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Gut Microbiome and Infant Health: Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis and Host Genetic Factors

Xiaomei Cong1, Wanli Xu2, Rachael Romisher2

  • 1School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, USA.

The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine
|October 5, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The neonatal gut microbiome, influenced by various factors, impacts infant health and development. Understanding its connection to brain-gut signaling is crucial for early childhood health and neurodevelopment.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Neonatal gut microbiome development is shaped by delivery mode, feeding, medication, hospital environment, stress, and genetics.
  • Gut microbiota dysbiosis can persist into infancy, particularly in high-risk preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
  • The infant microbiome's evolution parallels host neurodevelopment and growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the critical role of the gut microbiome in infant health and bio-behavioral development.
  • To emphasize the relationship between the gut microbiome, brain-gut signaling, and host genetics.
  • To identify the gap in research regarding early childhood dysbiosis patterns and host-microbiome co-development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on neonatal gut microbiome.
  • Analysis of factors influencing microbiome development.
  • Exploration of brain-gut-microbiota signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Multiple factors significantly influence the neonatal gut microbiome.
  • Gut microbiome dysbiosis is linked to adverse infant health and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • The interplay between host genetics and the microbiome is crucial for development.

Conclusions:

  • Further research is essential to elucidate the mechanisms of brain-gut-microbiota signaling.
  • Investigating host-microbial interactions is key to understanding infant health regulation.
  • Addressing dysbiosis patterns in early childhood is needed for optimal infant development.

Keywords:
Brain-Gut-Microbiota AxisEarly lifeGut MicrobiomeHost-Microbial GenomicsInfant

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