Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2025

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
08:46

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis

Published on: August 12, 2020

6.5K

The influence of maternal factors on the neonatal microbiome and health

Bin Zhu1, Myrna Serrano1, Gregory Buck1

  • 1Virginia Commonwealth University.

Research Square
|February 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Maternal factors significantly shape the neonatal microbiome. While the buccal microbiome mirrors the mother's, the gastrointestinal microbiome develops uniquely, influenced by maternal health and inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Maternal-neonatal health
  • Human gut microbiome

Background:

  • The human microbiome is crucial for health, yet maternal influences on the neonatal microbiome are not fully understood.
  • Investigating the early development of the neonatal microbiome and its determinants is essential for understanding infant health.
  • Maternal health status and environmental factors are hypothesized to play a significant role in shaping the initial microbial communities of newborns.

Approach:

  • Comparative analysis of maternal and neonatal buccal and gastrointestinal microbiomes.
  • Assessment of the impact of maternal inflammation-related metabolites on neonatal gut microbiome composition.
  • Evaluation of microbial infections in the maternal reproductive tract and their effect on neonatal microbiomes.
  • Investigation of maternal lipid supplementation as a potential mitigating factor.

Key Points:

  • Neonatal buccal microbiome composition resembles the maternal buccal microbiome.
  • Neonatal gastrointestinal microbiome exhibits distinct early-stage development, influenced by maternal inflammation.
  • Maternal reproductive tract infections universally affect neonatal microbiome complexity.
  • Maternal lipids can mitigate adverse effects of certain maternal factors on neonatal microbiomes.
  • Newborn intensive care unit (NICU) admission correlates with suboptimal maternal microbiomes and health.

Conclusions:

  • The neonatal microbiome's development is intricately linked to maternal health and specific microbial exposures.
  • Body site specificity is critical in understanding how maternal factors modulate neonatal microbiome composition.
  • Targeting maternal health and microbial status may offer strategies to optimize neonatal microbiome development and overall infant health.

Keywords:
NICUNeonatal microbiomecytokinegut microbiomelipidomicmaternal microbiomemicrobial infectionoral microbiomerectal microbiomevaginal microbiome

More Related Videos

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

19.6K
A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development08:50

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

3.8K

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
72.8K
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
12.1K
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: pH01:29

Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: pH

Microorganisms are classified as acidophiles, neutrophiles, or alkaliphiles based on their pH growth preferences, reflecting their adaptations to specific environments. Maintaining a stable intracellular pH is critical for macromolecular stability and enzymatic activity, which can be challenged by external pH variations.Neutrophiles, such as Escherichia coli, grow optimally between pH 5.5 and 8.0. These microorganisms inhabit neutral or slightly acidic environments and employ mechanisms like...
114
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
1.3K
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
405
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature01:27

Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature

Microorganisms display remarkable adaptations, enabling them to thrive in diverse ecological niches across a wide range of temperatures. Temperature profoundly influences microbial growth by affecting enzymatic activity, membrane fluidity, and other cellular processes.Each microorganism operates within a specific temperature range defined by three cardinal points: minimum, optimum, and maximum. Below the minimum temperature, membranes lose fluidity, halting transport processes. Above the...
87