title: Microarray analysis reveals marked intestinal microbiota aberrancy in infants having eczema compared to healthy children in at-risk for atopic disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deviations in composition and diversity of intestinal microbiota in infancy have been associated with both the development and recurrence of atopic eczema. Thus, we decided to use a deep and global microarray-based method to characterize the diversity and temporal changes of the intestinal microbiota in infancy and to define specific bacterial signatures associated with eczema. Faecal microbiota at 6 and 18 months of age were analysed from 34 infants (15 with eczema and 19 healthy controls) selected from a prospective follow-up study based on the availability of faecal samples. The infants were originally randomized to receive either Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with eczema harboured a more diverse total microbiota than control subjects as assessed by the Simpson's reciprocal diversity index of the microarray profiles. Composition of the microbiota did not differ between study groups at age of 6 months, but was significantly different at age of 18 months as assessed by MCPP (p=0.01). At this age healthy children harboured 3 -fold greater amount of members of the Bacteroidetes (p=0.01). Microbiota of children suffering from eczema had increased abundance of the Clostridium clusters IV and XIVa, which are typically abundant in adults. Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation in early infancy was observed to have minor long-term effects on the microbiota composition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A diverse and adult-type microbiota in early childhood is associated with eczema and it may contribute to the perpetuation of eczema.
authors: Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland. lotta.nylund@utu.fi
authors: Lotta
authors: L
authors: Nylund
authors: Reetta
authors: R
authors: Satokari
authors: Janne
authors: J
authors: Nikkilä
authors: Mirjana
authors: M
authors: Rajilić-Stojanović
authors: Marko
authors: M
authors: Kalliomäki
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Isolauri
authors: Seppo
authors: S
authors: Salminen
authors: Willem M
authors: WM
authors: de Vos
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D044822:Biodiversity; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D054892:Metagenome; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos