Impact of Early Feeding: Metagenomics Analysis of the Infant Gut Microbiome

Abstract

Fecal samples analyzed from BF and FF infants demonstrated differences in microbiota genera. The BF cohort includes greater presence of beneficial genus <i>Bifidobacterium.</i> Several genes were identified as present at different abundances between cohorts indicating differences in functional pathways such as cellular defense mechanisms and carbohydrate metabolism influenced by feeding. Confirmation of gene level NGS data <i>via</i> PCR and electrophoresis analysis revealed distinct differences in gene abundances associated with important biologic pathways.