Characterization of the intestinal lactobacilli community following galactooligosaccharides and polydextrose supplementation in the neonatal piglet

Jennifer L. Hoeflinger, Dimitri O. Kashtanov, Stephen B. Cox, Scot E. Dowd, Zeina E. Jouni, Sharon M. Donovan, Michael J. Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recently, prebiotic supplementation of infant formula has become common practice; however the impact on the intestinal microbiota has not been completely elucidated. In this study, neonatal piglets were randomized to: formula (FORM, n = 8), formula supplemented with 2 g/L each galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and polydextrose (PDX, F+GP, n = 9) or a sow-reared (SOW, n = 12) reference group for 19 days. The ileal (IL) and ascending colon (AC) microbiota were characterized using culture-dependent and -independent methods. 16S amplicon sequencing identified no differences at the genera level in the IL. Interestingly, six genera in the AC were significantly different between FORM and F+GP (P<0.05): Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, Parabacteroides, Oscillospira, Hydrogenoanaerobacterium and Catabacter. In particular, the relative abundance of AC Lactobacillus was higher (P = 0.04) in F+GP as compared to FORM. Culture-dependent analysis of the IL and AC lactobacilli communities of FORM and F+GP revealed a Lactobacillus spp.composition similar to 16S amplicon sequencing. Additional analysis demonstrated individual Lactobacillus isolates were unable to ferment PDX. Conversely, a majority of lactobacilli isolates could ferment GOS, regardless of piglet diet. In addition, the ability of lactobacilli isolates to ferment the longer chain GOS fragments (DP 3 or greater), which are expected to be present in the distal intestine, was not different between FORM and F+GP. In conclusion, prebiotic supplementation of formula impacted the AC microbiota; however, direct utilization of GOS or PDX does not lead to an increase in Lactobacillus spp.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0135494
JournalPloS one
Volume10
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 14 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterization of the intestinal lactobacilli community following galactooligosaccharides and polydextrose supplementation in the neonatal piglet'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this