title: Early gut colonization by Bifidobacterium breve and B. catenulatum differentially modulates eczema risk in children at high risk of developing allergic disease.
abstract: An altered compositional signature and reduced diversity of early gut microbiota are linked to development of allergic disease. We investigated the relationship between dominant Bifidobacterium species during the early post-natal period and subsequent development of allergic disease in the first year of life.
  
  
  
  Faecal samples were collected at age 1 week, 1 month and 3 months from 117 infants at high risk of allergic disease. Bifidobacterium species were analysed by quantitative PCR and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. Infants were examined at 3, 6 and 12 months, and skin prick test was performed at 12 months. Eczema was diagnosed according to the UK Working Party criteria.
  
  
  
  The presence of B. catenulatum at 3 months was associated with a higher risk of developing eczema (ORadj= 4.5; 95% CI: 1.56-13.05, padj= 0.005). Infants colonized with B. breve at 1 week (ORadj= 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09-0.95, padj= 0.04) and 3 months (ORadj= 0.15; 95% CI: 0.05-0.44, padj= 0.00001) had a reduced risk of developing eczema. Furthermore, the presence of B. breve at 3 months was associated with a lower risk of atopic sensitization at 12 months (ORadj= 0.38; 95% CI: 0.15-0.98, padj= 0.05). B. breve colonization patterns were influenced by maternal allergic status, household pets and number of siblings.
  
  
  
  Temporal variations in Bifidobacterium colonization patterns early in life are associated with later development of eczema and/or atopic sensitization in infants at high risk of allergic disease. Modulation of the early microbiota may provide a means to prevent eczema in high-risk infants.
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors: Intan H
authors: IH
authors: Ismail
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Boyle
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors: Paul V
authors: PV
authors: Licciardi
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Oppedisano
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors: Sampo
authors: S
authors: Lahtinen
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors: Roy M
authors: RM
authors: Robins-Browne
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors: Mimi L K
authors: ML
authors: Tang
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000069984:Bifidobacterium breve / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics; D012306:Risk; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: 
  Bifidobacterium breve
  ; 
  Bifidobacterium catenulatum
  ; atopic sensitization; eczema; gut microbiota; terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism