AUTHOR=Xu Jia , Duar Rebbeca M. , Quah Baoling , Gong Min , Tin Felicia , Chan Penny , Sim Choon Kiat , Tan Kok Hian , Chong Yap Seng , Gluckman Peter D. , Frese Steven A. , Kyle David , Karnani Neerja TITLE=Delayed colonization of Bifidobacterium spp. and low prevalence of B. infantis among infants of Asian ancestry born in Singapore: insights from the GUSTO cohort study JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=12 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1421051 DOI=10.3389/fped.2024.1421051 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=Background

The loss of ancestral microbes, or the “disappearing microbiota hypothesis” has been proposed to play a critical role in the rise of inflammatory and immune diseases in developed nations. The effect of this loss is most consequential during early-life, as initial colonizers of the newborn gut contribute significantly to the development of the immune system.

Methods

In this longitudinal study (day 3, week 3, and month 3 post-birth) of infants of Asian ancestry born in Singapore, we studied how generational immigration status and common perinatal factors affect bifidobacteria and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) colonization. Cohort registry identifier: NCT01174875.

Results

Our findings show that first-generation migratory status, perinatal antibiotics usage, and cesarean section birth, significantly influenced the abundance and acquisition of bifidobacteria in the infant gut. Most importantly, 95.6% of the infants surveyed in this study had undetectable B. infantis, an early and beneficial colonizer of infant gut due to its ability to metabolize the wide variety of human milk oligosaccharides present in breastmilk and its ability to shape the development of a healthy immune system. A comparative analysis of B. infantis in 12 countries by their GDP per capita showed a remarkably low prevalence of this microbe in advanced economies, especially Singapore.

Conclusion

This study provides new insights into infant gut microbiota colonization, showing the impact of generational immigration on early-life gut microbiota acquisition. It also warrants the need to closely monitor the declining prevalence of beneficial microbes such as B. infantis in developed nations and its potential link to increasing autoimmune and allergic diseases.