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, USA.

Gut Microbes
|December 17, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Colibactin-producing gut bacteria (pks+) are common in infants, potentially increasing colorectal cancer risk. Further research is needed to understand how early-life carriage leads to mutations.

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