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Colibactin genes are highly prevalent in the developing infant gut microbiome

Shira Levy1, Kathryn E McCauley2, Rachel Strength1

  • 1Clinical Microbiome Unit, Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD.

Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
|August 20, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Colibactin-producing gut bacteria (pks+) are common in infants, suggesting early-life carriage is normal. More research is needed to understand how this bacteria may increase colorectal cancer risk later in life.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Colibactin-producing bacteria carrying the *pks* genomic island are implicated in colorectal cancer development.
  • Early-life gut microbiome composition is critical for long-term health.
  • The role of *pks+* bacteria in early life and subsequent cancer risk remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of colibactin-producing (*pks+*) bacteria in infants.
  • To assess the potential link between early-life *pks+* bacterial carriage and colorectal cancer risk.

Main Methods:

  • Prevalence study of *pks+* bacteria in infant gut microbiomes.
  • Analysis of *pks+* bacterial carriage during the first two years of life.

Main Results:

  • An extremely high prevalence of *pks+* bacteria was observed in over 50% of infants studied.
  • Carriage of *pks+* bacteria appears to be a common occurrence during early-life microbiome development.

Conclusions:

  • Early-life carriage of colibactin-producing (*pks+*) bacteria is likely a normal aspect of gut microbiome development.
  • Further investigation is required to determine the specific conditions under which *pks+* bacterial carriage may lead to mutagenesis and increased colorectal cancer risk.

Keywords:
antibioticscolorectal cancermicrobiotaneonatal intensive care unitneonate

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