Bifidobacterium species colonization in infancy: A global cross-sectional comparison by population history of breastfeeding

Authors: TAFT, DIANA - University Of California, Davis; LEWIS, ZACHERY - University Of California, Davis; NGUYEN, NHU - University Of California, Davis; HO, STEVE - University Of California, Davis; MASARWEH, CHAD - University Of California, Davis; DUNNE-CASTAGNA, VANESSA - University Of California, Davis; TANCREDI, DANIEL - University Of California, Davis; HUDA, NAZUMUL - University Of California, Davis; Stephensen, Charles; HINDE, KATIE - Arizona State University; VON MUTIUS, VANESSA - Ludwig-Maximilians University; KIRJAVAINEN, PIRKKA - Kuopio University Hospital; DALPHIN, JEAN-CHARLES - University Hospital Center Of Toulouse; LAUNER, ROGER - Institute For Biochemistry - Switzerland; RIEDLER, JOSEF - Medical University Of Veinna; SMILOWITZ, JENNIFER - University Of California, Davis; GERMAN, BRUCE - University Of California, Davis; MORROW, ARDYTHE - Synbiotics Corporation; MILLS, DAVID - University Of California, Davis

Submitted to: Pediatric Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2022
Publication Date: 3/28/2022
Citation: Taft, D.H., Lewis, Z.T., Nguyen, N., Ho, S., Masarweh, C., Dunne-Castagna, V., Tancredi, D.J., Huda, N.M., Stephensen, C.B., Hinde, K., Von Mutius, V., Kirjavainen, P., Dalphin, J., Launer, R., Riedler, J., Smilowitz, J., German, B.J., Morrow, A.L., Mills, D.A. 2022. Bifidobacterium species colonization in infancy: A global cross-sectional comparison by population history of breastfeeding. Pediatric Research. 14(7):1423. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071423.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071423

Interpretive Summary: Breastfeeding promotes infant health in numerous ways. One newly described benefit is provision of microbial accessible carbohydrates (MACs) in breastmilk that are not absorbed in the small intestine for direct use by the infant but arrive in the large intestine to support growth of commensal bacteria that help protect infants against enteric disease and also help promote development of the immune system. Bacterial species from the genus Bifidobacterium are a critical and dominant member of the breast-fed infant gut microbiome. However, the benefits of Bifidobacterium species are not all the same. Here we characterize the species of Bifidobacterium present in groups of infants around the world. We found three distinct patterns of Bifidobacterium colonization: 1) Dominance of Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis, 2) Prevalent Bifidobacterium of multiple species, and 3) Frequent absence of Bifidobacterium. These patterns appear related to country history of breastfeeding, with infants in countries with historically high rates of long duration breastfeeding more likely to be colonized by Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis compared with infants in countries with histories of shorter duration breastfeeding. These findings highlight the need to consider historical and cultural influences on gut commensal survival into the present day in order to understand epidemiological transmission patterns of Bifidobacterium and other major gut commensals.

Technical Abstract: Bifidobacterium are a critical and dominant member of the breast-fed infant gut microbiome. However, the benefits of Bifidobacterium are partially species dependent. Here we characterize the species of Bifidobacterium present in cohorts of infants around the world. Across populations, three distinct patterns of Bifidobacterium colonization emerged: 1) Dominance of Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis, 2) Prevalent Bifidobacterium of multiple species, and 3) Frequent absence of Bifidobacterium. These patterns appear related to country history of breastfeeding, with infants in countries with historically high rates of long duration breastfeeding more likely to be colonized by B. longum subspecies infantis compared with infants in countries with histories of shorter duration breastfeeding. These findings highlight the need to consider historical and cultural influences on gut commensal survival into the present day in order to understand epidemiological transmission patterns of Bifidobacterium and other major gut commensals.