The gut microbiome of 7-37 month old children from The Gambia shows the development of a distinct non-industrial Prevotella-based trophic network

Abstract Distinctive bacterial trophic networks exist in the gut microbiota of individuals in industrialized and non- industrialized countries. To study the development of these networks, we investigated the gut microbiota of 7-37 month old children living in rural Gambia (616 children, 1407 stool samples, stratified by 3-month age groups). We found that child age was the largest discriminating factor between samples, and that anthropometric indices WAZ, HAZ, and WHZ, collection timepoints, and iron supplementation did not significantly influence the gut microbiome in this data set. Prevotella copri, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Prevotella stercorea were the most abundant species (35%, 11%, and 7%, respectively). Distinct bacterial trophic network clusters were identified, centered around Prevotella stercorea and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which were found to develop steadily as the gut microbiome matured. The Prevotella stercorea trophic network cluster is distinct from those found in individuals in industrialized countries and therefore this dataset, set within a critical developmental timeframe, provides an excellent opportunity to understand the influence of a high fiber, low-protein diet on the development of a Prevotella-enriched gut microbiome.