Anaerobic bacteria in the intestinal microbiota of Brazilian children.

Objective:: Changes in the neonatal gut environment allow for the colonization of the mucin layer and lumen by anaerobic bacteria. The aim of the present study was to evaluate Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Lactococcus colonization through the first year of life in a group of 12 Brazilian infants and to correlate these data with the levels of Escherichia coli. The presence of anaerobic members of the adult intestinal microbiota, including Eubacterium limosum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, was also evaluated.

High abundance of Escherichia during the establishment of fecal microbiota in Brazilian children.

The sequence of bacterial events that occurs during the colonization of the gastrointestinal tract may affect the future health of the host. A clear understanding of the colonization process of the human neonatal gut in developing countries is lacking because the few available studies were mostly performed using culture techniques. Using molecular approaches, this study analyzed the fecal microbiota of children of low socioeconomic status in São Paulo, Brazil, during their first year of life.