1. Gut microbiome alteration in MORDOR I: a community-randomized trial of mass azithromycin distribution
- Author
-
Doan, T., Hinterwirth, A., Worden, L., Arzika, A.M., Maliki, R., Abdou, A., and Kane, S.
- Subjects
Biological sciences ,Health - Abstract
The MORDOR I trial.sup.1, conducted in Niger, Malawi and Tanzania, demonstrated that mass azithromycin distribution to preschool children reduced childhood mortality.sup.1. However, the large but simple trial design precluded determination of the mechanisms involved. Here we examined the gut microbiome of preschool children from 30 Nigerien communities randomized to either biannual azithromycin or placebo. Gut microbiome [gamma]-diversity was not significantly altered (P = 0.08), but the relative abundances of two Campylobacter species, along with another 33 gut bacteria, were significantly reduced in children treated with azithromycin at the 24-month follow-up. Metagenomic analysis revealed functional differences in gut bacteria between treatment groups. Resistome analysis showed an increase in macrolide resistance gene expression in gut microbiota in communities treated with azithromycin (P = 0.004). These results suggest that prolonged mass azithromycin distribution to reduce childhood mortality reduces certain gut bacteria, including known pathogens, while selecting for antibiotic resistance. Mass antibiotic administration to preschool children in Nigerien communities alters the relative abundances of 35 bacterial species in the gut microbiome, including enteric pathogens, but also increases expression of macrolide resistance genes., Author(s): T. Doan [sup.1] [sup.2] , A. Hinterwirth [sup.1] , L. Worden [sup.1] , A. M. Arzika [sup.3] , R. Maliki [sup.3] , A. Abdou [sup.4] [sup.5] , S. Kane [...]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF