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Published on: January 27, 2019
A common trajectory of gut microbiome development during the first month in healthy neonates with limited
Xing-An Wang1,2, Ju-Pi Li1,3, Maw-Sheng Lee2,4
1Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Sec. 1, Chien-Kuo N. Road, Taichung, 402, Taiwan.
Insights
The infant gut microbiome develops distinct structures in the first month, with significant shifts occurring within the first week. External environmental factors, not host-related variables, primarily shape this early gut microbial development.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neonatal Health
- Gut Microbiome Research
Background:
- The early gut microbiome significantly impacts long-term health.
- Understanding infant microbial development is crucial for health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the developmental trajectories of the gut microbiome in healthy neonates.
- To identify factors influencing early microbial community structure.
Main Methods:
- Collected stool samples from 28 neonates at 24 hours, 7 days, and 28 days of age.
- Utilized Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region to analyze microbiota profiles.
Main Results:
- Distinct gut microbiota structures were observed at each time point, with a notable shift in the first week.
- Proteobacteria dominated early samples, while Firmicutes and Actinobacteria increased with age.
- Delivery mode had a transient effect, but other factors like maternal antibiotics or phototherapy showed minimal impact.
Conclusions:
- Healthy neonates exhibit a consistent gut microbiome developmental trajectory in the first month when environmental variations are controlled.
- External environmental factors play a critical role in shaping the early-life gut microbiome.
Abstract:
The early development of the gut microbiome is governed by multiple factors and has significantly long-term effects on later-in-life health. To minimize inter-individual variations in the environment, we determined developmental trajectories of the gut microbiome in 28 healthy neonates during their stay at a postpartum center. Stool samples were collected at three time points: the first-pass meconium within 24 h of life, and at 7 and 28 days of age. Illumina sequencing of the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA was used to investigate microbiota profiles. We found that there was a distinct microbiota structure at each time point, with a significant shift during the first week. Proteobacteria was most abundant in the first-pass meconium; Firmicutes and Actinobacteria increased with age and were substituted as the major components. Except for a short-term influence of different delivery modes on the microbiota composition, early microbiome development was not remarkably affected by gravidity, maternal intrapartum antibiotic treatment, premature rupture of membranes, or postnatal phototherapy. Hence, our data showed a similar developmental trajectory of the gut microbiome during the first month in healthy neonates when limited in environmental variations. Environmental factors external to the host were crucial in the early microbiome development.
