title: Impact of Prematurity and Perinatal Antibiotics on the Developing Intestinal Microbiota: A Functional Inference Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The microbial colonization of the neonatal gut provides a critical stimulus for normal maturation and development. This process of early microbiota establishment, known to be affected by several factors, constitutes an important determinant for later health.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the establishment of the microbiota in preterm and full-term infants and the impact of perinatal antibiotics upon this process in premature babies. To this end, 16S rRNA gene sequence-based microbiota assessment was performed at phylum level and functional inference analyses were conducted. Moreover, the levels of the main intestinal microbial metabolites, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate, propionate and butyrate, were measured by Gas-Chromatography Flame ionization/Mass spectrometry detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prematurity affects microbiota composition at phylum level, leading to increases of Proteobacteria and reduction of other intestinal microorganisms. Perinatal antibiotic use further affected the microbiota of the preterm infant. These changes involved a concomitant alteration in the levels of intestinal SCFA. Moreover, functional inference analyses allowed for identifying metabolic pathways potentially affected by prematurity and perinatal antibiotics use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A deficiency or delay in the establishment of normal microbiota function seems to be present in preterm infants. Perinatal antibiotic use, such as intrapartum prophylaxis, affected the early life microbiota establishment in preterm newborns, which may have consequences for later health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. silvia.arboleya@teagasc.ie.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arboleya
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. borja.sanchez@csic.es.
authors.forename: Borja
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Service, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, SESPA, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. GSOLIS@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Solís
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Service, Hospital de Cabueñes, SESPA, 33394 Gijón, Asturias, Spain. nuriajmhd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Service, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, SESPA, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. msr1070@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. ahb@ipla.csic.es.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hernández-Barranco
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy. christian.milani@genprobio.com.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. amargolles@ipla.csic.es.
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Margolles
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. greyes_gavilan@ipla.csic.es.
authors.forename: Clara G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: de Los Reyes-Gavilán
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy. marco.ventura@unipr.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. mgueimonde@ipla.csic.es.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gueimonde
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000032:analysis; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002087:Butyrates / Q000032:analysis; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects*; D011422:Propionates / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002087:Butyrates; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D011422:Propionates
keywords: antibiotics; infants; intestinal microbiota; microbiome; preterm