Journal Article

Delayed gut microbiota development in high-risk for asthma infants is temporarily modifiable by Lactobacillus supplementation

Durack, Juliana, Lin, Din L., Cabana, Michael D., Mar, Jordan S., McKean, Michelle, Lynch, Susan V., McCauley, Kathryn, Panzer, Ariane R., Kimes, Nikole E., Rauch, Marcus

2018

Overview

Gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction in infancy precedes childhood atopy and asthma development. Here we examined gut microbiota maturation over the first year of life in infants at high risk for asthma (HR), and whether it is modifiable by early-life Lactobacillus supplementation. We performed a longitudinal comparison of stool samples collected from HR infants randomized to daily oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (HRLGG) or placebo (HRP) for 6 months, and healthy (HC) infants. Meconium microbiota of HRP participants is distinct, follows a delayed developmental trajectory, and is primarily glycolytic and depleted of a range of anti-inflammatory lipids at 6 months of age. These deficits are partly rescued in HRLGG infants, but this effect was lost at 12 months of age, 6 months after cessation of supplementation. Thus we show that early-life gut microbial development is distinct, but plastic, in HR infants. Our findings offer a novel strategy for early-life preventative interventions. Gut microbial dysbiosis in infancy is associated with childhood atopy and the development of asthma. Here, the authors show that gut microbiota perturbation is evident in the very earliest stages of postnatal life, continues throughout infancy, and can be partially rescued by Lactobacillus supplementation in high-risk for asthma infants.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 49/23 / 49/47 / 631/326/2565/2134 / 692/308/3187 / 692/4020/2741/2135 / 692/699/1785/31 / 82/58 / Asthma / Asthma - microbiology / Asthma - prevention & control / Atopy / Children / Dietary supplements / Dysbacteriosis / Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Glycolysis / Health risks / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Immunomodulation / Infant / Infant, Newborn / Infants / Inflammation / Intestinal microflora / Lactobacillus / Lactobacillus rhamnosus / Lipids / Meconium / Meconium - microbiology / Microbiota / Microorganisms / multidisciplinary / Plastics / Probiotics - therapeutic use / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory