Development of the gut microbiota of term and late preterm newborn infants

Abstract

The gut microbiota affects the physiological processes and the maintenance of homeostasis of the human body. Violation of the composition of the microbiota, including at an early age, can lead to various diseases. The formation of the microbiota of newborns, especially preterm infants, depends on numerous factors and it is not well studied.

Aim. To assess the dynamics of the gut microbiota composition during the first month of life in full-term and late preterm newborns born spontaneously and by caesarean section.

Material and methods. 100 full-term newborns (49 children were born spontaneously, 51 – by caesarean section) and 51 late preterm newborns (25 children were born spontaneously, 26 – by caesarean section) were examined. Fecal samples of children obtained on the 1st, 7th and 30th days of life were studied by culture methods with the identification of microorganisms by the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The Mann-Whitney test, median and interquartile distance were used for statistical analysis.

Results. During the 1st month of life in newborns of the compared groups, a significant difference in the indicators of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the gut microbiota was found. Newborns born spontaneously, already on the 1st day of life, had an advantage: microorganisms from the commensal group (lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and bacteroids) were isolated in the microbiota, unlike newborns born by caesarean section. On the 7th day of life in children of all groups, strict anaerobes prevailed over facultative anaerobes in the composition of the gut microbiota, but this process was slower in preterm newborns and full-term infants born by caesarean section. By the end of the 1st month of life, newborns born by caesarean section, lagged more than 5 times behind newborns born spontaneously, in terms of the level of colonization with bacteroids. Preterm newborns born spontaneously approached full-term newborns born spontaneously, in terms of the level of colonization with bifidobacteria and bacteroids. In groups of preterm newborns, the titer of lactobacilli remained consistently high, mainly due to probiotic species (Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus plantarum).

Conclusion. Gestational age is the most significant factor in the formation of the gut microbiota of newborns. However, caesarean section hinders the normal development of the gut microbiota. The use of probiotics for the treatment of preterm newborns helps to speed up the process of microbiota formation.

Keywords:gut microbiota; newborns; late preterm infants; culturomics; MALDI-TOF MS; sequencing

Funding. The work was carried out as part of the research work “Collection and characterization of biosamples of the intestinal microbiota of full-term and late premature newborns” under an agreement with the Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks, Federal Medical Biological Agency, dated June 10, 2019 No. 0373100122119000032.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.

Contribution. General management – Priputnevich T.V., Zubkov V.V., Nikolaeva A.V., Makarov V.V., Yudin S.M.; microbiological studies, data analysis – Isaeva E.L., Muravieva V.V., Bembeeva B.O.; collection of biomaterial and information – Mesyan M.K., Timofeeva L.A., Kozlova A.A.

For citation: Priputnevich T.V., Isaeva E.L., Muravieva V.V., Mesyan M.K., Zubkov V.V., Nikolaeva A.V., Bembeeva B.O., Timofeeva L.A., Kozlova A.A., Makarov V.V., Yudin S.M. Development of the gut microbiota of term and late preterm newborn infants. Neonatologiya: novosti, mneniya, obuchenie [Neonatology: News, Opinions, Training]. 2023; 11 (1): 42–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33029/2308-2402-2023-11-1-42-56 (in Russian)

Received 24.10.2022. Accepted 06.02.2023.

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CHIEF EDITOR
CHIEF EDITOR
Degtyarev Dmitriy Nikolaevich
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Deputy Director for Scientific Research of the V.I. Kulakov Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology National Medical Research Center of Ministry of Healthсаre of the Russian Federation, Head of the Chair of Neonatology at the Clinical Institute of Children's Health named after N.F. Filatov, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Russian Society of Neonatologists, Moscow, Russian Federation

ORCID iD 0000-0001-8975-2425

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