Data from University of Zimbabwe Broaden Understanding of Bifidobacterium (Exploring the genomic traits of infant-associated microbiota members from a Zimbabwean cohort).

A study conducted at the University of Zimbabwe explored the genomic traits of infant-associated microbiota members, specifically Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus, in a Zimbabwean cohort. The researchers isolated bacterial strains from the gut of Zimbabwean infants and compared their genomic characteristics with strains from infants in North America, Europe, and other regions of Africa. The study found location-based clustering within taxonomic groups and identified species-specific variances in the potential of Bifidobacterium for metabolizing human milk oligosaccharides. The presence of antibiotic resistance genes in infant-associated microbes raises concerns for infection risk and probiotic development. This research contributes to the development of probiotic interventions tailored to the Zimbabwean population and provides insights into antimicrobial resistance in different regions. [Extracted from the article]