| 論文種別 | 原著(症例報告除く) |
| 言語種別 | 英語 |
| 査読の有無 | その他(不明) |
| 表題 | Age-related changes in the urinary microbiome of healthy Japanese children. |
| 掲載誌名 | 正式名：Journal of pediatric urology 略 称：J Pediatr Urol ISSNコード：18734898/14775131 |
| 巻・号・頁 | 22(3),pp.105800 |
| 著者・共著者 | Uuganbayar Gonchigsuren, Shoji Tsuji, Shohei Akagawa, Sohsaku Yamanouchi, Shogo Kato, Gen Unishi, Mai Okano, Koji Okuda, Jiro Kino, Atsushi Araki, Junji Takaya, Masayuki Teraguchi, Akitoshi Nakamura, Kazunari Kaneko |
| 発行年月 | 2026/02 |
| 概要 | INTRODUCTION:The human urinary tract, once considered sterile, is now known to harbor a complex microbial community termed the "urobiome." In adults, the urobiome is shaped by sex and hormonal changes, but its developmental trajectory in healthy children remains poorly defined. Establishing a pediatric baseline is essential for understanding how dysbiosis may contribute to conditions such as urinary tract infections or enuresis. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the urobiome in a healthy Japanese pediatric cohort, contributing geographical and ethnic diversity to a field largely dominated by Western studies.OBJECTIVE:To characterize age- and sex-specific developmental changes in the urinary microbiome of healthy Japanese children and compare them with adults.STUDY DESIGN (SUBJECTS/MATERIALS/METHODS):Midstream urine was collected from 93 healthy children (54 males; median age 7.0 years) and 60 adults (30 males; median age 22.9 years). Participants were stratified into four age groups: 3-5 years, 6-10 years, 11-15 years, and adults. Bacterial composition was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4). Alpha diversity (Shannon, Chao1) and beta diversity (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, Principal Coordinate Analysis) were assessed.RESULTS:In males, Shannon diversity was significantly higher in the 3-5-year-old group than in the 6-10 (p = 0.047) and 11-15-year-old (p = 0.0019) groups. In females, diversity differed significantly across all groups (p < 0.001), decreasing after puberty. Beta diversity analysis revealed a marked compositional shift around puberty in females and a distinct separation of adult males from pediatric groups (PERMANOVA, p = 0.001 for both). At the genus level, females showed a post-pubertal increase in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. In males, Ezakiella and Prevotella decreased in adulthood, while Bifidobacterium became detectable and increased (all p < 0.05).DISCUSSION:Our findings demonstrate a dynamic, multi-stage maturation of the pediatric urobiome. In females, the post-pubertal decline in alpha diversity, driven by Lactobacillus dominance, indicates transition to a more specialized, stable community. In males, the emergence of a distinct adult profile suggests a more gradual maturation process. A limitation is the cross-sectional design; longitudinal studies are required to confirm individual developmental trajectories.CONCLUSION:The healthy pediatric urobiome undergoes distinct age- and sex-specific maturation, reaching adult-like profiles after puberty. These results establish a critical baseline for normal pediatric urobiome development and provide a foundation for identifying dysbiosis in pediatric urological and systemic diseases. |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jpurol.2026.105800 |
| PMID | 41713334 |