the Early Development of Vaginally Delivered Infant's Microbiota

Objectives

Bifidobacterium species are one of the major components of the infant''s intestine microbiota. Colonization with bifidobacteria in early infancy is suggested to be important for health in later life. However, information remains limited regarding the source of these microbes. Here, we investigated whether specific strains of bifidobacteria in the maternal intestinal flora are transmitted to their infant''s intestine.

Materials and Methods

Fecal samples were collected from healthy 17 mother and infant pairs (Vaginal delivery: 12; Cesarean section delivery: 5). Mother''s feces were collected twice before delivery. Infant''s feces were collected at 0 (meconium), 3, 7, 30, 90 days after birth. Bifidobacteria isolated from feces were genotyped by multilocus sequencing typing, and the transitions of bifidobacteria counts in infant''s feces were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results

Stains belonging to Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum, and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, were identified to be monophyletic between mother''s and infant''s intestine. Eleven out of 12 vaginal delivered infants carried at least one monophyletic strain. The bifidobacterial counts of the species to which the monophyletic strains belong, increased predominantly in the infant''s intestine within 3 days after birth. Among infants delivered by C-section, monophyletic strains were not observed. Moreover, the bifidobacterial counts were significantly lower than the vaginal delivered infants until 7 days of age.

Conclusions

Among infants born vaginally, several Bifidobacterium strains transmit from the mother and colonize the infant''s intestine shortly after birth. Our data suggest that the mother''s intestine is an important source for the vaginal delivered infant''s intestinal microbiota.