Evolution of Gut Microbiome and Metabolome During Suspected Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC-1): A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating condition of the preterm new-born due to multiple factors, including gut microbiota dysbiosis. Since NEC development is poorly understood due to main focus on more severe NEC (NEC-2/3), we studied the gut microbiota and metabolome evolution of of children with suspected NEC (NEC-1). NEC-1 gut microbiota had a higher abundance of Streptococcus (second decade of life) and Staphylococcus (third decade of life) species. NEC-1 children showed a microbiome evolution in the third decade of life being the most divergent and associated to a different metabolomic signature than in healthy children. NEC-1 microbiome had increased glycosaminoglycan degradation and lysosome activity by the first decade of life and was more sensitive to factors such as childbirth, low birth weight and gestational age, than healthy microbiome. NEC-1 fecal metabolome was more divergent by the second month of life. The modifications of gut microbiota and microbiome during NEC-1 development appear more distinguishable by the third decade of life, when compared to healthy children. These data identify a precise window of time (i.e. third decade of life) and provide microbial targets to fight/blunt the progression of NEC-1. Funding Statement: This study was in part supported by the company Longevie SA in the persons of Michel LOSETO and Enzo LOSETO, as a donation to M.S. Longevie SA was not involved in any discussion nor provided any opinion on any part of this manuscript. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved (number of the approval: DC 2016-2804) by Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Neonatology Department of Purpan Hospital in Toulouse, France. The parents of the children involved in this study gave their approval by written consensus.