Distal gut microbiota of adolescent children is different from that of adults

Abstract

Human intestinal microbiota plays a number of important roles in human health and is also implicated in several gastrointestinal disorders. Though the diversity of human gut microbiota in adults and in young children has been examined, few reports of microbiota composition are available for adolescents. In this work we used Microbiota Array for high-throughput analysis of distal gut microbiota in adolescent children 11-18 years of age. Samples obtained from healthy adults were used for comparison. Adolescent and adult groups could be separated in principal components analysis space based on the relative species abundance of their distal gut microbiota. All samples were dominated by class Clostridia. A core microbiome of 46 species that were detected in all examined samples was established; members of genera Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, and Roseburia were well presented among core species. Comparison of intestinal microbiota composition between adolescents and adults revealed a statistically significantly higher abundance of genera Bifidobacterium and Clostridium among adolescent samples. The number of detected species was similar between sample groups indicating that it was relative abundances of the genera and not the presence or absence of a specific genus that differentiated adolescent and adult samples. In summary, contrary to the current belief, this study suggests that the gut microbiome of adolescent children is different from that of adults.

Mycobiota: Micro-Eukaryotes Inhabiting Our Body as Commensals or Opportunistic Pathogens

“…Studies in newborn mice and in human infants have suggested that bacterial communities in the gut are initially unstable but become more stable in early childhood and develop more modestly throughout adulthood [106,107]. However, this may not be the case with the gut mycobiota.…”

Changes in weight and body fat after use of tetracycline and Lactobacillus gasseri in rats

“…Although relatively stable, the gut microbiota is affected by age, gender, geography, diet, and environmental factors, such as exposure to antibiotics, especially in children and newborns (Backhed et al, 2005;Agans et al, 2011;Vael et al, 2011;Grzeskowiak et al, 2012;Markle et al, 2013;Trasande et al, 2013). There are numerous studies related to gut microbiota changes (dysbiosis) caused by antibiotics and probiotics, including weight modifications in humans and animals (Ley et al, 2006;Turnbaugh et al, 2008;Xu et al, 2012;Bibiloni, Pons, Tur, 2013).…”

Lysosomes ‘in control’

“…90,91 Specifically MDA, a product derived from the oxidation of PUFAs, was shown to be increased in NASH patients. [91][92][93] In line, higher antibody titers of MDA-derived adducts were associated with increased severity of lobular inflammation and a 13-fold increased risk of developing NASH, indicated by an NAFLD activity score of ≥5 in a biopsy-proven pediatric NASH cohort. 94 Additionally, other FA-derived oxidation products have been associated with NASH.…”

“…91,92 Moreover, lysosomal dysfunction impairs autophagy, a process that mediates the self-degradation of cellular components. 93 As multiple studies have shown the tight link between autophagy and inflammation, [94][95][96] lysosomal dysfunction can affect the inflammatory response by impairing autophagy. Altogether, these findings present a clear relation between lipid metabolism, lysosomes and inflammation.…”

“…93,94 The liver is considered to be a biological filter between the contaminated bowel and the sterile systemic circulation. 95,96 It is therefore directly exposed to gut microbiota-derived toxins, which can impact liver physiology and pathology significantly.…”