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. 2012;67(2):113-23.
doi: 10.6061/clinics/2012(02)05.

Establishment of the bacterial fecal community during the first month of life in Brazilian newborns

Kátia Brandt  1 , Carla R Taddei, Elizabeth H Takagi, Fernanda F Oliveira, Rubens T D Duarte, Isabel Irino, Marina B Martinez, Magda Carneiro-Sampaio
Affiliations

Establishment of the bacterial fecal community during the first month of life in Brazilian newborns

Kátia Brandt et al. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2012.

Abstract

Objective: The establishment of the intestinal microbiota in newborns is a critical period with possible long-term consequences for human health. In this research, the development of the fecal microbiota of a group of exclusively breastfed neonates living in low socio-economic conditions in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, during the first month of life, was studied.

Methods: Fecal samples were collected from ten neonates on the second, seventh, and 30(th) days after birth. One of the neonates underwent antibiotic therapy. Molecular techniques were used for analysis; DNA was extracted from the samples, and 16S rRNA libraries were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed after construction. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on the samples taken from the 30(th) day to amplify DNA from Bifidobacterium sp.

Results: The primary phylogenetic groups identified in the samples were Escherichia and Clostridium. Staphylococcus was identified at a low rate. Bifidobacterium sp. was detected in all of the samples collected on the 30(th) day. In the child who received antibiotics, a reduction in anaerobes and Escherichia, which was associated with an overgrowth of Klebsiella, was observed throughout the experimental period.

Conclusion: The observed pattern of Escherichia predominance and reduced Staphylococcus colonization is in contrast with the patterns observed in neonates living in developed countries.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bacterial profile of the 16S rRNA library constructed with fecal samples from a group of nine neonates who were not given antibiotics. The sequences were grouped into genera. The data shown are pooled per time point.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bacterial profile of the 16S rRNA library constructed with fecal samples from one child who used an oral antibiotic for 10 days. The sequences were grouped into genera. The data are shown per time point.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Rarefaction curves from the 16S rRNA libraries constructed at each time point, including sequences obtained from the neonate who received antibiotic treatment. An OTU is defined as having ≥95% similarity.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Venn diagram showing the number of unique and shared OTUs among the neonates. A genus-based OTU definition was used (≥95% similarity cutoff).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Phylogenetic relationships among the OTUs detected in newborn fecal samples. Black branches represent the 2-day-old samples, white branches represent 7-day-old samples and gray branches represent 30-day-old samples. Reference sequences are indicated by their taxonomic names, and uncultured clones are followed by their GenBank accession numbers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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