Metagenomic Analysis of Gut Microbiome in Infants with or without Breast Milk Jaundice

Wanying XIE; Jingjing XIONG; Zhanhua LI; Qingyao YANG; Yongkun HUANG; Meng LI

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Wanying XIE, Jingjing XIONG, Zhanhua LI, Qingyao YANG, Yongkun HUANG, Meng LI. Metagenomic Analysis of Gut Microbiome in Infants with or without Breast Milk Jaundice[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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Wanying XIE, Jingjing XIONG, Zhanhua LI, Qingyao YANG, Yongkun HUANG, Meng LI. Metagenomic Analysis of Gut Microbiome in Infants with or without Breast Milk Jaundice[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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Metagenomic Analysis of Gut Microbiome in Infants with or without Breast Milk Jaundice

Department of Pediatrics，The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University，Kunming Yunnan 650032，China

Received Date: 2026-03-09

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To explore the differences in gut microbiota composition of exclusively breastfed infants with and without late-onset breast milk jaundice （LBMJ）, and to identify key bacterial taxa and metabolic pathways associated with LBMJ development and progression. Methods We selected 16 healthy full-term mother-infant pairs with exclusively breastfed infants and 15 healthy full-term mother-infant pairs diagnosed with late-onset breast milk jaundice, both groups with infants aged 0.5 to 3 months. The healthy exclusively breastfed infants were assigned to the control group （Group Z）, and those with late-onset breast milk jaundice to the jaundice group （Group H）. Fecal samples were collected under aseptic conditions and preserved at −80 °C. Differences in intestinal microbiota between the two groups were detected and analyzed using metagenomic methods. Inter-group diversity analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and differential analysis employed the Mann-Whitney U test, among others. Results All fecal microbial sequences were annotated into 53 phyla, 1028 genera, and 5421 species. Alpha diversity in the H group was significantly reduced compared to the Z group （P<0.05）, while Beta diversity showed no significant difference （P < 0.05）. Species-level differential analysis between the two groups revealed that at the phylum level, group Z showed enrichment of Chlamydia, Deinococcota, Cyanobacteriota, and Spirochaetota. At the genus level, Shigella and Eggerthella were significantly increased in the Z group, while Staphylococcus and Atopobium were significantly increased in the H group. At the species level, Shigella was significantly elevated in the Z group, while unclassified Staphylococcus was significantly increased in the H group. LEfSe differential analysis revealed biomarkers for the Z group including Coriobacteriia, Hungatella, Enterocloster, Flavonifractor, Shigella, Clostridioides, Flavonifractor plautii, Enterocloster bolteae, Enterocloster unclassified, Shigella sonnei, while H group biomarkers included Bacillales, Staphylococcaceae, and Bacteriophage. Gene Ontology functional enrichment predictions showed that cellular components including cytoplasmic membrane and cytoplasm, as well as molecular functions including protein binding pathways, were significantly enriched in the Z group. The H group showed significant enrichment in UDP-glucuronic acid synthesis pathways. KEGG function predictions revealed that the Z group demonstrated advantages in dioxin degradation and Yersinia pestis infection pathways at the tertiary level, while the H group showed advantages in bacitracin biosynthesis pathways. At the quaternary level, biosynthetic metabolism-related pathways were more advantageous in the Z group. Conclusions Exclusively breastfed infants with LBMJ show significant differences from non-jaundiced infants in intestinal microbiota species composition, biomarkers, and gene function annotation, which may influence the occurrence and development of LBMJ.
- Late-onset breast milk jaundice,
- Exclusive breastfeeding,
- Gut microbiota,
- Metagenomics

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References(41)

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