Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
10:36
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
21.1K
Building a Beneficial Microbiome from Birth
Esther Castanys-Muñoz1, Maria J Martin2, Enrique Vazquez3
1Granada University Science Park, Abbott Laboratories, Granada, Spain; and.
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)
|March 17, 2016
Summary
The infant gut microbiota, influenced by breast milk, is crucial for long-term health. Microbial metabolites play a key role in infant development and preventing diseases like allergies and metabolic syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The human microbiota significantly impacts immune, nervous, and metabolic systems.
- Early-life gut microbiota colonization is critical for long-term health and disease prevention.
- Microbial metabolites are key mediators of host-microbiota interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of the microbiota in infant health and development.
- To discuss the impact of microbial metabolites on newborns.
- To explore factors influencing early-life gut microbiota composition.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of microbiota research in early life.
- Analysis of the role of breast milk and human milk oligosaccharides.
- Discussion of microbial metabolites and their effects.
Main Results:
- The gut microbiota influences host systems through its metabolites.
- Breast milk and its glycans are vital for shaping the neonatal microbiota.
- Early microbial colonization impacts the risk of allergies, autoimmunity, and metabolic syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining a healthy neonatal microbiota is essential for preventing dysbiosis-related diseases.
- Microbial metabolites are critical for optimal infant development and health.
- Human milk oligosaccharides and prebiotic fibers are key modulators of the neonatal microbiota.
Keywords:
human milk oligosaccharidesmicrobial metabolitesmicrobiotaprebioticsshort-chain fatty acidsMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
11
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...
11
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
10
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,...
10
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
29
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,...
29
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
90.7K
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 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...
90.7K
01:18Functions of the Gut Microbiota
5
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...
5
01:22Probiotics
50
Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer health benefits by modulating the gut microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbial ecosystem, and the balance of this microbiota is crucial for digestive and systemic health. Among the most extensively studied and utilized probiotics are species formerly classified within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These organisms not only naturally colonize the human gut but are also consumed through...
50