Open AccessIntroducing GU t L ow‐ D ensity A rray ( GULDA ) – a validated approach for q PCR ‐based intestinal microbial community analysis
Author(s) -
Bergström Anders,
Licht Tine R.,
Wilcks Andrea,
Andersen Jens B.,
Schmidt Line R.,
Grønlund Hugo A.,
Vigsnæs Louise K.,
Michaelsen Kim F.,
Bahl Martin I.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6968.12004
Subject(s) - firmicutes , bacteroidetes , clostridia , biology , bifidobacterium bifidum , proteobacteria , bacterial phyla , verrucomicrobia , actinobacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , gut flora , bifidobacterium , clostridium , feces , euryarchaeota , lactobacillus , bacteria , 16s ribosomal rna , genetics , immunology
Alterations in the human gut microbiota caused, for example, by diet, functional foods, antibiotics, or occurring as a function of age are now known to be of relevance for host health. Therefore, there is a strong need for methods to detect such alterations in a rapid and comprehensive manner. In the present study, we developed and validated a high‐throughput real‐time quantitative PCR ‐based analysis platform, termed ‘ GU t L ow‐ D ensity A rray’ ( GULDA ). The platform was designed for simultaneous analysis of the change in the abundance of 31 different microbial 16 S r RNA gene targets in fecal samples obtained from individuals at various points in time. The target genes represent important phyla, genera, species, or other taxonomic groups within the five predominant bacterial phyla of the gut, F irmicutes , B acteroidetes , A ctinobacteria , P roteobacteria , and V errucomicrobia and also E uryarchaeota . To demonstrate the applicability of GULDA , analysis of fecal samples obtained from six healthy infants at both 9 and 18 months of age was performed and showed a significant increase over time of the relative abundance of bacteria belonging to C lostridial cluster IV ( C lostridia leptum group) and B ifidobacterium bifidum and concurrent decrease in the abundance of C lostridium butyricum and a tendency for decrease in E nterobacteriaceae over the 9‐month period.