Validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of Kenyan infants
Abstract Background The combination of cultivation studies with molecular analysis approaches allows characterization of the complex human gut microbiota in depth. In vitro cultivation studies of infants living in rural sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. In this study, a batch cultivation protocol for K...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-023-02915-9 |
| _version_ | 1797784738772025344 |
|---|---|
| author | Carole Rachmühl Christophe Lacroix Ambra Giorgetti Nicole U. Stoffel Michael B. Zimmermann Gary M. Brittenham Annelies Geirnaert |
| author_facet | Carole Rachmühl Christophe Lacroix Ambra Giorgetti Nicole U. Stoffel Michael B. Zimmermann Gary M. Brittenham Annelies Geirnaert |
| author_sort | Carole Rachmühl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The combination of cultivation studies with molecular analysis approaches allows characterization of the complex human gut microbiota in depth. In vitro cultivation studies of infants living in rural sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. In this study, a batch cultivation protocol for Kenyan infant fecal microbiota was validated. Methods Fresh fecal samples were collected from 10 infants living in a rural area of Kenya. Samples were transported under protective conditions and subsequently prepared for inoculation within less than 30 h for batch cultivation. A diet-adapted cultivation medium was used that mimicked the daily intake of human milk and maize porridge in Kenyan infants during weaning. 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and HPLC analyses were performed to assess the composition and metabolic activity, respectively, of the fecal microbiota after 24 h of batch cultivation. Results High abundance of Bifidobacterium (53.4 ± 11.1%) and high proportions of acetate (56 ± 11% of total metabolites) and lactate (24 ± 22% of total metabolites) were detected in the Kenyan infant fecal microbiota. After cultivation started at an initial pH 7.6, the fraction of top bacterial genera (≥ 1% abundant) shared between fermentation and fecal samples was high at 97 ± 5%. However, Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Bacteroides and Enterococcus were enriched concomitant with decreased Bifidobacterium abundance. Decreasing the initial pH to 6.9 lead to higher abundance of Bifidobacterium after incubation and increased the compositional similarity of fermentation and fecal samples. Despite similar total metabolite production of all fecal microbiota after cultivation, inter-individual differences in metabolite profiles were apparent. Conclusions Protected transport and batch cultivation in host and diet adapted conditions allowed regrowth of the top abundant genera and reproduction of the metabolic activity of fresh Kenyan infant fecal microbiota. The validated batch cultivation protocol can be used to study the composition and functional potential of Kenyan infant fecal microbiota in vitro. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:44:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a0dd93e6e56414eadc7f04ac7348cf8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:44:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a0dd93e6e56414eadc7f04ac7348cf82023-07-09T11:08:02ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802023-07-0123111210.1186/s12866-023-02915-9Validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of Kenyan infantsCarole Rachmühl0Christophe Lacroix1Ambra Giorgetti2Nicole U. Stoffel3Michael B. Zimmermann4Gary M. Brittenham5Annelies Geirnaert6Laboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichLaboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichLaboratory of Human Nutrition, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichLaboratory of Human Nutrition, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichLaboratory of Human Nutrition, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia UniversityLaboratory of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichAbstract Background The combination of cultivation studies with molecular analysis approaches allows characterization of the complex human gut microbiota in depth. In vitro cultivation studies of infants living in rural sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. In this study, a batch cultivation protocol for Kenyan infant fecal microbiota was validated. Methods Fresh fecal samples were collected from 10 infants living in a rural area of Kenya. Samples were transported under protective conditions and subsequently prepared for inoculation within less than 30 h for batch cultivation. A diet-adapted cultivation medium was used that mimicked the daily intake of human milk and maize porridge in Kenyan infants during weaning. 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and HPLC analyses were performed to assess the composition and metabolic activity, respectively, of the fecal microbiota after 24 h of batch cultivation. Results High abundance of Bifidobacterium (53.4 ± 11.1%) and high proportions of acetate (56 ± 11% of total metabolites) and lactate (24 ± 22% of total metabolites) were detected in the Kenyan infant fecal microbiota. After cultivation started at an initial pH 7.6, the fraction of top bacterial genera (≥ 1% abundant) shared between fermentation and fecal samples was high at 97 ± 5%. However, Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Bacteroides and Enterococcus were enriched concomitant with decreased Bifidobacterium abundance. Decreasing the initial pH to 6.9 lead to higher abundance of Bifidobacterium after incubation and increased the compositional similarity of fermentation and fecal samples. Despite similar total metabolite production of all fecal microbiota after cultivation, inter-individual differences in metabolite profiles were apparent. Conclusions Protected transport and batch cultivation in host and diet adapted conditions allowed regrowth of the top abundant genera and reproduction of the metabolic activity of fresh Kenyan infant fecal microbiota. The validated batch cultivation protocol can be used to study the composition and functional potential of Kenyan infant fecal microbiota in vitro.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-023-02915-9In vitro gut fermentationAfrican infantpHFecal sample preservationMetabolites |
| spellingShingle | Carole Rachmühl Christophe Lacroix Ambra Giorgetti Nicole U. Stoffel Michael B. Zimmermann Gary M. Brittenham Annelies Geirnaert Validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of Kenyan infants BMC Microbiology In vitro gut fermentation African infant pH Fecal sample preservation Metabolites |
| title | Validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of Kenyan infants |
| title_full | Validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of Kenyan infants |
| title_fullStr | Validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of Kenyan infants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of Kenyan infants |
| title_short | Validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of Kenyan infants |
| title_sort | validation of a batch cultivation protocol for fecal microbiota of kenyan infants |
| topic | In vitro gut fermentation African infant pH Fecal sample preservation Metabolites |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-023-02915-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carolerachmuhl validationofabatchcultivationprotocolforfecalmicrobiotaofkenyaninfants AT christophelacroix validationofabatchcultivationprotocolforfecalmicrobiotaofkenyaninfants AT ambragiorgetti validationofabatchcultivationprotocolforfecalmicrobiotaofkenyaninfants AT nicoleustoffel validationofabatchcultivationprotocolforfecalmicrobiotaofkenyaninfants AT michaelbzimmermann validationofabatchcultivationprotocolforfecalmicrobiotaofkenyaninfants AT garymbrittenham validationofabatchcultivationprotocolforfecalmicrobiotaofkenyaninfants AT anneliesgeirnaert validationofabatchcultivationprotocolforfecalmicrobiotaofkenyaninfants |