Determining the Effect of Maternal Adiposity on Preterm Neonatal Microbiome and Short Chain Fatty Acid Profiles

Authors' Affiliations

Dalton James,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, ETSU Kristy Thomas Department of Rehabilitative Sciences, College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, ETSU Amy Wahlquist Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU Andrew Clark Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, ETSU Carol Wagner Department of Pediatrics, Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina

Location

Culp Center Ballroom

Start Date

4-25-2023 9:00 AM

End Date

4-25-2023 11:00 AM

Poster Number

114

Faculty Sponsor’s Department

Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Andrew Clark

Classification of First Author

Undergraduate Student

Competition Type

Competitive

Type

Poster Presentation

Project's Category

Microbiology, Other Biology

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Introduction: Short- and long-term health outcomes of children stem from their first 1000 days of development (3 months prior to conception to 2 years postpartum). Research shows a correlation between poor maternal nutrition and adverse birth outcomes. Various factors such as human breast milk (HBM), gut microbiome (GM), and body mass index (BMI) correlate with nutrition. The purpose of this study was to determine if maternal factors such as BMI impact preterm infant microbiome and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles.

Methods:

Sample Collection: In order to understand the effect of maternal health factors on neonatal GM, deidentified stool samples were collected from the NICU at the MUSC and were utilized for GM and SCFA analysis at ETSU.

Microbiome Analysis: GM analysis was performed on stool samples using the Qiagen QIAmp PowerFecal Pro DNA Kit. DNA was sequenced using Amplicon sequence of the 16s rRNA region with a modified Klindworth et al method. GM was analyzed using CLC Genomics Workbench v. 23 where Alpha diversity indexes were calculated with the Abundance Analysis tool and the Beta diversity (inter-sample diversity) was calculated using the weighted Unifrac metric.

Short Chain Fatty Acid Analysis: The stool samples were subjected to SCFA extraction and analysis via a modified Schwiertz et al. method.

Results: Significance was observed between the groups in microbiome for; C-section (yes, no), gestation (<28, 28-32, 33-36 weeks), week of sample collection (1, 2, 3, 4, >4 weeks), and maternal BMI + antibiotics (no antibiotics + normal, overweight, or obese BMI and antibiotics + normal, overweight, or obese BMI). Significance was detected between the groups in fecal fermentation for; recreational drug use (use, no use), preeclampsia (preeclamptic, not), sepsis evaluation (yes, no), week of sample collection (1, 2, 3, 4, >4 weeks), and Fenton measurements for birth length, birth weight, and occipital frontal circumference (small, average, large for gestational age).

Conclusions: These results provide valuable insights into the various maternal and neonatal factors on the GM and SCFA profiles of preterm infants, which can have implications for their overall health and development. It is possible for future adverse health outcomes of premature neonates to be attenuated through HBM ingested and GM.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Apr 25th, 9:00 AM Apr 25th, 11:00 AM

Determining the Effect of Maternal Adiposity on Preterm Neonatal Microbiome and Short Chain Fatty Acid Profiles

Culp Center Ballroom

Introduction: Short- and long-term health outcomes of children stem from their first 1000 days of development (3 months prior to conception to 2 years postpartum). Research shows a correlation between poor maternal nutrition and adverse birth outcomes. Various factors such as human breast milk (HBM), gut microbiome (GM), and body mass index (BMI) correlate with nutrition. The purpose of this study was to determine if maternal factors such as BMI impact preterm infant microbiome and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles.

Methods:

Sample Collection: In order to understand the effect of maternal health factors on neonatal GM, deidentified stool samples were collected from the NICU at the MUSC and were utilized for GM and SCFA analysis at ETSU.

Microbiome Analysis: GM analysis was performed on stool samples using the Qiagen QIAmp PowerFecal Pro DNA Kit. DNA was sequenced using Amplicon sequence of the 16s rRNA region with a modified Klindworth et al method. GM was analyzed using CLC Genomics Workbench v. 23 where Alpha diversity indexes were calculated with the Abundance Analysis tool and the Beta diversity (inter-sample diversity) was calculated using the weighted Unifrac metric.

Short Chain Fatty Acid Analysis: The stool samples were subjected to SCFA extraction and analysis via a modified Schwiertz et al. method.

Results: Significance was observed between the groups in microbiome for; C-section (yes, no), gestation (<28, 28-32, 33-36 weeks), week of sample collection (1, 2, 3, 4, >4 weeks), and maternal BMI + antibiotics (no antibiotics + normal, overweight, or obese BMI and antibiotics + normal, overweight, or obese BMI). Significance was detected between the groups in fecal fermentation for; recreational drug use (use, no use), preeclampsia (preeclamptic, not), sepsis evaluation (yes, no), week of sample collection (1, 2, 3, 4, >4 weeks), and Fenton measurements for birth length, birth weight, and occipital frontal circumference (small, average, large for gestational age).

Conclusions: These results provide valuable insights into the various maternal and neonatal factors on the GM and SCFA profiles of preterm infants, which can have implications for their overall health and development. It is possible for future adverse health outcomes of premature neonates to be attenuated through HBM ingested and GM.