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. 2016;35(2):97-103.
doi: 10.12938/bmfh.2015-006. Epub 2015 Dec 26.

A comparative study of bifidobacteria in human babies and adults

Shadi Khonsari  1 , Mayuran Suganthy  1 , Beata Burczynska  1 , Vu Dang  1 , Manika Choudhury  1 , Azra Pachenari  1
Affiliations

A comparative study of bifidobacteria in human babies and adults

Shadi Khonsari et al. Biosci Microbiota Food Health. 2016.

Abstract

The composition and diversity of the gut microbiota are known to be different between babies and adults. The aim of this project was to compare the level of bifidobacteria between babies and adults and to investigate the influence of lifestyle factors on the level of this bacterium in the gut. During this study, the levels of bifidobacteria in 10 human babies below 2 years of age were compared with that of 10 human adults above 40 years. The level of bifidobacteria proved to be significantly higher in babies in comparison with adults. This investigation concluded that a combination of several factors, such as age, diet, and BMI, has an important effect on the level of bifidobacteria in adults, while in babies, a combination of diet and age may influence the level of intestinal bifidobacteria.

Keywords: age; bifidobacteria; gut microbiota.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Electropherogram of direct colony PCR products separated by an MCE-202 MultiNa Microchip Electrophoresis System with a DNA-1000 kit (Shimadzu). Representation of positive isolates A1 and A2, which were amplified with three sets of primers for identification at the genus and species levels. Panel A: Bifidobacterium genus-specific primers were used, and 510 bp products were detected for isolates and the positive control (+ve CTRL). Panel B: Bifidobacterium group primers were used, and 277 bp products were detected. Panel C: species-specific primers were used, and 831 bp products were amplified. The positive control used for all reactions was B. longum (NCTC 8809). The position of the upper (UM) and lower (LM) marker dyes of the MultiNA separation are indicated as is the position of the base pair reference mass markers; bands below 72 bp correspond to primers. The ladder (PhiX174 DNA/Hae III, Promega) showed separate bands between 72 bp and 872 bp. No template controls (NTCs) are shown for three sets of reactions.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Results of enumeration of colonies of bifidobacteria in babies and adults.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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