Early gut mycobiota and mother-offspring transfer

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Human Health
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The gut mycobiota, comprising fungi in the gastrointestinal tract, is a significant component of the gut microbiota with potential health implications.
• Unlike adult gut mycobiota, the establishment and maternal transfer of early gut mycobiota remain largely undescribed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the establishment and succession of the gut mycobiota in healthy mothers and offspring from gestation to two years of age.
• To explore the influence of probiotic milk consumption on maternal gut mycobiota during pregnancy and postpartum.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study followed 298 mother-offspring pairs, collecting 1516 samples from 36 weeks gestation to 2 years postpartum.
• Fungal abundance was quantified using qPCR of the ITS1 segment, and 18S rRNA gene ITS1 sequencing was performed on 90 samples.
• Mothers were randomized to consume probiotic milk containing specific bacterial strains (LGG, Bb-12, La-5) or a placebo.

Main Results:

• Gut mycobiota was detected in most mothers and offspring, with offspring more likely to have detectable fungi if their mothers did (OR=1.54).
• Offspring gut fungal diversity increased after birth, showing a succession towards the maternal mycobiota, with distinct fungal species dominating during breastfeeding and after weaning.
• Probiotic consumption by pregnant mothers significantly increased gut mycobiota abundance (p=0.01).

Conclusions:

• This study offers the first comprehensive insight into the early establishment and species succession of the gut mycobiota.
• Findings suggest that the fungal host phenotype is transferred from mother to offspring, highlighting the importance of maternal gut fungi.