Maternal fucosyltransferase 2 status affects the gut bifidobacterial communities of breastfed infants.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Individuals with inactive alleles of the fucosyltransferase 2 gene (FUT2; termed the 'secretor' gene) are common in many populations. Some members of the genus Bifidobacterium, common infant gut commensals, are known to consume 2'-fucosylated glycans found in the breast milk of secretor mothers. We investigated the effects of maternal secretor status on the developing infant microbiota with a special emphasis on bifidobacterial species abundance.

Results

On average, bifidobacteria were established earlier and more often in infants fed by secretor mothers than in infants fed by non-secretor mothers. In secretor-fed infants, the relative abundance of the Bifidobacterium longum group was most strongly correlated with high percentages of the order Bifidobacteriales. C

SUBMITTER: Lewis ZT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4412032 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature