142 - A Multiomics Approach to Characterize the Effects of Severe Anemia in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Saturday, April 29, 2023

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Poster Number: 142
Publication Number: 142.239

Thao Ho, University of South Florida, Riverview, FL, United States; Justin Gibbons, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States; Rico Carter, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, United States

Presenting Author(s)

TH

Thao (Tina) Ho, DO (she/her/hers)

Neonatology
University of South Florida
Riverview, Florida, United States

Background: Anemia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants increases the risk for intestinal dysbiosis and necrotizing enterocolitis. The underlying mechanism of this connection is unknown. It is critical to understand the influences of anemia on gut health so clinicians can prevent anemia-associated side effects. Analyzing stool metagenomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics as independent and integrated data can provide mechanistic related information on host-microbiota interactions in a non-invasive approach.

Objective:

We aim to identify the changes in the gut environment in relation to severe anemia development in VLBW infants using stool multiomics approach.

Design/Methods: A case control study was conducted to compare the gut microbiome and environment between 20 VLBW infants developed severe anemia (Hct

25%) and 20 control infants matched by birth gestational age and weight. Three stool samples from each infant, collected before to after the anemia onset and matched by postnatal days, were analyzed for metagenomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics. Clinical data including antibiotic exposure and blood transfusions were collected. Cross sectional and longitudinal comparisons were performed for all datasets.

Results:

Anemic and control groups had similar clinical characteristics. Total virulence factors were associated with time to anemia onset and Proteobacterial abundance. Amyloid protein was less abundant in anemic group and proteins produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae (outer membrane protein and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase) increased with anemia development. Metabolomics profiles exhibited greater changes in relation to anemia onset in the anemic group than in the control group over a similar postnatal timeline.

Conclusion(s): VLBW infants who developed severe anemia had greater virulence factors and infectious protein produced by Klebsiella. The anemic infants also had different metabolomic changes. Our next step is to integrate these omics data together to link the changes in microbiome, proteins, and metabolites for mechanistic hypothesis generation to guide future studies on the impact of severe anemia in preterm infant gut health.