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Updated: May 29, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Shaping oral and intestinal microbiota and the immune system during the first 1,000 days of life
Jie Zhu1, Mingxin He2, Simin Li1
1Institute of Infection, Immunology and Tumor Microenvironment, Wuchang Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Insights
The first 1,000 days are critical for infant immune system and microbiota development. Early life microbial diversity significantly impacts long-term health and immune homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The first 1,000 days (pregnancy to 2 years) are crucial for immune system and microbiota development.
- The immune system and microbiota are plastic during this period, influencing future health.
- Microbial dysbiosis in early life can lead to lasting health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on early life oral and intestinal microbiome establishment.
- To highlight the impact of microbial diversity in prenatal and early postnatal periods.
- To explore factors shaping infant microbiota and its immune system association.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on infant microbiome and immune development.
- Emphasis on the critical first 1,000 days of life.
- Analysis of factors influencing microbial colonization and immune maturation.
Main Results:
- Microbiota diversity in early life significantly impacts immune system development.
- Maternal microbes, delivery mode, feeding, antibiotics, probiotics, and environment shape infant microbiota.
- Established associations between early-life microbiota and immune system development.
Conclusions:
- Early-life microbial colonization is vital for immune homeostasis.
- Factors like maternal microbes and feeding practices critically influence infant microbiota.
- Understanding these interactions is key to promoting long-term infant health.
Abstract:
The first 1, 000 days of life, from the fetal stage of a woman's pregnancy to 2 years of age after the baby is born, is a critical period for microbial colonization of the body and development of the immune system. The immune system and microbiota exhibit great plasticity at this stage and play a crucial role in subsequent development and future health. Two-way communication and interaction between immune system and microbiota is helpful to maintain human microecological balance and immune homeostasis. Currently, there is a growing interest in the important role of the microbiota in the newborn, and it is believed that the absence or dysbiosis of human commensal microbiota early in life can have lasting health consequences. Thus, this paper summarizes research advances in the establishment of the oral and intestinal microbiome and immune system in early life, emphasizing the substantial impact of microbiota diversity in the prenatal and early postnatal periods, and summarizes that maternal microbes, mode of delivery, feeding practices, antibiotics, probiotics, and the environment shape the oral and intestinal microbiota of infants in the first 1, 000 days of life and their association with the immune system.
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