Maturation of the infant respiratory microbiota, environmental drivers, and health consequences
Bosch, Astrid A.T.M.; De Steenhuijsen Piters, Wouter A.A.; van Houten, Marlies A; Chu, Mei Ling J N; Biesbroek, Giske; Kool, Jolanda; Pernet, Paula Jm; de Groot, Pieter-Kees C M; Eijkemans, Marinus J.C.; Keijser, Bart J F; Sanders, Elisabeth A.M.; Bogaert, Debby
(2017) American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, volume 196, issue 12, pp. 1582 - 1590
(Article)
Abstract
Rationale: Perinatal and postnatal influences are presumed important drivers of the early-life respiratory microbiota composition. We hypothesized that the respiratory microbiota composition and development in infancy is affecting microbiota stability and thereby resistance against respiratory tract infections (RTIs) over time. Objectives: To investigate common environmental drivers, including birth mode, feeding
... read more
type, antibiotic exposure, and crowding conditions, in relation to respiratory tract microbiota maturation and stability, and consecutive risk of RTIs over the first year of life. Methods: In a prospectively followed cohort of 112 infants, we characterized the nasopharyngeal microbiota longitudinally from birth on (11 consecutive sample moments and the maximum three RTI samples per subject; in total, n = 1,121 samples) by 16S-rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Measurements and Main Results: Using a microbiota-based machine-learning algorithm, we found that children experiencing a higher number of RTIs in the first year of life already demonstrate an aberrant microbial developmental trajectory from the first month of life on as compared with the reference group (0-2 RTIs/yr). The altered microbiota maturation process coincided with decreased microbial community stability, prolonged reduction of Corynebacterium and Dolosigranulum, enrichment of Moraxella very early in life, followed by later enrichment of Neisseria and Prevotella spp. Independent drivers of these aberrant developmental trajectories of respiratory microbiota members were mode of delivery, infant feeding, crowding, and recent antibiotic use. Conclusions: Our results suggest that environmental drivers impact microbiota development and, consequently, resistance against development of RTIs. This supports the idea that microbiota form the mediator between early-life environmental risk factors for and susceptibility to RTIs over the first year of life.
show less
Download/Full Text
The full text of this publication is not available.
Keywords: Development, Nasopharynx, Respiratory microbiota, Respiratory tract infections, Risk factors, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
ISSN: 1073-449X
Publisher: American Thoracic Society
Note: Funding Information: Supported in part by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW; grant 91209010), the Netherlands Organization for Scientific research (NWO-VIDI; grant 91715359), Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital and Spaarne Gasthuis Hoofddorp intramural funds, and Topconsortia for knowledge and innovation (Agri and Food; TKI-AF-12190). The authors gratefully acknowledge the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Spaarne Gasthuis (Hoofddorp, the Netherlands) and participating midwifery clinics for recruiting participants for this study; the research team of the Spaarne Gasthuis Academy for their execution of and dedication to the study; the laboratory staff of the University Medical Center Utrecht and Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research for their laboratory work, and the cooperating institutions for their commitment to the project. Most of all, they are indebted to all the participating children and their families. Funding Information: Supported in part by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW; grant 91209010), the Netherlands Organization for Scientific research (NWO-VIDI; grant 91715359), Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital and Spaarne Gasthuis Hoofddorp intramural funds, and Topconsortia for knowledge and innovation (Agri and Food; TKI-AF-12190). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2017 by the American Thoracic Society
(Peer reviewed)