Metagenomic analysis reveals reduction in antibiotic resistance gene carriage in breastfed infants supplemented with activated Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis.

Abstract

Human milk contains crucial substrates to shape the development of the gut microbiome in newborns. Particularly, milk oligosaccharides have favored evolutionary relationships with select members of the genus Bifidobacterium. This mutualistic symbiosis fosters positive health outcomes, and has been linked to a decrease in autoimmune disease in early life. In this trial, we hypothesized that infants supplemented with an activated Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis would favorably remodel the infant gut microbiome, with significant changes to the gut metagenome. The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant (AR) pathogens is a major public health …