title: Structure and function of the healthy pre-adolescent pediatric gut microbiome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The gut microbiome influences myriad host functions, including nutrient acquisition, immune modulation, brain development, and behavior. Although human gut microbiota are recognized to change as we age, information regarding the structure and function of the gut microbiome during childhood is limited. Using 16S rRNA gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we characterized the structure, function, and variation of the healthy pediatric gut microbiome in a cohort of school-aged, pre-adolescent children (ages 7-12 years). We compared the healthy pediatric gut microbiome with that of healthy adults previously recruited from the same region (Houston, TX, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although healthy children and adults harbored similar numbers of taxa and functional genes, their composition and functional potential differed significantly. Children were enriched in Bifidobacterium spp., Faecalibacterium spp., and members of the Lachnospiraceae, while adults harbored greater abundances of Bacteroides spp. From a functional perspective, significant differences were detected with respect to the relative abundances of genes involved in vitamin synthesis, amino acid degradation, oxidative phosphorylation, and triggering mucosal inflammation. Children's gut communities were enriched in functions which may support ongoing development, while adult communities were enriched in functions associated with inflammation, obesity, and increased risk of adiposity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous studies suggest that the human gut microbiome is relatively stable and adult-like after the first 1 to 3 years of life. Our results suggest that the healthy pediatric gut microbiome harbors compositional and functional qualities that differ from those of healthy adults and that the gut microbiome may undergo a more prolonged development than previously suspected.
authors: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. holliste@bcm.edu.|Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA. holliste@bcm.edu.
authors: Emily B
authors: EB
authors: Hollister
authors: Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Riehle
authors: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Ruth Ann
authors: RA
authors: Luna
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX, USA.|Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Erica M
authors: EM
authors: Weidler
authors: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Rubio-Gonzales
authors: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Toni-Ann
authors: TA
authors: Mistretta
authors: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Sabeen
authors: S
authors: Raza
authors: Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Harsha V
authors: HV
authors: Doddapaneni
authors: Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Ginger A
authors: GA
authors: Metcalf
authors: Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Donna M
authors: DM
authors: Muzny
authors: Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Gibbs
authors: Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Joseph F
authors: JF
authors: Petrosino
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX, USA.|Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Shulman
authors: Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.|Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Versalovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044822:Biodiversity; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054892:Metagenome; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S