title: Differences in fecal microbiota in different European study populations in relation to age, gender, and country: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: A cross-sectional study on intestinal microbiota composition was performed on 230 healthy subjects at four European locations in France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. The study participants were assigned to two age groups: 20 to 50 years (mean age, 35 years; n = 85) and >60 years (mean age, 75 years; n = 145). A set of 14 group- and species-specific 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes was applied to the analysis of fecal samples by fluorescence in situ hybridization coupled with flow cytometry. Marked country-age interactions were observed for the German and Italian study groups. These interactions were inverse for the predominant bacterial groups Eubacterium rectale-Clostridium coccoides and Bacteroides-Prevotella. Differences between European populations were observed for the Bifidobacterium group only. Proportions of bifidobacteria were two- to threefold higher in the Italian study population than in any other study group, and this effect was independent of age. Higher proportions of enterobacteria were found in all elderly volunteers independent of the location. Gender effects were observed for the Bacteroides-Prevotella group, with higher levels in males than in females. In summary, age-related differences in the microbiota makeup were detected but differed between the study populations from the four countries, each showing a characteristic colonization pattern.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Gastrointestinale Mikrobiologie, Deutsches Institut für Ernährungsforschung Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Katiana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saunier
authors.forename: Christiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hanisch
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Norin
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alm
authors.forename: Tore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Midtvedt
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cresci
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvi
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orpianesi
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Verdenelli
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clavel
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koebnick
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim Franz
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zunft
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doré
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001483:Base Sequence; D003013:Clostridium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017753:Ecosystem; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S