Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Oral Gavage in Neonatal Mouse Pups and Functional Assessment of Gut Barrier Integrity Using Ussing Chambers
07:18

Oral Gavage in Neonatal Mouse Pups and Functional Assessment of Gut Barrier Integrity Using Ussing Chambers

Published on: January 9, 2026

Novel developmental analyses identify longitudinal patterns of early gut microbiota that affect infant growth

Richard A White1, Jørgen V Bjørnholt, Donna D Baird

  • 1Department of Genes and Environment, Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.

Plos Computational Biology
|May 15, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Early infant gut bacteria, including Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli, are linked to growth patterns. Understanding these gut microbiome developments is key to addressing childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Rapid infant weight gain is a risk factor for adult obesity.
  • The gut microbiome is increasingly implicated in obesity development.
  • Identifying early life factors influencing obesity is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early gut microbiota development and infant growth.
  • To identify specific microbial patterns linked to expected infant growth trajectories.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a novel procedure for analyzing longitudinal gut microbiota patterns.
  • Application of a method controlling for false discovery rate to identify significant microbial associations.
  • Comparison of novel method findings with traditional statistical approaches.

Main Results:

  • Identified developmental pathways of Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli associated with expected infant growth.
  • Traditional methods indicated Bacteroides species at day 30 were associated with growth.
  • The novel method offers a robust approach for studying gut microbiome development.

Conclusions:

  • Early gut microbiota composition and its developmental patterns are associated with infant growth.
  • Understanding the timing of microbiome transitions is critical for interventions targeting early-life obesity.
  • The developed method has broad applicability for future gut microbiota research and translational studies.

More Related Videos

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment08:33

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment

Published on: November 17, 2018

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...
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,...
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...
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...
Gut-Brain Axis01:22

Gut-Brain Axis

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...
Functions of the Gut Microbiota01:18

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...