BACKGROUND/AIMS: The initial microbial colonization is a crucial step for the healthy development of an infant. Previous studies from India reported the dominance of target microbial species among Indian infants without any analysis on the diversity of target groups. This is the first study from India with an objective to investigate the establishment and diversity of lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria in vaginally delivered, full term, breastfed infants for the first 4 months after birth. METHODS: Present study used polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) based sequence analysis of LAB and bifidobacteria in healthy infants. The results were used to compare the development and early colonization by LAB and bifidobacteria using diversity indices during the initial months of development of gut microbiota in infants. RESULTS: During the first 4 months, the Shannon diversity index (H) of LAB increased from 1.16 to 1.318 and for bifidobacteria the H increased from 0.975 to 1.293 (P < 0.05). Higher Sorenson’s pair wise similarity coefficient was observed for LAB and bifidobacteria during 2nd and the 3rd month. The species of the genera Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus were dominant among the LAB group whereas Bifidobacterium breve was dominant species among Bifidobacterium group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that in breast fed infants, the microbial diversity of LAB and bifidobacteria increased during the period of study.
Bacteria* ; Bifidobacterium ; Biodiversity ; Breast ; Colon ; Electrophoresis ; Enterococcus ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; India ; Infant* ; Lactic Acid* ; Lactobacillus ; Parturition ; Sequence Analysis ; Streptococcus

BACKGROUND: Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are the two most prevalent forms of anemia having interrelated characteristics. Hepcidin, a newly introduced biomarker for assessment of iron status, is a homeostatic regulator of iron metabolism. We investigated the role of hepcidin and other conventional iron parameters to assess iron status among children with ACD and IDA. We also identified children with ACD who developed iron deficiency (ID). METHODS: The study was undertaken in anemic children with 30 cases each of ACD and IDA along with 30 age and sex-matched controls. The ACD cases were subdivided into pure ACD and ACD with coexistent ID. All cases were subjected to following tests: complete blood count with peripheral smear, serum C-reactive protein, serum interleukin-6, iron studies, serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and serum hepcidin. RESULTS: The mean serum hepcidin concentration was significantly increased in pure ACD patients (143.85±42.76 ng/mL) as compared to those in IDA patients (6.01±2.83 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and controls (24.96±9.09 ng/mL, P <0.001). Also, compared to pure ACD patients [normal sTfR levels (<3 µg/mL)], the serum hepcidin concentration was reduced significantly in ACD patients with ID [high sTfR levels (≥3 µg/mL)] with a mean of 10.0±2.97 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: Hepcidin measurement can provide a useful tool for differentiating ACD from IDA and also help to identify an iron deficiency in ACD patients. This might aid in the appropriate selection of therapy for these patients.
Anemia* ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Blood Cell Count ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Chronic Disease* ; Hepcidins* ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Iron* ; Metabolism ; Receptors, Transferrin