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Persistence of birth mode-dependent effects on gut microbiome composition, immune system stimulation and

Susheel Bhanu Busi1, Laura de Nies1, Janine Habier1

  • 1Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.

ISME Communications
|January 30, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Caesarean section delivery (CSD) alters infant gut microbiome composition and immune priming long-term. These birth mode differences persist to 1 year, impacting microbial populations and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene abundance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Caesarean section delivery (CSD) disrupts the initial seeding of the infant gut microbiome and immune system development compared to vaginal delivery (VD).
  • The long-term consequences of these early-life disruptions on microbiome composition and host physiology are not fully understood.
  • Investigating these persistent effects is crucial for understanding infant health trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether differences in gut microbiome composition and host physiological impacts, established at birth, persist until 1 year of age in infants born via CSD versus VD.
  • To characterize the specific microbial populations and functional gene repertoires that differ between CSD and VD infants at 1 year.
  • To assess the impact of these microbiome differences on host immune cell responses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene prevalence.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution, quantitative metagenomic analysis of gut microbiomes from infants (CSD and VD) from birth to 1 year.
  • Isolation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from neonatal stool samples for immune cell stimulation assays.
  • Analysis of functional gene repertoires, including antibiotic biosynthesis and AMR genes, within the metagenomes.

Main Results:

  • Distinct microbial populations were enriched in CSD infants (e.g., Bacteroides caccae, Bifidobacterium bifidum) versus VD infants (e.g., Faecalibacterium prausnitizii, Bifidobacterium breve) at 1 year.
  • LPS from CSD infant stool induced higher levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in immune cells compared to VD infant stool.
  • Increased abundance of AMR genes, particularly against synthetic antibiotics, was observed in CSD infants early post-birth, with mobile genetic elements contributing to AMR gene spread.

Conclusions:

  • Birth mode-dependent differences in early gut microbiome colonization have persistent effects on microbiome composition and host immune priming up to 1 year of age.
  • CSD is associated with altered immune responses and a distinct gut microbial profile at 1 year.
  • The study highlights the long-lasting impact of CSD on the infant gut microbiome and the potential implications for health and disease, including the development of antimicrobial resistance.

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