Abstract
Aim: We investigated the longitudinal development of several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of the infant gut resistome during the first months after birth. Materials & methods: Fecal samples from 120 infants collected at the ages of 5, 13 and 31 weeks were analyzed and subjected to qPCR for the detection of several ARGs. Results: The prevalence of ARGs significantly increased for ermB, tetM and tetQ, while it decreased for aac(6')-aph(2'). Birth mode and breastfeeding significantly affected tetQ prevalence. Correlations to bacterial taxa suggest that fluctuations in some ARGs are (partly) attributed to shifts in bacteroides colonization rates. Conclusion: Acquisition of ARGs in the gut microbiota occurs shortly after birth and resistome composition fluctuates over the course of several months, reflecting changes in microbial community structure.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 501-510 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Future Microbiology |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- antibiotic resistance gene
- bacteroides
- birth mode
- breastfeeding
- gut microbiota
- infant
- metagenome
- microbiome
- pediatric
- resistomes