Bacterial succession in the colon during childhood and adolescence: molecular studies in a Southern Indian village

Balamurugan, Ramadass ; Janardhan, Harish P. ; George, Sarah ; Priya Chittaranjan, Sucharita ; Ramakrishna, Balakrishnan S. (2008) Bacterial succession in the colon during childhood and adolescence: molecular studies in a Southern Indian village American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 88 (6). pp. 1643-1647. ISSN 0002-9165

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Official URL: http://www.ajcn.org/content/88/6/1643.short

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/?ajcn.2008.26511

Abstract

Background: The colonic bacterial flora, largely anaerobic, is believed to establish and stabilize in the first 2 y of life. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether the bacterial flora of the colon undergoes further changes (succession) during childhood and adolescence. Design: This cross-sectional study examined fecal samples from 130 healthy children and adolescents in the age group 2-17 y and from 30 healthy adults (median age: 42 y) residing in a single village in southern India. DNA was extracted and subjected to 16S rDNA-targeted real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the relative predominance of Bifidobacterium genus, Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyromonas group, Lactobacillus acidophilus group, Eubacterium rectale, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Results: Bifidobacterium species and Bacteroides-Prevotella group were dominant fecal bacteria overall. E. rectale and Lactobacillus species were considerably less abundant. Clear age-related differences emerged, with a steep decline in Bifidobacterium species in adults (P < 0.0001), a steep decline of Lactobacillus species >5 y of age (P < 0.0001), an increase in Bacteroides during late adolescence and in adults (P = 0.0040), an increase in E. rectale during childhood and adolescence followed by a steep decline in adults (P < 0.0001), and a late childhood peak of F. prausnitzii with decline in adolescents and adults (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Changes in the bacterial flora occur during childhood and adolescence characterized by reduction in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and an increase in Bacteroides, E rectale, and F. prausnitzii peaked during late childhood in this population.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to American Society for Clinical Nutrition.
ID Code:38830
Deposited On:05 May 2011 04:44
Last Modified:17 May 2016 21:32

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