急进高原与平原大鼠肠道双歧杆菌的分子生物学实验对比研究

目的探讨应用荧光定量PCR法对急进高原大鼠肠道双歧杆菌数量变化的分子生物学实验研究。方法 Wistar大鼠60只,随机分为2组:平原对照组和3 848米的高原缺氧组各30只。急进海拔3 848米造成大鼠急性缺氧模型并分别于24、6、d取材,每次随机各取10只,观察肠道菌群中双歧杆菌的变化。结果高原缺氧组双歧杆菌数量明显少于平原对照组(P<0.05)。结论急进高原缺氧复杂环境下,可使肠道有益菌———双歧杆菌的数量减少,可能影响肠道微生态平衡。     

螺旋藻对慢性应激大鼠结肠菌群和体重的影响

目的观察螺旋藻对慢性应激大鼠结肠菌群和体重的保健作用。方法采用SD大鼠慢性应激模型,实验期为7周。用平板计数法检测大鼠肠道菌群。结果慢性应激大鼠粪便中发生明显的以双歧杆菌数量下降为特征的菌群失调现象,进食含5%螺旋藻饲料的大鼠粪便中双歧杆菌数量显著增加,肠杆菌相应减少,体重相应增加。结论在慢性应激条件下,饲喂螺旋藻能够有效维持大鼠肠道微生态平衡,促进大鼠生长。     

围手术期不同处理因素对SD 大鼠肠道菌群的影响

目的:探讨抗生素、肠道准备以及饮食对SD大鼠肠道菌群的影响。方法:将36只SD大鼠随机分为6组,分别采用不同的处理措施,分为对照组,抗生素组,肠道准备组,禁饮食组,术后早期禁饮食组和术后早期进食组,共处理4天,第5天脱颈椎处死,无菌条件下取回盲部粪便进行细菌培养并计数。结果:抗生素组、肠道准备组以及禁饮食组与对照组比较,抗生素组与肠道准备组、禁饮食组比较,大肠杆菌、类杆菌数量均明显增加,双歧杆菌、肠球菌数量均显著减少,双歧杆菌/大肠杆菌比值显著降低;其差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后早期进食组与术后禁饮食组相比,大肠杆菌、类杆菌数量有所减少,双歧杆菌、肠球菌数量有所增加,双歧杆菌/大肠杆菌比值有所提高,且其差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:抗生素、肠道准备以及禁饮食均可引起SD大鼠肠道菌群失调,其中抗生素对肠道菌群的影响最大;并且术后早期进食对肠道菌群失调有改善作用。     

肠道菌群及内毒素在多器官功能不全综合征时的变化

目的　探讨肠道菌群及内毒素在多器官功能不全综合征( MODS)时的变化。方法　取SD大鼠,腹腔注射无菌酵母多糖A制备MODS模型,检测大鼠肠道菌群、外周血和门静脉血中的内毒素以及肠道游离内毒素含量,并进行定量分析。结果　模型组大鼠肠道专性厌氧菌的数量明显减少,革兰阴性杆菌和双歧杆菌的比例倒置,内毒素含量明显增加,与对照组比差异有显著性( P<0 .0 5 )。结论　MODS时肠道细菌微生态发生明显改变,肠道内毒素池与肠道革兰阴性杆菌的变化密切相关     

TLR4mAb对2,4,6-三硝基苯磺酸诱导的溃疡性结肠炎模型大鼠肠腔及肠黏膜菌群的影响

目的研究Toll样受体4单克隆抗体(TLR4mAb)在溃疡性结肠炎模型大鼠肠腔及肠黏膜内拟杆菌属、肠球菌属、乳酸杆菌属、双歧杆菌属、消化链球菌属及大肠埃希菌属含量变化中的作用。方法 30只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、UC模型组和TLR4mAb干预组。模型组、干预组采用三硝基苯磺酸(TNBS)造模,干预组造模当天给予TLR4mAb腹腔注射,第8天处死全部大鼠。留取结肠黏膜及粪便,用实时荧光定量PCR法测定所有标本中不同细菌含量。结果 (1)粪便标本:UC组较正常组大肠埃希菌、拟杆菌含量增加(P0.017),乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌、肠球菌含量减少(P0.017),消化链球菌含量差异无统计学意义。TLR4mAb干预组较UC组,消化链球菌含量差异无统计学意义,其余目标菌含量均有所恢复(P0.017)。TLR4mAb干预组较正常组目标菌含量差异均无统计学意义;(2)结肠黏膜标本:UC组较正常组乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌含量无明显变化,其余目标菌含量均增加(P0.017)。TLR4mAb干预组较UC组,乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌含量无明显变化,其余目标菌含量均减少(P0.017)。TLR4mAb干预组较正常组拟杆菌含量偏高(P0.017),其余目标菌含量差异无统计学意义。结论 UC模型大鼠较正常组目标菌含量均存在变化,提示UC的发生与肠道菌群改变密切相关。TLR4mAb能改善UC模型大鼠相关菌群结构,提示Toll样受体4在UC发生及UC肠道菌群变化中可能具有双重调节作用。UC模型大鼠肠道粪便与黏膜标本中目标菌含量变化不同,提示UC的发生中肠道粪便及黏膜相关细菌的变化不一致。     

高通量测序分析口服抗生素大鼠肠道菌群组成变化

目的探讨口服抗生素大鼠肠道菌群变化。方法在雄性SD大鼠的饮用水中添加肠道不吸收的抗生素(新霉素、杆菌肽和游霉素),饮用1周后,收集粪便并提取细菌基因组DNA,PCR扩增r DNA的V4区特定序列,用Illumina Mi Seq平台测序,进行生物信息学分析大鼠粪便中肠道菌群的组成。结果与对照组相比,抗生素组样品的菌群多样性显著下降(P0.05)。克雷伯菌属、理研菌科等菌群百分比显著增高,乳杆菌属、拟杆菌目(S24-7)等菌群百分比显著下降。结论饮用抗生素的大鼠肠道菌群有显著变化。     

施普瑞螺旋藻对尾吊模拟失重大鼠肠道微生态失调的调整作用研究

目的：研究模拟失重条件下,施普瑞螺旋藻对大鼠肠道微生态失调的调整作用。方法：将基础饲料中加入5%的螺旋藻作为处理组饲喂大鼠,用选择性培养基分别对肠球菌、肠杆菌、类杆菌、乳杆菌以及双歧杆菌定量测定,扫描电镜观察大鼠盲肠上皮细胞的组织变化,结果：螺旋藻处理组过路菌群中肠杆菌和肠球菌数量变化并不明显;原籍菌群中双歧杆菌较对照组显著增多,类杆菌和乳杆菌的数量差异没有显著性,模拟失重条件下SD大鼠盲肠上皮有肿胀细胞出现,并且肠道上皮绒毛排列紊乱、稀疏、而螺旋藻处理组中只发现有少量的肿胀细胞,上皮绒毛致密,排列较整齐。结论：旋普瑞螺旋藻具有纠正在模拟失重条件下大鼠肠道微生态平衡失调的作用。     

双歧杆菌对新生大鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎肠损伤及肠道菌群影响

目的建立新生SD大鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎（NEC）模型,探讨添加双歧杆菌对新生大鼠NEC模型肠损伤的保护作用及肠道菌群的影响,为应用双歧杆菌防治NEC提供依据：方法SD新生大鼠出生48h开始给予鼠配方奶人工喂养,100％氮气缺氧90s,4℃冷刺激10min,每天2次,连续3d,建立新生SD大鼠NEC模型。按析因设计,32只新生SD大鼠随机分成4组,每组动物各8只。A组为NEC模型组并在出生48h起每日给予长双歧杆菌灌胃（1×10^8CFU／d）;B组为NEC模型组,C组为对照组,都未添加双歧杆菌;D组为对照组并给予长双歧杆菌灌胃（1×10^8CFU／d）。在最后一次缺氧、冷刺激后24h空腹断头处死大鼠,留取回盲部近端肠管组织进行肠组织损伤评分,组织学评分≥2确定为NEC;实验前后留取各组新生鼠粪便,按照张秀荣方法进行肠道菌群检测。应用Kruskal-Wallis H检验等方法进行统计学分析,α=0．05为显著性检验标准。结果开始造模后,A、B组新生SD大鼠相继出现腹泻、腹胀、萎靡、活动减少,A组程度较轻。A、B、C和D组肠组织损伤评分（^-x±s）分别为1．88±0.84、3．13±0．84、0．63±0．52、0．50±0.54,各组间肠组织损伤评分差异有显著性,与B组相比,A组肠组织损伤评分明显降低,但仍高于C、D两组,差异均有显著性。各组实验前肠道细菌总数,杆菌、球菌数,G^＋杆菌、G^＋球菌数差异均无显著性,肠道菌群中杆球菌比值在正常范围中。实验结束时,各组间新生鼠肠道细菌总数,杆菌、球菌数,杆球菌比值,G^＋杆菌、G^＋球菌数及其占肠道总菌群数的比率差异均有显著性;除B组杆菌数外,与实验前相比,各组新生大鼠实验结束后肠道细菌总数、球菌数、杆菌数、G^＋杆菌数、G^＋球菌数均有显著增加,差异均有显著性;A、B组肠道杆球菌比值和G^＋杆菌数占肠道总菌群数比     

青春双歧杆菌对2型糖尿病模型大鼠肠道菌群和脂质代谢的影响

目的通过观察青春双歧杆菌对2型糖尿病模型大鼠肠道菌群的变化,和血清中总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白（HDL-C）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和丙二醛（MDA）的水平,探讨青春双歧杆菌对2型糖尿病模型大鼠肠道功能和脂质代谢的影响。方法采用青春双歧杆菌灌胃2型糖尿病模型大鼠,取粪便检查正常菌群,取血和脏器检测TC、TG、HDL-C、SOD和MDA含量。结果青春双歧杆菌导致肠道内双歧杆菌、乳杆菌的数量增加,而肠杆菌、肠球菌数量下降;TC、TG和MDA水平下降,而HDL-C和SOD水平升高。结论青春双歧杆菌具有改善2型糖尿病模型大鼠肠道功能和降血脂作用,与二甲双胍联合应用效果更佳。     

新生鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎肠道菌群变化及意义

目的探讨新生鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎(NEC)时肠道菌群变化,旨在阐明肠道菌群在NEC发病中的作用,为探讨新生儿NEC的发病机制及寻求有效的防治措施提供理论依据。方法SD新生大鼠出生48 h开始给予鼠乳代用品人工喂养,100%氮气缺氧90 s,4℃冷刺激10 min,每天2次,连续3 d,建立新生SD大鼠NEC模型。40只新生SD大鼠随机分成NEC模型组(A组)和正常对照组(B组)。每组动物各20只。在最后一次缺氧、冷刺激后24 h空腹断头处死大鼠,留取回盲部近端肠管组织进行肠组织损伤评分,组织学评分≥2确定为NEC;实验前后留取两组新生鼠粪便,按照张秀荣方法进行肠道菌群检测。实验前后比较采用配对t检验,组间比较采用方差分析,α=0.05为显著性检验标准。结果模型组新生鼠相继出现腹泻、腹胀、萎靡、活动减少,生长减慢,对照组新生大鼠进食及排便均正常,无腹胀及胃潴留,活动度良好,皮下脂肪丰满。模型组新生大鼠NEC的发生率为100%(20/20),对照组无1例发生NEC。实验组和对照组肠损伤病理评分(x±s)分别为:3.25±0.85、0.45±0.51,t=12.622,P<0.01。模型组和对照组新生鼠实验前肠道细菌总数,杆菌、球菌总数,G 杆菌、G 球菌,G-杆菌、G-球菌数差异均无显著性,肠道菌群中杆菌和球菌的比例都在正常范围中。实验结束时,正常对照组新生大鼠肠道菌群总数明显增多,其中以G 杆菌增加为主;G-杆菌属及G 球菌属菌数占肠道菌群的比率在实验前后差异无显著性;模型组新生大鼠肠道群总数亦明显增多,而且明显高于正常对照组。实验结束时肠道菌群数量,其中主要是G 球菌显著增加,而G 杆菌却较对照组明显减少,与实验前相比,明显下降,差异有显著性;模型组实验结束时肠道菌群中杆菌和球菌比值减少、倒置。结论NEC发病前正常肠道菌群已发生质和量的变化,肠道菌群紊乱在NEC发病机制中起关键作用;及时纠正肠道菌群紊乱可能会降低新生大鼠发生NEC危险性。     

Structural Shifts of Fecal Microbial Communities in Rats with Acute Rejection after Liver Transplantation

Bacterial translocation and the development of sepsis after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may be promoted by immunological damage to the intestinal mucosa or by quantitative and qualitative changes in intestinal microbiota. This study monitored structural shifts of gut microbiota in rats with OLT using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RT-qPCR targets six major microorganisms (Domain Bacteria, Bacteroides, Bifidobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus and Clostridium leptum subgroup). Isograft, Allograft and Sham model were studied. Bacterial translocation to host organs and plasma endotoxin were determined. Alteration in gut microbiota was associated with the elevation of plasma endotoxin and a higher rate of bacterial translocation (BT) to liver in rats with acute rejection. Dynamic analysis of DGGE fingerprints showed that the gut microbiota structure of animals in the three groups was similar before the operation. But significant alterations in the composition of fecal microbiota in Allograft group were observed at 1 and 2 weeks after the OLT. The acute rejection was accompanied by the shifts of gut microbiota towards members of Bacteroides and Ruminococcus. Results from RT-qPCR indicated that Bacteroides significantly increased at 2 weeks after the OLT, whereas numbers of Bifidobacterium spp. decreased at 1 week and recovered at 2 weeks after the OLT. In summary, our data showed that rats with acute rejection after OLT exhibited significant structure shifts in the gut microbiota which dominant by overgrowth of Bacteroides and Ruminococcus, and these were associated with elevation of plasma endotoxin and higher rate of BT.     

双歧杆菌对梗阻性黄疸大鼠肠道细菌移位影响的研究

目的观察梗阻性黄疸大鼠肠道细菌移位状况及经胃肠道给予双歧杆菌对肠道细菌移位的影响。方法Wistar大鼠30只随机分为3组：假手术组（SO组）、梗阻性黄疸组（OJ组）及双歧杆菌组。模型制备后第10天检测各组肝功能指标及血浆内毒素水平,取肝、脾、肠系膜淋巴结等肠道外器官组织行细菌培养,光镜观察末端回肠黏膜变化。结果 OJ组较SO组肝功能指标明显改变（P〈0．05）,双歧杆菌组肝功能指标较OJ组改善。SO组血浆内毒素水平为（0．26±0．22）EU／ml,OJ组内毒素水平为（1．99±0．31）EU／ml,较SO组明显升高（P〈0．01）,双歧杆菌组血浆内毒素水平为（0．74±0．20）EU／ml,较OJ组明显降低（P〈0．01）。OJ组肝、脾、肠系膜淋巴结中细菌移位率高于另两组,其中肠系膜淋巴结细菌移位率为90％,明显高于SO组及双歧杆菌组（P〈0．05）。光镜显示OJ组肠黏膜萎缩,绒毛水肿,部分上皮细胞脱落;双歧杆菌组肠黏膜上皮改变较OJ组明显减轻。结论梗阻性黄疸时出现明显的细菌移位与内毒素血症。应用微生态制剂可保护梗阻性黄疸时小肠黏膜屏障功能,减少肠源性细菌移位及内毒素血症的发生。     

ERIC-PCR指纹图谱技术分析糖尿病小鼠肠道细菌群落变化

目的通过比较1型糖尿病模型组和空白对照组雄性小鼠肠道菌群结构的变化,探索糖尿病造模与肠道菌群的关系。方法收集造模2周后空白对照组(n=5)、STZ造模成功组(n=5)和造模不成功组(n=3)ICR小鼠的新鲜粪便样品,提取粪便样品的总DNA,ERIC-PCR扩增形成DNA指纹图谱,借助多变量统计分析方法研究各组样品肠道菌群结构上的异同。结果ERIC-PCR指纹图谱结合偏最小二乘法(PLS-DA)分析表明造模成功组和造模不成功组小鼠的肠道菌群结构显著区别于空白对照组,而造模不成功组小鼠的肠道菌群结构与造模成功组仍有一定的区别。结论STZ诱导的1型糖尿病会造成小鼠的肠道菌群结构的变化,而部分小鼠造模失败可能与这些小鼠的肠道菌群结构有关。     

应用TGGE技术分析人肠道中双歧杆菌的组成

用温度梯度凝胶电泳(TGGE)技术结合16SrDNA克隆、测序,对健康人肠道中双歧杆菌的组成进行了分析。10例健康人肠道双歧杆菌的TGGE分析显示:人肠道内双歧杆菌的组成具有宿主特异性,不同人肠道双歧杆菌种的多样性和种类不同。通过对一健康儿童肠道双歧杆菌属特异性PCR扩增产物的测序及TGGE电泳行为的分析发现,该个体双歧杆菌TGGE图谱中的条带分别代表Bifidobacteriumbifidum、B.infantis、B.longum、B.adolescentis、B.pseudocatenulatum等种和一新种,其中B.pseudocatenulatum(假小链双歧杆菌)是大多数个体共有且较优势的种类。用传统培养方法只检出B.pseudocatenulatum和B.longum两种。基于双歧杆菌属特异性PCR基础上的TGGE方法结合16SrDNA克隆文库分析可较灵敏、直观地反映人肠道中双歧杆菌的组成。     

高脂饮食对雄性SD大鼠肠道菌群的影响

目的探讨通过膳食饲喂高脂饲料诱发的高脂血症大鼠肠道菌群结构的变化。方法 24只SD（Spra-gue Dawley,SD）雄性大鼠随机分为A、B两组,分别连续饲喂基础饲料和高脂饲料42 d,并于第0、9、18、30和42天采集大鼠粪便,应用DGGE（Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis）和q-PCR技术对肠道菌群进行定性定量分析。结果第42天时A、B组大鼠血清总胆固醇值（TC）分别为（2.01±0.14）mmol/L、（5.16±0.22）mmol/L,B组TC水平较A组明显增高（P〈0.05）。DGGE电泳图谱显示B组42 d时肠道菌群构成较0 d时变化显著,而A组不同时期肠道菌落构成无明显差异。q-PCR定量结果显示,随着饲喂高脂饲料天数的增加,B组小鼠肠道内乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属较0 d明显降低（P〈0.01）,而拟杆菌门数量呈递减趋势且趋势比较平缓;梭菌属呈递增趋势且增幅相对拟杆菌门的变化较大。结论高脂饮食可导致肠道菌群结构的改变,这种改变会进一步促进高脂血症的形成。     

The presence of bifidobacteria in social insects,fish and reptiles

The occurrence and species distribution of bifidobacteria in the digestive tract of important representatives of social insects such as ants, bees, wasps and bumblebees as well as the incidence of bifidobacteria in fecal samples of several species of vertebrates representied mainly by reptiles was assigned by culture-independent method based on DGGE and real time PCR. Bifidobacteria were present in the gut of most social insects — honey bees, wasps, cockroaches and bumblebees, except for ants. In honey bees, where the counts of bifidobacteria ranged from 2 to 8 % of the total bacteria, the most common species seemed to be Bifidobacterium indicum. Proportion of bifidobacteria was found in broad range from 0.1 to 35–37 % in wasps and cockroaches; the variance of bifidobacteria in bumblebees was lower, ranging from 1 to 7 % of total bacterial count. Among studied vertebrates, the detectable presence of bifidobacteria was found only in trout (1.1 %) and geckos (0.2 %), but large amount of these bacteria was observed in Vietnamese box turtle, where bifidobacteria represented nearly one-fourth (22 %) of total bacterial counts.     

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)-based monitoring of intestinal lactobacilli and bifidobacteria of pigs during a feeding trial

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different feeding strategies on the gut microbiota of organic growing-finishing pigs. A total of 76 pigs were allocated to four different dietary treatments (control, probiotics, maize silage and grass silage). Effects of the applied probiotic preparation on the composition of the intestinal and faecal microbiota were monitored. By using a DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis)-based methodology, fingerprints of the intestinal microbiota were obtained. The total microbial DNA was isolated from faecal and colon samples and amplified with PCR using different primer sets to detect bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. PCR products were separated using DGGE and the resulting profiles were compared with the findings of the other dietary treatments. Bands were excised from the gels and sequenced for further identification. Particularly two different DGGE profiles of bifidobacteria were observed, while lactobacilli showed larger variety within the dietary treatments.     

四氯化碳、酒精与四氯化碳联合、胆管结扎致SD大鼠肝纤维化病理学比较

目的研究四氯化碳、酒精与四氯化碳联合、胆管结扎致SD大鼠肝纤维化模型肝脏的病理学改变,初步探讨肝纤维化发病机制。方法四氯化碳组SD大鼠以3 mg/kg的剂量（首次剂量加倍）皮下注射50%四氯化碳（四氯化碳∶橄榄油=1∶1）,每周2次,连续注射6周;酒精与四氯化碳联合组SD大鼠每日按照10 mL/kg剂量灌服酒精混合物（酒精∶吡唑∶玉米油=10 mL∶25 mg∶2 mL）,同时每周2次按0.3 mL/kg剂量给予腹腔注射四氯化碳∶橄榄油（1∶3）,连续造模60 d;胆管结扎组大鼠按10 mg/kg体重腹腔注射3%戊巴比妥钠麻醉,腹部皮肤消毒,无菌操作沿腹部正中线剪开腹腔,分离出胆管,在胆管近端和远端2处结扎胆管,28 d后结束实验。试验结束后麻醉动物,解剖取动物肝脏组织,用10%福尔马林固定,进行病理学检查。结果四氯化碳致SD大鼠肝纤维化模型表现为弥漫性脂肪肝、肝炎、肝纤维化;酒精与四氯化碳联合致SD大鼠肝纤维化模型表现为酒精性脂肪肝、肝炎、肝纤维化;胆管结扎致SD大鼠肝纤维化模型表现为胆管增生、肝炎、肝纤维化。结论这3种方法都可以引起大鼠肝脏发生纤维化,其中胆管结扎致SD大鼠肝纤维化造模方法适合于临床胆汁淤积所致肝纤维化的模型建立,其它两种方法适合于化学性、病毒性肝炎引起的肝纤维化模型的建立,可根据不同的实验目的选择不同的方法构建相应的动物模型。     

Development of group-specific PCR-DGGE fingerprinting for monitoring structural changes of Thauera spp. in an industrial wastewater treatment plant responding to operational perturbations

A Thauera-specific nested-PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method was developed, and its usefulness was demonstrated by monitoring the structural shifts of Thauera spp. in an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic fixed-biofilm coking wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) responding to operational perturbations. The specificity of the PCR method was confirmed by the fact that all 16 S rRNA gene sequences, cloned from the amplicons of a biofilm sample, belonged to Thauera genus. 16 S rRNA gene V3 region was then amplified from the first round Thauera-specific PCR product and applied for DGGE analysis. All Thauera clones, with 13 different V3 regions, migrated into 10 positions on DGGE gel, which demonstrated the high resolution of this DGGE method. When the WWTP experienced a gradual deterioration in chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal function due to a mechanical failure of the recirculation pump, biofilm samples were collected from the reactor and analyzed by this method. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the DGGE fingerprinting data showed that the composition of Thauera group exhibited a time related trajectory when the plant's COD removal rate decreased from 84.1+/-2.7% in the first 4 weeks to less than 75% at week 5 and 6, suggesting a concomitant shift of Thauera composition and the system's COD removal function. This group-specific PCR DGGE fingerprinting technology has the potential to be a profiling tool for monitoring structural shifts of Thauera spp. in industrial WWTPs.     

Influence of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis against group B Streptococcus on the early newborn gut composition and evaluation of the anti-Streptococcus activity of Bifidobacterium strains

Several factors are known to influence the early colonization of the gut in newborns. Among them, the use of antibiotics on the mother during labor, referred to as intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP), has scarcely been investigated, although this practice is routinely used in group B Streptococcus (GBS)-positive women. This work is therefore aimed at verifying whether IAP can influence the main microbial groups of the newborn gut microbiota at an early stage of microbial establishment. Fifty-two newborns were recruited: 26 born by mothers negative to GBS (control group) and 26 by mothers positive to GBS and subjected to IAP with ampicillin (IAP group). Selected microbial groups (Lactobacillus spp., Bidobacterium spp., Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium difficile, and Escherichia coli) were quantified with real-time PCR on DNA extracted from newborn feces. Further analysis was performed within the Bidobacterium genus by using DGGE after amplification with genus-specific primers. Results obtained showed a significant decrease of the bifidobacteria counts after antibiotic treatment of the mother. Bifidobacteria were found to be affected by IAP not only quantitatively but also qualitatively. In fact, IAP determined a decrement in the frequency of Bidobacterium breve, Bidobacterium bifidum, and Bidobacterium dentium with respect to the control group. Moreover, this study has preliminarily evaluated that some bifidobacterial strains, previously selected for use in infants, have antibacterial properties against GBS and are therefore potential candidates for being applied as probiotics for the prevention of GBS infections.