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Gut microbial diversity during pregnancy and early infancy: an exploratory study in the Indian population

Shreyas V Kumbhare1, Dhrati V Patangia1, Dattatray S Mongad1

  • 1National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule University of Pune Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra, India, 411007.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|February 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The gut microbiome remains stable during pregnancy but significantly changes in infants from birth to six months. Key infant gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium increase, while Staphylococcus decreases, leading to a more stable microbial community by six months.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Human Health
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • The gut microbial community significantly impacts human health and disease.
  • Understanding microbial shifts during critical life stages like pregnancy and infancy is crucial for predicting health outcomes.
  • The maternal microbiome influences infant gut colonization and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate alterations in the gut microbial community during pregnancy and early infancy.
  • To profile the gut microbiota in mother-infant dyads across different life stages.
  • To identify key microbial changes associated with infant development.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 80 fecal samples from 20 mother-infant dyads.
  • 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing for gut microbial community profiling.
  • Longitudinal sampling during pregnancy and infant's first six months.

Main Results:

  • No significant changes in gut bacterial diversity were observed during pregnancy.
  • Significant alterations in infant gut microbiota were detected from birth to six months.
  • Infant gut microbiota showed a decrease in Staphylococcus and Enterococcus, and an increase in Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus.
  • A more stable gut microbial community was established in infants by six months of age.

Conclusions:

  • Pregnancy is a period of relative stability for the maternal gut microbiome.
  • Early infancy is characterized by dynamic shifts in the gut microbial community composition.
  • These microbial changes in infants are critical for establishing a healthy gut ecosystem and potentially long-term health.

Keywords:
early lifegut microbiomeinfant microbiomepregnancy

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