Chronic malnutrition, usually associated with an
inflammation of the small intestine, affects one in
every four children under the age of five. It is the
leading cause of child mortality in low-income
countries and is also responsible for severe
stunting. A first study recently demonstrated
microbiota disorders in malnourished children,
revealing the existence of a surprising microbial
signature in the gut, characterized by the
widespread presence of bacteria that are normally
found in the nose and mouth. Chronic malnutrition
affects one in every four children under the age of
five worldwide. It claims more than 3 million lives
every year and results in impaired cognitive and
physical development, especially stunted growth,
which can be difficult to overcome. Lead researcher
said that, With traditional treatment, in other
words providing affected children with
micronutrients, a balanced diet and ample food while
treating the underlying infections, correct 30% of
growth delays, Chronic malnutrition is not only
linked to a lack of food; it is also associated with
immune problems and chronic gut inflammation, the
workings of which are not yet fully understood. The
Afribiota project, carried out in collaboration with
the Institute Pasteur in Paris, the Institute
Pasteur in Madagascar and the Institute Pasteur in
Bangui, was set up in 2016 precisely to find out
more about the underlying mechanisms of these
disorders and to develop more effective treatment.
In this first study, the researcher focused on the
children's gut flora, one of their aims being to
characterize the bacterial populations that colonize
the small intestine in malnourished children. The
stools and duodenal juice of 400 children living in
Antananarivo (Madagascar) and Bangui (Central
African Republic), both with and without chronic
malnutrition, were analyzed. Bacterial cultures and
metagenomic analyses aimed at revealing all the
microbial species present were also performed,
yielding surprising results. Oropharyngeal bacteria,
some of which are known for their inflammatory
properties, seem to have literally crossed the
barriers that usually keep them in the nasopharynx
and the mouth, migrating towards and colonizing the
stomach and the intestine. This unusual, large-scale
migration was observed in malnourished children from
both Madagascar and the Central African Republic, in
other words independently of their origins, eating
habits and environment. In the long term, this gut
microbial signature, together with data from the
epidemiological, biological and anthropological
research carried out for the Afribiota project,
should help identify the causes of chronic
malnutrition, facilitate diagnosis and ultimately
improve treatment of this global health threat. |