Molecular analysis of infant fecal microbiota in an Asian at-risk cohort-correlates with infant and childhood eczema

Abstract

Background: Studies have suggested that selective microbial targets prevail in the fecal microbiota of infants with eczema. This study evaluated the composition of fecal microbiota of infants who developed eczema in the first 5 years of life and compared these with those of healthy controls.

Findings: Children who developed eczema in the first 2 years, those with eczema at 5 years of age and healthy controls were selected from the placebo arm of a birth cohort of at-risk infants participating in a randomized double-blind trial on the protective effects of supplemental probiotics in early life on allergic outcomes. Molecular evaluation of fecal microbiota were conducted using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization-Flow Cytometry (FISH-FC) for fecal samples collected. Longitudinal analysis of fecal microbiota composition at three days, one and three months and one year of life revealed higher abundance of Enterobacteriaceae [coefficient (B): 1.081, 95% CI: 0.229-1.933, adj p = 0.014] and Clostridium perfringens [coefficient (B): 0.521, 95% CI: 0.556-0.988, adj p = 0.03] in those who developed eczema in the first 2 years life. In those with eczema at 5 years of age, a lower abundance of Bifidobacterium was observed [coefficient (B): -27.635, 95% CI: -50.040 - -5.231, adj p = 0.018].

Conclusions: The differences in infant fecal microbiota observed in eczema subjects in this study support the notion that relative abundance of selective microbial targets may contribute to the subsequent development of eczema in childhood.

Figure 1

Flowchart of study subjects showing the progress of eczema development in the first 2 years and at 5 years of age. *Thirteen controls were excluded in the 5 year analysis because they developed allergen sensitization, rhinitis and wheeze at 5 years of age.

Figure 2

Longitudinal comparison of the fecal microbiota of children with and without eczema. Linear mixed model analysis of fecal microbiota of children with eczema in (a) the first 2 years of life and (b) at 5 years of age, compared to healthy controls. Only microbial targets with statistically significant difference between eczema and controls are shown.