A novel combined approach based on HTF‐Microbi.Array and qPCR for a reliable characterization of the Bifidobacterium‐dominated gut microbiota of breast‐fed infants. Issue 2 (15th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Centanni, Manuela; Turroni, Silvia; Biagi, Elena; Severgnini, Marco; Consolandi, Clarissa; Brigidi, Patrizia; Candela, Marco
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology letters. Volume 343:Issue 2(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2013-04-15
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-1097

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="fml12138-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The High Taxonomic Fingerprint (HTF)‐Microbi.Array is a fully validated phylogenetic microarray platform for a high taxonomic level characterization of the human gut microbiota. However, suffering from PCR‐dependent biases in <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> quantification, this tool is less appropriate when utilized for the characterization of the <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic>‐dominated gut microbiota of breast‐fed infants. To overcome this, we implemented a new combined approach based on HTF‐Microbi.Array and qPCR for a reliable fingerprint of the infant‐type microbiota. This methodology was applied in a preliminary comparative study of the faecal microbiota of eight breast‐fed infants, aged 2–6 months, and five young adults. Whereas the adult gut microbiota was largely dominated by <italic>Firmicutes</italic> and <italic>Bacteroidetes</italic>, the infant‐type community was mainly dominated by <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic>, with <italic>Enterobacteriaceae</italic> as the second dominant component. In accordance with the most recent literature in the field, the obtained microbiota fingerprints properly depicted the adult‐ and the infant‐type microbiota, demonstrating the reliability of the HTF‐Microbi.Array/qPCR combined approach in reflecting the peculiarities of the two intestinal microbial ecosystems.</p> </abstract>