Delivery Mode Affects Stability of Early Infant Gut Microbiota

Cell Rep Med. 2020 Dec 22;1(9):100156. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2020.100156.

Abstract

Mode of delivery strongly influences the early infant gut microbiome. Children born by cesarean section (C-section) lack Bacteroides species until 6-18 months of age. One hypothesis is that these differences stem from lack of exposure to the maternal vaginal microbiome. Here, we re-evaluate this hypothesis by comparing the microbial profiles of 75 infants born vaginally or by planned versus emergent C-section. Multiple children born by C-section have a high abundance of Bacteroides in their first few days of life, but at 2 weeks, both C-section groups lack Bacteroides (primarily according to 16S sequencing), despite their difference in exposure to the birth canal. Finally, a comparison of microbial strain profiles between infants and maternal vaginal or rectal samples finds evidence for mother-to-child transmission of rectal rather than vaginal strains. These results suggest differences in colonization stability as an important factor in infant gut microbiome composition rather than birth canal exposure.

Keywords: infant gut microbiota, caesarean delivery, Bacteroides, delivery mode, transmission of maternal strains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteroides / pathogenicity*
  • Cesarean Section / methods
  • Delivery, Obstetric / methods
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Microbiota / immunology*
  • Pregnancy