Maternal fucosyltransferase 2 status affects the gut bifidobacterial communities of breastfed infants.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with inactive alleles of the fucosyltransferase 2 gene (FUT2; termed the 'secretor' gene) are common in many populations. Some members of the genus Bifidobacterium, common infant gut commensals, are known to consume 2'-fucosylated glycans found in the breast milk of secretor mothers. We investigated the effects of maternal secretor status on the developing infant microbiota with a special emphasis on bifidobacterial species abundance.


RESULTS
On average, bifidobacteria were established earlier and more often in infants fed by secretor mothers than in infants fed by non-secretor mothers. In secretor-fed infants, the relative abundance of the Bifidobacterium longum group was most strongly correlated with high percentages of the order Bifidobacteriales. Conversely, in non-secretor-fed infants, Bifidobacterium breve was positively correlated with Bifidobacteriales, while the B. longum group was negatively correlated. A higher percentage of bifidobacteria isolated from secretor-fed infants consumed 2'-fucosyllactose. Infant feces with high levels of bifidobacteria had lower milk oligosaccharide levels in the feces and higher amounts of lactate. Furthermore, feces containing different bifidobacterial species possessed differing amounts of oligosaccharides, suggesting differential consumption in situ.


CONCLUSIONS
Infants fed by non-secretor mothers are delayed in the establishment of a bifidobacteria-laden microbiota. This delay may be due to difficulties in the infant acquiring a species of bifidobacteria able to consume the specific milk oligosaccharides delivered by the mother. This work provides mechanistic insight into how milk glycans enrich specific beneficial bacterial populations in infants and reveals clues for enhancing enrichment of bifidobacterial populations in at risk populations - such as premature infants.
Department of Food Science and Technology, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA ; Foods For Health Institute, UC Davis, 1 Peter J Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
Zachery T
ZT
Lewis
Department of Chemistry, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA ; Foods For Health Institute, UC Davis, 1 Peter J Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
Sarah M
SM
Totten
Department of Food Science and Technology, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA ; Foods For Health Institute, UC Davis, 1 Peter J Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
Jennifer T
JT
Smilowitz
Department of Life Sciences, PhD School in Science and Technologies for Health Products, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Università, 4, Modena, MO 41100 Italy.
Mina
M
Popovic
Department of Chemistry, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
Evan
E
Parker
Genome Center, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
Danielle G
DG
Lemay
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801 USA.
Maxwell L
ML
Van Tassell
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801 USA.
Michael J
MJ
Miller
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801 USA.
Yong-Su
YS
Jin
Department of Food Science and Technology, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA ; Foods For Health Institute, UC Davis, 1 Peter J Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
J Bruce
JB
German
Department of Chemistry, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA ; Foods For Health Institute, UC Davis, 1 Peter J Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
Carlito B
CB
Lebrilla
Department of Food Science and Technology, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA ; Department of Viticulture and Enology, UC Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA ; Foods For Health Institute, UC Davis, 1 Peter J Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
David A
DA
Mills
Bifidobacteria; Breastfeeding; FUT2; Human milk oligosaccharides; Infant; Marker gene sequencing; Secretor; Short-chain fatty acids