First encounters of the microbial kind: perinatal factors direct infant gut microbiome establishment

Kevin Linehan; Eugene M Dempsey; C Anthony Ryan; R Paul Ross; Catherine Stanton

doi:10.20517/mrr.2021.09

First encounters of the microbial kind: perinatal factors direct infant gut microbiome establishment

Microbiome Res Rep. 2022 Mar 1;1(2):10. doi: 10.20517/mrr.2021.09. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Kevin Linehan^{1

2

3}, Eugene M Dempsey^{2

4}, C Anthony Ryan^{2

4}, R Paul Ross^{2

3}, Catherine Stanton^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork P61 C996, Ireland.
² APC Microbiome Ireland, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Lee Maltings, Cork, Cork T12 YT20, Ireland.
³ School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics & Child Health and INFANT Centre, University College Cork, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland.

Abstract

The human gut microbiome harbors a diverse range of microbes that play a fundamental role in the health and well-being of their host. The early-life microbiome has a major influence on human development and long-term health. Perinatal factors such as maternal nutrition, antibiotic use, gestational age and mode of delivery influence the initial colonization, development, and function of the neonatal gut microbiome. The perturbed early-life gut microbiome predisposes infants to diseases in early and later life. Understanding how perinatal factors guide and shape the composition of the early-life microbiome is essential to improving infant health. The following review provides a synopsis of perinatal factors with the most decisive influences on initial microbial colonization of the infant gut.

Keywords: Gut microbiome; antibiotics; diseases; early programming; mode of birth; neonatal microbiota; perinatal factors.

Publication types

Review