Neonatal environment exerts a sustained influence on the development of the intestinal microbiota and metabolic phenotype
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The postnatal environment, including factors such as weaning and acquisition of the gut microbiota, has been causally linked to the development of later immunological diseases such as allergy and autoimmunity, and has also been associated with a predisposition to metabolic disorders. We show that the very early-life environment influences the development of both the gut microbiota and host metabolic phenotype in a porcine model of human infants. Farm piglets were nursed by their mothers for 1 day, before removal to highly controlled, individual isolators where they received formula milk until weaning at 21 days. The experiment was repeated, to create two batches, which differed only in minor environmental fluctuations during the first day. At day 1 after birth, metabolic profiling of serum by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated significant, systemic, inter-batch variation which persisted until weaning. However, the urinary metabolic profiles demonstrated that significant inter-batch effects on 3-hydroxyisovalerate, trimethylamine-N-oxide and mannitol persisted beyond weaning to at least 35 days. Batch effects were linked to significant differences in the composition of colonic microbiota at 35 days, determined by 16 S pyrosequencing. Different weaning diets modulated both the microbiota and metabolic phenotype independently of the persistent batch effects. We demonstrate that the environment during the first day of life influences development of the microbiota and metabolic phenotype and thus should be taken into account when interrogating experimental outcomes. In addition, we suggest that intervention at this early time could provide ‘metabolic rescue’ for at-risk infants who have undergone aberrant patterns of initial intestinal colonisation.
Date Issued
2015-06-12
Date Acceptance
2015-04-24
Citation
ISME Journal, 2015, 10, pp.145-157
ISSN
1751-7362
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Start Page
145
End Page
157
Journal / Book Title
ISME Journal
Volume
10
Copyright Statement
© 2016 International Society for Microbial Ecology
Sponsor
Nestec SA
Grant Number
Contract Ref:RDLS015375
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Ecology
Microbiology
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
HUMAN GUT MICROBIOTA
IMMUNE-RESPONSES
GROWTH
DISEASE
CHOLINE
OBESITY
PLASMA
RATS
PIG
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Animals
Colon
Female
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Humans
Intestines
Phenotype
Swine
Weaning
06 Biological Sciences
10 Technology
05 Environmental Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2015-06-12