Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
10:42

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children

Published on: December 31, 2017

18.0K

The microbiome in early life: implications for health outcomes

Sabrina Tamburini1, Nan Shen1, Han Chih Wu2,3

  • 1Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology. Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.

Nature Medicine
|July 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Early life microbial exposures significantly impact infant gut microbiome and immune system development. Understanding these factors is crucial for preventing childhood diseases and developing microbiome-based therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Host genetics, prenatal environment, and delivery mode influence the newborn microbiome.
  • Postnatal factors like antibiotics, diet, and environment further shape infant microbiome and immune system development.
  • Early microbial exposure is hypothesized to offer protective effects in newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how prenatal and postnatal factors shape the early-life microbiome and immune system.
  • To discuss the potential of microbiome-mediated therapeutics.
  • To highlight the need for improved methods to restore healthy gut bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on infant microbiome and immune system development.
  • Analysis of epidemiological data linking early-life microbiome alterations to disease risk.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on factors influencing microbial community composition in infants.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal and postnatal factors play critical roles in establishing the infant microbiome.
  • Alterations in infant gut bacteria during childhood are associated with increased disease risk.
  • The early-life microbiome and immune system are intricately linked and co-develop.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding early-life microbiome development is essential for pediatric health.
  • Microbiome-mediated therapeutics hold promise for treating various conditions.
  • Developing strategies to shift pathogenic to homeostatic bacterial configurations is a key future direction.

More Related Videos

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

21.0K
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing11:22

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

31.5K

Related Concept Videos

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...
89.7K
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
1.1K
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
1.1K
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
1.3K
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
320
History of Microbiology01:28

History of Microbiology

Microbiology, a scientific field dedicated to the study of microorganisms, has undergone profound development since its inception in the 17th century. Its history is marked by key discoveries and technological advancements that have shaped our understanding of life at the microscopic level and transformed medicine, agriculture, and industry.Early Foundations of MicrobiologyThe early foundations of microbiology were built on groundbreaking observations and the development of pioneering...
13.9K