Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Black Hole Spectroscopy and Tests of General Relativity with GW250114.

Physical review letters·2026
Same author

Longitudinal ctDNA monitoring in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma undergoing isolated hepatic perfusion in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab.

Immuno-oncology technology·2025
Same author

GW250114: Testing Hawking's Area Law and the Kerr Nature of Black Holes.

Physical review letters·2025
Same author

On the backseat: Analyzing motorcycle passenger injuries in children.

American journal of surgery·2025
Same author

Clinical significance and diagnostic approach for paediatric unilateral tonsillar enlargement: insights from a retrospective analysis.

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·2025
Same author

A phase Ib randomized multicenter trial of isolated hepatic perfusion in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab for uveal melanoma metastases (SCANDIUM II trial).

ESMO open·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
09:02

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

The preterm gut microbiota: changes associated with necrotizing enterocolitis and infection.

C J Stewart1, E C L Marrs, S Magorrian

  • 1School of Life Sciences, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|August 1, 2012
PubMed
Summary

The gut microbiota of preterm infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or late-onset sepsis (LOS) differs significantly from healthy infants. These findings highlight potential links between the gut microbiome and neonatal intensive care practices.

More Related Videos

Microfluidic Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incorporating Human Neonatal Intestinal Enteroids and a Dysbiotic Microbiome
06:51

Microfluidic Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incorporating Human Neonatal Intestinal Enteroids and a Dysbiotic Microbiome

Published on: July 28, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
09:02

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

Microfluidic Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incorporating Human Neonatal Intestinal Enteroids and a Dysbiotic Microbiome
06:51

Microfluidic Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incorporating Human Neonatal Intestinal Enteroids and a Dysbiotic Microbiome

Published on: July 28, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal microbiome research
  • Gastrointestinal microbiology
  • Infant health and disease

Background:

  • The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in infant development and health.
  • Preterm infants are at increased risk for gut dysbiosis and associated morbidities like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS).
  • Understanding the early gut colonization patterns is essential for identifying risk factors and developing preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the gut microbial communities in preterm infants using both standard culture and 16S rRNA gene profiling.
  • To compare the gut microbiota composition between healthy preterm infants and those who developed NEC or LOS.
  • To explore potential associations between specific microbial profiles and the development of NEC/LOS.

Main Methods:

  • Stool samples from 38 preterm infants (median gestational age 27 weeks) were analyzed using standard microbiological culture.
  • 16S rRNA gene profiling was performed on 44 stool samples from 27 infants to determine microbial community structure.
  • Statistical analyses, including ordination, were used to assess the impact of patient variables on gut microbial communities.

Main Results:

  • Standard culture identified a mean of 2 organisms per infant, while 16S rRNA profiling revealed an average of 12 bacterial taxa.
  • Enterococcus faecalis and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) were the most prevalent organisms identified by culture.
  • Bacterial community structures differed significantly between infants who developed NEC/LOS and healthy controls. Infants with NEC showed increased CONS and decreased Enterococcus faecalis, while Enterobacter and Staphylococcus were associated with NEC/LOS, respectively, based on 16S rRNA data.

Conclusions:

  • Significant differences exist in the gut microbiota composition of preterm infants who develop NEC/LOS compared to healthy infants.
  • The observed microbial alterations suggest a potential role for gut dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of NEC and LOS in preterm neonates.
  • Further research is warranted to investigate the relationship between these microbial changes and current neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) practices.