Antibiotics and the developing intestinal microbiome, metabolome and inflammatory environment in a randomized trial...

Area of Science:

• Neonatal microbiome research
• Gut-brain axis studies
• Infant immunology

Background:

• Antibiotic administration in neonates, particularly preterm infants, can negatively affect gut microbiome development and increase morbidity risks.
• Current practices often involve routine antibiotic use in preterm neonates without strong evidence-based guidelines.
• The REASON study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of early antibiotic exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effects of early antibiotic use on the gut microbiome diversity in symptomatic preterm neonates.
• To explore the relationship between gut microbiome composition, metabolites, immune markers, and nutrition in early infant life.
• To investigate potential impacts on the gut-brain axis.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal stool sample collection from 91 neonates.
• 16S rRNA sequencing for microbiome diversity analysis.
• Integration of microbiome, metabolomic, and immune marker data.

Main Results:

• Nutrition significantly shapes the early infant gut microbiome.
• An association was identified between the bacterium Veillonella and the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
• Early antibiotic exposure may influence the gut-brain axis.

Conclusions:

• Early antibiotic use in preterm neonates may have implications for gut-brain axis development.
• Findings suggest a potential link between antibiotic-induced microbiome alterations and neurochemical pathways.
• Further validation in larger cohorts is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.