The Nidobiome: A Framework for Understanding Microbiome Assembly in Neonates

Area of Science:

• Animal Ecology
• Microbiome Research
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Microbial associations are vital for animal development, physiology, and fitness.
• Microbiome assembly is a critical ecological and evolutionary process, often requiring generational re-establishment.
• Understanding neonate microbial colonization necessitates examining interactions between the neonate, parents, nest, and environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an integrative framework for studying microbiome assembly in neonates.
• To introduce the concept of the 'nidobiome' as a unit of microbiome-host interactions.
• To provide a comparative framework for microbiome assembly across animal species based on developmental events.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework development.
• Integration of host-associated and environmental factors.
• Comparative analysis based on developmental stages.

Main Results:

• Identified the 'nidobiome' as a key concept integrating neonate, parent, nest, and environmental influences.
• Highlighted the dynamic nature of microbial colonization across host development.
• Proposed a framework for cross-species comparisons of microbiome assembly.

Conclusions:

• The 'nidobiome' concept offers a holistic approach to understanding early-life microbial colonization.
• Studying the interacting effects of multiple factors is crucial for comprehending microbiome assembly.
• A developmental framework facilitates comparative studies of microbiome assembly across diverse animal taxa.