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A Method for Targeted 16S Sequencing of Human Milk Samples
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Antibiotic Exposure Through Human Milk Influences the Infant Gut Microbiome
Kine Eide Kvitne1, Simone Zuffa1, Vincent Charron-Lamoureux1
1Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|April 10, 2026
Summary
Maternal antibiotic use during breastfeeding alters infant gut bacteria and metabolism, potentially increasing non-communicable disease risk. Formula supplementation can worsen these effects, impacting infant body mass index (BMI).
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Human milk oligosaccharides
- Infant health
Background:
- Infant antibiotic exposure is linked to non-communicable diseases.
- The role of indirect antibiotic exposure via human milk is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of maternal antibiotic treatment during lactation on infant gut microbiome and metabolome.
- Assess the association between indirect antibiotic exposure and infant body mass index (BMI).
Main Methods:
- Integrative multi-omics analyses of fecal, milk, and skin samples from mother-infant dyads.
- Comparison between antibiotic-treated and control groups.
Main Results:
- Maternal antibiotic treatment altered infant fecal microbiome and metabolome, reducing beneficial bacteria like Bacteroides and Lactobacillus.
- Increased antimicrobial resistance gene reads were observed in infants exposed indirectly to antibiotics.
- Formula supplementation exacerbated metabolic alterations.
- Indirect antibiotic exposure was associated with higher infant BMI in a subset of infants.
Conclusions:
- Maternal antibiotic treatment during lactation can significantly influence the early-life infant gut microbiome.
- These alterations may have long-term implications for infant health, including increased BMI.
- Further research is needed to understand the full impact of indirect antibiotic exposure.
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