ABSTRACT: Persistent reduction of Bifidobacterium longum in the infant gut microbiome in the first year of life following intrapartum penicillin prophylaxis for maternal GBS colonization
Project description:Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of infant sepsis worldwide. Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract is a critical precursor to late-onset disease in exposed newborns. Neonatal susceptibility to GBS intestinal translocation stems from intestinal immaturity; however, the mechanisms by which GBS exploits the immature host remain unclear. β-hemolysin/cytolysin (βH/C) is a highly conserved toxin produced by GBS capable of disrupting epithelial barriers. However, its role in the pathogenesis of late-onset GBS disease is unknown. Our aim was to determine the contribution of βH/C to intestinal colonization and translocation to extraintestinal tissues. Using our established mouse model of late-onset GBS disease, we exposed animals to GBS COH-1 (WT), a βH/C-deficient mutant (KO), or vehicle control (PBS) via gavage. Blood, spleen, brain, and intestines were harvested 4 days post-exposure for determination of bacterial burden and isolation of intestinal epithelial cells. We used RNA-sequencing to examine the transcriptomes and performed gene ontology enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis. A separate cohort of animals were followed longitudinally to compare colonization kinetics and mortality between WT and KO groups. We demonstrate that disseminated to extraintestinal tissues occurred only in the WT exposed animals. We observed major transcriptomic changes in the colon of colonized animals, but not in the small intestine. We noted differential expression of genes among WT and KO exposed mice indicating that βH/C contributes to alterations in epithelial barrier structure and immune response signaling. Overall, our results demonstrate an important role for βH/C in the pathogenesis of late-onset GBS disease.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE5865: B.thetaiotaomicron or B. longum mono-association versus B. thetaiotaomicron/B. longum co-colonization, PR chow, NMRI GSE5866: B.thetaiotaomicron mono-association versus B. thetaiotaomicron co-colonization with B. longum, PR chow, B6 GSE5867: B.thetaiotaomicron mono-association versus B. thetaiotaomicron co-colonization with B. animalis or L. casei, PR chow, B6 Refer to individual Series
Project description:Diet-microbe interactions play a crucial role in infant development and modulation of the early-life microbiota. The genus Bifidobacterium dominates the breast-fed infant gut, with strains of B. longum subsp. longum (B. longum) and B. longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) particularly prevalent within the early-life microbiota. Although, transition from milk to a more diversified diet later in infancy initiates a shift to a more complex microbiome, with concurrent reductions in Bifidobacterium abundance, specific strains of B. longum may persist in individual hosts for prolonged periods of time. Here, we sought to investigate the adaptation of B. longum to the changing infant diet during the early-life developmental window. Genomic characterisation of 75 strains isolated from nine either exclusively breast- or formula-fed infants in the first 18 months of their lives revealed subspecies- and strain-specific intra-individual genomic diversity with respect to glycosyl hydrolase families and enzymes, which corresponded to different dietary stages. Complementary phenotypic growth studies indicated strain-specific differences in human milk oligosaccharide and plant carbohydrate utilisation profiles between and within individual infants, while proteomic profiling identified proteins involved in metabolism of selected carbohydrates. Our results indicate a strong link between infant diet and B. longum subspecies/strain genomic and carbohydrate utilisation diversity, which aligns with a changing nutritional environment i.e. moving from breast milk to a solid food diet. These data provide additional insights into possible mechanisms responsible for the competitive advantage of this bifidobacterial species and their long-term persistence in a single host and may contribute to rational development of new dietary therapies for this important development window.
Project description:Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) can colonize the human vaginal tract leading to both superficial and serious infections in adults and neonates. To study bacterial colonization of the reproductive tract in a mammalian system, we employed a murine vaginal carriage model. Using RNASeq, the transcriptome of GBS growing in vivo during vaginal carriage was determined. Over one-quarter of the genes in GBS were found to be differentially regulated during in vivo colonization as compared to laboratory cultures. A two-component system (TCS) homologous to the staphylococcal virulence regulator SaeRS was identified as being up-regulated in vivo. One of the SaeRS targets, pbsP, a proposed GBS vaccine candidate, was shown to be important for colonization of the vaginal tract. A component of vaginal lavage fluid acted as a signal to turn on pbsP expression via SaeRS. These data demonstrate the ability to quantify RNA expression directly from the murine vaginal tract and identify novel genes involved in vaginal colonization by GBS. They also provide more information about the regulation of an important virulence and colonization factor of GBS, pbsP, by the TCS SaeRS.
Project description:Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis is a bacterial commensal that colonizes the breast-fed infant gut where it utilizes indigestible components delivered in human milk. Accordingly, human milk contains several non-protein nitrogenous molecules, including urea at high abundance. This project investigates the degree to which urea is utilized as a primary nitrogen source by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and incorporation of hydrolysis products into the expressed proteome.
Project description:Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are highly diverse complex carbohydrates secreted in human milk. HMOs are indigestible by the infant and instead are metabolized by bifidobacteria in the infant gut microbiome to produce molecules that promote infant health and development. 2´fucosyllactose (2´FL) is an abundant HMO and is utilized by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, a predominant member of the infant gut microbiome. Currently, there is not a scientific consensus on how or if bifidobacteria metabolize the fucose portion of 2´FL or free fucose. This proteomic analysis was conducted in order to characterize the metabolic pathway by which B. infantis utilizes fucose.
Project description:Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pervasive perinatal pathogen, yet factors driving GBS dissemination in utero are poorly defined. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a complication marked by dysregulated immunity and maternal microbial dysbiosis, increases risk for GBS perinatal disease. We interrogated host-pathogen dynamics in a novel murine GDM model of GBS colonization and perinatal transmission. GDM mice had greater GBS in utero dissemination and subsequently worse neonatal outcomes. Dual-RNA sequencing revealed differential GBS adaptation to the GDM reproductive tract, including a putative glycosyltransferase (yfhO), and altered host responses. GDM disruption of immunity included reduced uterine natural killer cell activation, impaired recruitment to placentae, and altered vaginal cytokines. Lastly, we observed distinct vaginal microbial taxa associated with GDM status and GBS invasive disease status. Our translational model of GBS perinatal transmission in GDM hosts recapitulates several clinical aspects and enables discovery of host and bacterial drivers of GBS perinatal disease.
Project description:Microbiota assembly in the infant gut is influenced by time and duration of dietary exposure to breast-milk, infant formula and solid foods. In this randomized controlled intervention study, longitudinal sampling of infant stools (n=998) showed similar development of fecal bacterial communities between formula- and breast-fed infants during the first year of life (N=210). Infant formula supplemented with galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) was most efficient to sustain high levels of bifidobacteria compared to formula containing B. longum and B. breve or placebo. Metabolite (untargeted) and bacterial profiling (16S rRNA/shallow metagenomics sequencing) revealed 24-hour oscillations and integrated data analysis identified circadian networks. Rhythmicity in bacterial diversity, specific taxa and functional pathways increased with age and was most pronounced following breast-feeding and GOS-supplementation. Circadian rhythms in dominant taxa were discovered ex-vivo in a chemostat model. Hence microbiota rhythmicity develops early in life, likely due to bacterial intrinsic clock mechanism and is affected by diet.