Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Gut-Brain Axis01:22

Gut-Brain Axis

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Associations between fentanyl exposure, gut microbiome and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.

Pediatric research·2026
Same author

Maternal trans-vaccenic acid shapes neonatal T cell development and early-life immune imprinting.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Multimodal MRI of white matter development and selective motor control in preterm infants.

NeuroImage. Clinical·2026
Same author

Low-frequency TMS ameliorates neonatal hypoxia-ischemia injury by normalizing glutamatergic transmission in penumbra.

Experimental neurology·2026
Same author

Fecal Microbiome and Bile Acid Profiles Differ in Preterm Infants with Parenteral Nutrition-associated Cholestasis.

Journal of clinical and translational hepatology·2025
Same author

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on early life gut microbiome.

Gut microbes·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 22, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
08:50

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

Microbiota from Preterm Infants Who Develop Necrotizing Enterocolitis Drives the Neurodevelopment Impairment in a

Jing Lu1, Alexander Drobyshevsky2, Lei Lu1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Biological Sciences, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Microorganisms
|June 15, 2023
PubMed
Summary

The infant gut microbiome before necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) onset negatively impacts brain development and neurological outcomes. This suggests the early microbiome is a target for improving long-term neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants.

Keywords:
microbiotanecrotizing enterocolitisneurodevelopment

More Related Videos

A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
05:39

A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Published on: November 30, 2021

3.6K
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Understanding and Treatment Strategies with the NEC-on-a-Chip Model
06:51

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Understanding and Treatment Strategies with the NEC-on-a-Chip Model

Published on: July 28, 2023

1.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 22, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
08:50

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
A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
05:39

A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Published on: November 30, 2021

3.6K
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Understanding and Treatment Strategies with the NEC-on-a-Chip Model
06:51

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Understanding and Treatment Strategies with the NEC-on-a-Chip Model

Published on: July 28, 2023

1.3K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major cause of gastrointestinal issues and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in preterm infants.
  • Aberrant gut bacterial colonization is implicated in NEC pathogenesis and negatively affects neurodevelopment.
  • The hypothesis that pre-NEC microbial communities drive NDI was tested.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of gut microbial communities preceding NEC on offspring brain development and neurological outcomes.
  • To compare the effects of microbiota from preterm infants who developed NEC (MNEC) versus healthy term infants (MTERM).

Main Methods:

  • A humanized gnotobiotic mouse model was used, with pregnant germ-free mice gavaged with human infant microbial samples.
  • Offspring mice were assessed for ileal inflammation, barrier integrity, behavior, brain maturation (MRI), and brain metabolic profiles.

Main Results:

  • MNEC mice exhibited decreased ileal occludin and ZO-1 expression, increased inflammation, and impaired gut barrier function.
  • MNEC mice showed reduced mobility, increased anxiety, and impaired contextual memory.
  • MRI revealed delayed brain maturation, decreased myelination, and altered white matter organization in MNEC mice.
  • Metabolic profiling indicated significant alterations in brain carnitine, phosphocholine, and bile acid analogs in MNEC mice.

Conclusions:

  • Microbiota composition preceding NEC onset significantly impacts gut barrier integrity, brain development, and neurological function.
  • These findings highlight the gut microbiome as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating NDI in preterm infants.
  • The study demonstrates a causal link between the early gut microbiome and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.