title: Effects of age and strain on the microbiota colonization in an infant human flora-associated mouse model.
abstract: The establishment of human flora-associated animal models allows the in vivo manipulation of host, microbial, and environmental parameters to influence the gut microbial community. However, it is difficult to simulate infant gut microbiota in germ-free animals because of the variation and dynamic state of infant microbial communities. In this study, the effects of age and strain on intestinal microbiota were observed in an infant human flora-associated (IHFA) mouse model. To establish an IHFA model, postnatal day (PND) 1 germ-free mice (Kunming, n = 10; BALB/c, n = 10) were infected with feces from a breast-fed infant. Microbiota in the feces of BALB/c mice (at PND 7, 14, and 21), and Kunming mice (at PND 14) were analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli levels in the feces of BALB/c and Kunming mice (PND 7/14/21) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The Dice similarity coefficient (Cs) for the fecal microbiota of IHFA mice in comparison with the HD donor sample was higher for BALB/c mice than for Kunming mice (P < 0.05). In addition, the DCs at PND 7 were lower than those at PND 14 and PND 21 in both mouse strains (P < 0.05). The Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species colonizing the BALB/c mice were similar to those in the Kunming mice (at PND 7/14/21). The bifidobacteria counts increased with age in both mouse strains, whereas the lactobacilli counts decreased with age in both strains. These results suggest that both age and strain influence microbiota patterns in the IHFA mouse model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Science, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Gaotanyan Street, Chongqing, China. zengbh1980@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Benhua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Guiqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Wenxia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D054892:Metagenome; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D064307:Microbiota; D023421:Models, Animal; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction