Dynamic Changes of the Gut Microbiota in Preterm Infants With Different Gestational Age
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Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Qiong Jia1, Xue Yu2, Yanmei Chang1
1Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Insights
Gestational age significantly impacts infant gut microbiota development. Preterm infants show distinct microbial colonization patterns compared to term infants, influencing disease risk and requiring tailored interventions.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
Background:
- The gut microbiota is crucial for infant health, particularly in preterm neonates.
- Gestational age is a key determinant of infant gut microbiome composition and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the gut microbiota dynamics in preterm infants across different gestational ages from birth to one year.
- To compare microbial profiles between preterm and term infants to identify unique developmental trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Collection and analysis of 622 fecal samples (meconium and post-natal) from four gestational age groups (extremely preterm, very preterm, moderate to late preterm, term).
- 16S rRNA sequencing to assess gut microbiota composition and alpha diversity.
- Comparison of microbial structure and abundance of specific genera (e.g., Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium) over time.
Main Results:
- Alpha diversity in meconium was highest in extremely preterm infants and decreased with increasing gestational age.
- Term and moderate to late preterm infants exhibited higher alpha diversity from day 14 to 120 compared to other preterm groups.
- Microbiota composition showed distinct colonization patterns of opportunistic pathogens and probiotics (e.g., Bifidobacterium) varying by gestational age and time point.
Conclusions:
- Gestational age profoundly shapes the developing gut microbiome in infants.
- Dynamic changes in microbial diversity and composition are observed in preterm infants, differing from term infants.
- Findings support the need for individualized microbial interventions for preterm infants based on their specific gestational age and developmental stage.
Abstract:
The gut microbiota plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diseases affecting preterm infants and gestational age is one of the important factors which affect the gut microbiota of infants. To determine the characteristics of the gut microbiota in preterm infants of different gestational ages from birth to 1 year after birth, we collected 622 fecal samples from neonates of different gestational ages at different time points after birth. According to the gestational ages, the samples were divided into four groups, extremely preterm, very preterm, moderate to late preterm, and term group. Meconium and fecal samples at day 14, 28, 120, and 365 after birth were collected. 16S rRNA sequencing was performed and the composition and structure of the gut microbiota in preterm infants of different gestational age was compared with that of term infants. In our study, alpha diversity of meconium in extremely preterm group was higher than very preterm group, moderate to late preterm group and term group and alpha diversity of meconium in preterm group was decreased with increasing of gestational age. At day 14 to day 120 after birth, alpha diversity of term and moderate to late preterm group were significantly higher than other two preterm groups. However, moderate to late preterm group owned the highest alpha diversity which was higher than term group at day 365 after birth. Besides, the results shown the duration of opportunistic pathogen such as Klebsiella and Enterococcus which dominant colonization was different in different gestational age groups. As well as the probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium, which abundance enriched at different time point in different gestational age groups. We profiled the features of dynamic changes of gut microbiome from different gestational ages infants. The results of our research provide new insights for individualized interventions of specific microbes of preterm infants with different gestational ages at different time points after birth.
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