Early-life gut microbiome composition and rotavirus vaccine-induced IgA responses in U.S. infants: a longitudinal

Janiret Narváez-Miranda1, Michael B Sohn2, Daniel Velasquez-Portocarrero3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.

Ebiomedicine
|June 30, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Early-life gut microbiome diversity in U.S. infants is linked to rotavirus vaccine response. Higher microbial diversity at one month correlated with increased rotavirus-IgA antibody levels at six months.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Vaccinology
  • Pediatric immunology

Background:

  • Rotavirus vaccination is crucial for reducing childhood mortality globally.
  • Existing data on the gut microbiome's role in vaccine response, particularly in the U.S., is limited and inconsistent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the development of the infant gut microbiome.
  • To determine the association between the gut microbiome and immunogenicity after RotaTeq vaccination in U.S. infants.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of infants in Rochester, NY.
  • 16S rRNA sequencing for microbiome analysis at 1, 6, and 12 months.
  • Rotavirus-IgA serology measured at 6 and 12 months to assess vaccine response.

Main Results:

  • Higher gut microbial alpha diversity at 1 month was associated with higher rotavirus-IgA at 6 months (p=0.024).
  • Microbial diversity at 6 months was not linked to concurrent IgA levels but associated with higher IgA at 12 months (p=0.033).
  • Specific microbial taxa showed associations, both positive and negative, with rotavirus-IgA responses over time.

Conclusions:

  • Early-life gut microbiome diversity and composition are associated with rotavirus-IgA responses post-RotaTeq vaccination in healthy U.S. infants.
  • This research enhances the understanding of microbiome-vaccine interactions in high-income countries.
Abstract

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