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Updated: Mar 28, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
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A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

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Microbial programming of health and disease starts during fetal life

Petya T Koleva1, Ji-Sun Kim2, James A Scott2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Birth Defects Research. Part C, Embryo Today : Reviews
|December 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

The womb may not be sterile; microbes may colonize the infant gut before birth. This early gut microbial programming, identified in meconium, influences infant health and disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Neonatal Health
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The neonatal gut microbiota is crucial for development and immune programming.
  • Early bacterial colonization, or microbial programming, may influence later-life disease.
  • Recent findings suggest microbial colonization may occur before birth, challenging the sterile womb theory.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence for intrauterine origin of meconium microbiota.
  • To analyze the composition and influences of early gut microbes.
  • To explore potential clinical implications for infant health.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on meconium microbiota.
  • Analysis of bacterial taxa in neonatal first stool (meconium).
  • Examination of maternal factors influencing neonatal microbiota.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports an intrauterine origin for meconium microbiota.
  • Dominant taxa include Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia) and lactic acid bacteria.
  • Maternal atopy is linked to increased Enterobacteriaceae, potentially causing infant respiratory issues.

Conclusions:

  • Gut microbial colonization may begin in utero, impacting infant health.
  • Early microbial composition influences immune system development and disease susceptibility.
  • Understanding intrauterine microbial influences is key for neonatal health strategies.

Keywords:
childhood diseasesfetal programminginfancymeconiummicrobiota

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