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Early life dynamics of the human gut virome and bacterial microbiome in infants

Efrem S Lim1,2, Yanjiao Zhou3, Guoyan Zhao1

  • 1Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Nature Medicine
|September 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

The infant gut microbiome, including bacteria and viruses, is dynamic from birth to age two. Co-twins share similar gut viromes and microbiomes, with bacteriophages showing a predator-prey relationship with bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Early life immune development is crucial for long-term health.
  • The gut bacterial microbiome is acquired rapidly after birth.
  • The infant gut virome composition and dynamics remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the longitudinal development of the gut virome and bacterial microbiome in healthy infants.
  • To compare the similarity of gut microbial communities between co-twins and unrelated infants.
  • To investigate the relationship between bacteriophages, eukaryotic viruses, and bacteria in early life.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal cohort study of healthy infant twins.
  • Characterization of gut virome (bacteriophages, eukaryotic viruses) and bacterial microbiome using metagenomic sequencing.
  • Analysis of microbial community similarity and dynamics over the first two years of life.

Main Results:

  • Gut viromes and bacterial microbiomes were more similar between co-twins than unrelated infants.
  • Both eukaryotic virome and bacterial microbiome expanded from birth to 2 years.
  • Bacteriophage virome composition contracted and shifted, exhibiting a predator-prey dynamic with bacteria.

Conclusions:

  • The infant gut microbiome is highly dynamic, differing from the stable adult microbiome.
  • Early life viral and bacterial communities undergo significant age-related changes.
  • Co-twin similarity suggests a strong genetic or shared environmental influence on infant gut microbial communities.

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