{"id":6081,"date":"2024-07-30T06:07:20","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T06:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/?p=6081"},"modified":"2025-06-10T08:13:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T08:13:53","slug":"developmental-origins-of-health-and-disease-infant-gut-microbiome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/developmental-origins-of-health-and-disease-infant-gut-microbiome\/","title":{"rendered":"Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Infant Gut Microbiome ~ Day 31 to 364"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row el_class=&#8221;mr-b-26&#8243;][vc_column][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"mr-b-26\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-18\"><b>Table of Contents<\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"arrweb-row-23453-342\">\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#introduction\">Introduction<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-1\">Factors Affecting the Infant Gut Microbiome <sup>~<\/sup> Day 31 to 364<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-2\">Infant Feeding Mode<\/a>\n<ul class=\"arrweb2-row-23453-4565\">\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-3\">Human milk-oriented gut microbiota<br \/>\n<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-4\">Human milk oligosaccharides contribute to shaping microbial communities<br \/>\n<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-5\">Disease and Antibiotics<\/a>\n<ul class=\"arrweb2-row-23453-4565\">\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-6\">Antibiotics exposure and risk for later life disease<br \/>\n<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-7\">Supplementation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-8\">Take Home Messages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#conclusion\">Summary and Conclusions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-scroll-point-11\">Did You Know About Folate Receptor Autoantibodies (FRAAs) and Brain Development?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"scroll\" href=\"#blog-references\">References<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=&#8221;6087&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><b>Figure 1. We are not alone <sup>~<\/sup> the human microbiota.<\/b> The microbiome of many animals, including humans, are predominantly found in the gut. For example, most of <b>the microbial partners of humans are in one region of the gut, the colon<\/b> (also known as the <b>large intestine<\/b>). The <b>skin<\/b> and <b>upper airways<\/b> are also extensively colonized, as is the <b>vagina of women<\/b>, but the internal organs such as the liver and brain bear few or no microorganisms in healthy individuals. The total weight of microorganisms in an adult human is estimated at <b>2-6 lb<\/b> (<b>1 &#8211; 3.7 kg<\/b>), which is approximately <b>3% of body weight<\/b>; for comparison, the adult brain or liver each weigh <b>3 lb<\/b> (<b>1.4 kg<\/b>). <b><i>Half of the estimated 80 trillion cells in the human bodies are microbial and mostly bacteria<\/i><\/b>. However, microorganisms do not account for half of our weight because <b><i>most microbial cells are much smaller than human cells<\/i><\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=&#8221;introduction&#8221;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Introduction&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">In general, we like to think that we are human, but that is only partly true. <span class=\"span-orange\">Half of the estimated 80 trillion cells in the human body are microorganisms<\/span> (see <b>Figure 1<\/b>). These microorganisms are crucial for our health and wellbeing. They protect us from (i) <b>pathogens<\/b>, (ii) <b>support our metabolism<\/b>, (iii) <b>immune system<\/b>, and (iv) <b>influence our mood and emotional state<\/b>. Besides, bearing microorganisms is not special to humans. All healthy animals and plants are inhabited by communities of microorganisms known as <b>microbiomes<\/b>, and usually, these microorganism contribute to good health.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=&#8221;blog-scroll-point-1&#8243;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Factors Affecting the Infant Gut Microbiome <sup>~<\/sup> Day 31 to 364&#8243;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">The initial seeding of the microbiome in the prenatal stages and through birth represents an important period in the colonization of the newborn infant. However at this stage the deliberate manipulation of the gut microbiome is generally not feasible, with little scope for clinical interventions (cf. previous blog entitled as: \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/developmental-origins-of-health-and-disease-neonatal-gut-microbiome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Neonatal Gut Microbiome ~ Day 0 to 30<\/a>.\u2019).<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Simply put, while a range of variables will affect the initial exposure to microorganisms, such variables are often difficult to control, for example, <b>birth mode<\/b> and <b>gestation<\/b>. While the longer-term influence of such variables is important to understand. From a medical perspective, it is of paramount importance to comprehensively understand how a single or combination of interventions will influence the developing gut microbiome in the neonate and infant stages of life [1].<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Following birth and over the first months of life, the gut microbiome is chaotic and highly dynamic, with large shifts in the overall bacterial community potentially occurring from day to day. This early stage of life represents a key window for the manipulation and long-term establishment of a stable and diverse community, which is typically regarded as stable from childhood and throughout adulthood.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">The <span class=\"span-orange\"><u>gold standard for establishing a healthy gut microbiome<\/u><\/span> is thought to result from <span class=\"span-orange\"><u><b>full term, vaginally delivered, and breastfed (FTVDBF) infants<\/b><\/u><\/span>. During the infant stage, FTVDBF infants tend to have relatively high abundance of the following microbes, for instance:<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40 \">\n<li><em>Bifidobacterium,<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Bacteroides, <\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Clostridium, <\/em>and<\/li>\n<li><em>Atopobium. <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">The percentage of facultative to strict anaerobes in the <b>FTVDBF infant gut microbiome at day 90 is 60% to 40%<\/b>, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Here we portray this key phase of life, focusing on variables that can generally be controlled, such as <b>feeding<\/b>, <b>antibiotics<\/b>, and <b>supplementation<\/b>. As well as to understand the mechanisms of these interventions \u2013 for understanding the role of the gut microbiome in programming long-term host health.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;6091&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><strong>Box-1: A microbiome as unique as your fingerprint.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=&#8221;blog-scroll-point-2&#8243;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;(1) Infant Feeding Mode&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"blog-scroll-point-3\" class=\"h3-heading-title\">Human milk-oriented gut microbiota<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Given the importance of seeding the microbiome with beneficial bacteria, it is not surprising that <b>breast milk contains a range of beneficial microorganisms<\/b>, including <b><i>Lactobacilli<\/i><\/b> and <b><i>Bifidobacteria<\/i><\/b>. <span class=\"span-orange\">Historically assumed to be sterile, more than 700 different bacterial species have been detected in human milk<\/span>, commonly including species from the following genera, viz:<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40 \">\n<li><em>Weissella,<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Leuconostoc, <\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Staphylococcus, <\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Streptococcus, and<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Lactococcus.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">The importance of feeding regime for the early development of the gut microbiome became apparent when researchers realized that the bacteria of the stool did not resemble the mode of delivery after the initial week of life. As discussed in our previous blog (cf. previous blog entitled as: <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/developmental-origins-of-health-and-disease-neonatal-gut-microbiome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2018Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Neonatal Gut Microbiome <sup>~<\/sup> Day 0 to 30.\u2019<\/a>), <b><i>Lactobacillus<\/i><\/b> <i>represents a major genus of the vaginal microbiome, but this genus is relatively low in abundance in the gut microbiome.<\/i> Furthermore, it has been shown that specific bacterial strains transferred from maternal breast milk successfully colonize the neonatal gut.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">While relatively conserved compared to other sample types, for example, stool, <span class=\"span-orange\">the microbial community is breast milk is different between different mothers and can change over time within the same individuals.<\/span> It has been determined that most abundant genera of bacteria in human milk from <b>American mothers<\/b> were, for example:<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40 \">\n<li><em>Streptococcus,<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Staphylococcus,<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Serratia,<\/em> and<\/li>\n<li><em>Corynebacteria,<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">and notably lower levels of<b><i> Lactobacilli <\/i><\/b>and <b><i>Bifidobacteria<\/i><\/b> compared to <b>European cohorts<\/b>. Even within the same geographical location, differences in the number and diversity of bacteria in the breast milk microbiome arising from dietary influences have been reported in both humans and animals.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">In addition to the direct passage of viable microbes, <span class=\"span-orange\">human milk also confers protection against pathogens through the transmission of maternal immunoglobulin A<\/span> (<b>IgA<\/b>). <i>IgA is the first source of antibody-mediated immune protection in the neonatal gut and has been shown to <\/i><b><i>prevent the translocation of bacteria<\/i><\/b> as well as <b><i>promote long-term gut homeostasis<\/i><\/b><i> by regulating the gut microbiome<\/i> (see <b>Figure 2<\/b>) [2].<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;6082&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><b>Figure 2. IgA \u2013 microbiota homeostasis.<\/b> <b>Immunoglobulin A <\/b>(<b>IgA<\/b>)<b> mediates microbial homeostasis at the intestinal mucosa<\/b>. Within the gut, IgA acts in a context-dependent manner to both prevent and promote bacterial colonization and to influence bacterial gene expression, thus providing exquisite control of the microbiota. <b>IgA-microbiota interactions are highly diverse across individuals and populations<\/b>, yet the factors driving this variation remain poorly understood. Disrupted secretory IgA \u2013 microbiota interactions in the gut have been linked to: <b>(i) <\/b><i>elevated risk of allergies and asthma in children<\/i>, <b>(ii)<\/b> <i>increased inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) severity<\/i>, <b>(iii)<\/b> <i>higher infectious risk<\/i>, and most recently, <b>(iv)<\/b> <i>altered responses to malnutrition<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"blog-scroll-point-4\" class=\"h3-heading-title\">Human milk oligosaccharides contribute to shaping microbial communities<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"span-orange\">The distinctive composition of the gut microbiome in breastfed babies can be attributed to the remarkable composition of the sugars in human milk.<\/span> The dominant sugar in the milk of all mammals is <b>lactose<\/b>, which is made up of two sugar units, viz., <b>glucose and lactose<\/b>. Lactose is easily digested by baby mammals; and is a major source of energy for growth (see <b>Figure 3<\/b>; <b>Table 1; <\/b>and <b>Box &#8211; 1<\/b>).[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Milk also contains small amounts of other sugars, including <b>oligosaccharides<\/b>, which comprise three to six sugar units. <b>The oligosaccharides content of human milk is very high<\/b> (<b>5-20 g per liter<\/b>), and includes three additional components, (viz., fucose, acetylglucosamine and a sialic acid) which, along with <b>glucose and galactose<\/b>, are linked together in many different ways. <span class=\"span-orange\">More than 100 different kinds of human milk oligosaccharides (<b>HMOs<\/b>)<\/span> have been described.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;6083&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><b>Figure 3. Human milk and the gut microbiome.<\/b> <b><i>Comparison of breast milk and formula on the neonatal microbiome.<\/i><\/b> The gut microbiome differs between breastfed babies and babies fed on formula milk (which is derived from cow\u2019s milk). There are much higher levels of certain bacteria, especially <i><b>Bifidobacterium<\/b><\/i> species, and lower overall diversity of bacteria in the gut microbiome of breastfed babies. It is widely recognized that certain <i><b>Bifidobacterium<\/b><\/i> species support infant health by protecting against pathogens and regulating immune functions, and this most likely contributes to<b><i>the low incidence of allergic diseases in children that were breastfed as babies.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><span class=\"span-orange\"><u>HMOs are important because, unlike lactose, the baby cannot digest HMOs<\/u><\/span>. They are passed without modification into the colon, where they are utilized by bacteria, especially <b><i>Bifidobacterium<\/i><\/b>. The different HMOs support the growth of different <i>Bifidobacterium <\/i>species and strains, and <span class=\"span-orange\"><u>some HMOs can only be broken down by several species working together<\/u><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;6084&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><strong>Table 1. Comparison of breast milk and formula on the neonatal microbiome.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><span class=\"span-orange\">Because of these HMOs, human milk is a natural <b>prebiotic food<\/b><\/span>, meaning that it feeds beneficial microorganisms in the gut. Interestingly, the HMO composition of human milk varies among different mothers, and this may contribute to the variation in the gut microbiome composition among infants. There is no evidence that the differences in HMO profiles in the milk of different mothers influence the health of their babies [3].<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">As well as promoting beneficial bacteria, <span class=\"span-orange\">HMOs can suppress some harmful bacteria<\/span>. For example, they inhibit the growth of group B <b><i>Streptococcus<\/i><\/b>, which can cause <b>sepsis and meningitis in newborn babies<\/b>. <span class=\"span-orange\">HMOs also prevent the attachment of diarrhea-causing bacteria<\/span>, such as <b><i>Campylobacter<\/i><\/b>, to the gut wall of babies, thereby protecting infants against <b>diarrheal illnesses<\/b> (see <b>Figure 3<\/b>; <b>Table 1; <\/b>and <b>Box &#8211; 1<\/b>).<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><span class=\"span-orange\">The high levels of and complexity of oligosaccharides of human milk is most unusual, compared to the milk of other mammals<\/span>. The milk of some other primates is enriched in oligosaccharides, but less so than humans. <span class=\"span-orange\">The oligosaccharides content of cow\u2019s milk is 100-1,000 times lower than in human milk,<\/span> and this is <b>a major factor contributing to the low abundance of <\/b><b><i>Bifidobacterium<\/i><\/b><b> in babies fed on formula milk<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=&#8221;blog-scroll-point-5&#8243;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;(2) Disease and Antibiotics&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">The number of infants death in the United States is around <b>6 infants for every 1,000 births<\/b>. A major cause of infant death is <b>prematurity<\/b>, and the increasing number of infants surviving preterm birth has presented new problems.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Despite increased and novel research efforts, little improvement has been made in the rate of mortality due to preterm disease such as <b>necrotizing enterocolitis<\/b> (<b>NEC<\/b>) and <b>sepsis<\/b>, which accounts for <b>&gt;20%<\/b> of all preterm mortality. Significant morbidity associated with prematurity, such as <span class=\"span-orange\">delayed growth and cognitive and neurological function<\/span>, are also common to infants delivered preterm.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">To reduce the risk of infections, <b>vulnerable neonates may undergo a short course of antibiotics<\/b>. Concerns regarding antibiotic treatment related to the gut microbiota include <b>(a)<\/b> the spread of antibiotic resistance among pathogens, and <b>(b)<\/b> that alteration of the microbiota will interfere with human-microbe interactions that are fundamental to human development.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"blog-scroll-point-6\" class=\"h3-heading-title\">Antibiotics exposure and risk for later life disease<\/h3>\n<p>Perturbation of the microbiota by antibiotic exposure has long-lasting and potentially irreversible effects on microbiome community development, and <strong>increases the risk of neonatal disease<\/strong> [4], such as:[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40 \">\n<li>obesity,<\/li>\n<li>asthma,<\/li>\n<li>type I diabetes, and<\/li>\n<li>other immune-mediated diseases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">The relationship between antibiotic perturbation of the microbiome and alterations to host immune system function have been described. For instance, in humans,<span class=\"span-orange\"><i>intrapartum antibiotic exposure can result in a depletion of <\/i><b><i> Bacteroidetes<\/i><\/b><i>, offset by an enrichment of<\/i><i><b> Firmicutes<\/b><\/i><i>, which may persist to 1 year of age depending on the antibiotic class<\/i><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Additionally, infant antibiotic use increases risk of<b> (i) pathobiont colonization<\/b> and <b>(ii) delayed microbiome maturation<\/b>. This may be a causal factor in the development of <b>Crohn\u2019s disease<\/b> and other dysbiosis-associated diseases due to lower levels of <b><i>Clostridiales<\/i><\/b> and <b><i>Ruminococcus<\/i><\/b>, both of which are prominent short-chain fatty acid (<b>SCFA<\/b>) producers (see <b>Figure 4<\/b>).<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><b>SCFAs, such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate<\/b>, are bacterial products of complex carbohydrate metabolism. SCFAs can be utilized by the host, for example:<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ol class=\"mr-left-ul-40\">\n<li>as a source of energy,<\/li>\n<li>play a role in the regulation of gene expression,<\/li>\n<li>are anti-inflammatory, and<\/li>\n<li>may influence lipid metabolism, and<\/li>\n<li>the immune system.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=&#8221;blog-scroll-point-7&#8243;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;(3) Supplementation&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">As appreciation for the significance of the gut microbiome in health and disease has risen in recent years, so too has the interest in manipulating its development with <b>probiotics<\/b>and <b>prebiotics<\/b>(see <b>Figure 4; <\/b>and <b>Figure 5<\/b>).<br \/>\n<span class=\"span-orange\"><i>Probiotics are live microorganisms<\/i><\/span>, which can colonize the host and provide benefits to health, both directly, for example, <i>producing a substrate for the host<\/i>; and indirectly, for instance, <i>preventing the overgrowth of potential pathogens<\/i>. <span class=\"span-orange\"><i>Prebiotics are substrates that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria<\/i><\/span>. <b>Symbiotics<\/b> are a combination of prebiotics and probiotics (see <b>Box -1<\/b>) [5-7].<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">The neonatal and infant stages represent the most important windows for establishing beneficial microbes in the gastrointestinal tract. It has been suggested that in the next decade the use of probiotics in early life will be routine practice in the most vulnerable populations. The use of probiotics and prebiotics in preterm infants seems particularly important for establishing long-term health, although recent large trials have produced opposing results.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;6085&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><b>Figure 4. Effects of probiotic versus pathogenic gut microbiota.<\/b> <b><i>Mechanisms of action of probiotics and prebiotics are complex, diverse, heterogeneous, and often strain- and compound-specific<\/i><\/b>. <b>Probiotics <\/b>interact with both the host and microbiome via molecular effectors present on the cell structure or secreted as metabolic products. Probiotic metabolites can act on the microbiota <b>(i)<\/b> by cross feeding interactions, <b>(ii)<\/b> changes in the gastrointestinal microenvironment (e.g., pH lowering), <b>(iii)<\/b> competition for nutrients and binding sites, and <b>(iv)<\/b> inhibition of growth via the production of strain-specific antibacterial compounds including <b>bacteriocins<\/b>. Such microbiota-directed effects contribute to the ability of probiotics to mediate health benefits in pathogen overgrowth states such as <b>vaginal and oral dysbioses<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">While results are still emerging, it has been shown that probiotics can profoundly shift the gut microbiome in neonates, unsurprisingly due to much larger relative abundances of the probiotic species in the probiotic recipients. The evenness of the community also tends to increase, indicating increased ecological stability.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">It should be noted that the probiotics have been trialed for the prevention of allergic disease in mothers and infants, with <b>an apparent reduced incidence of eczema, but not asthma, allergy, or other allergic conditions<\/b>. Overall, probiotics are really shown to have negative consequences and, at worst, tend to have no overall effect.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=&#8221;6088&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\"><b>Figure 5. Health benefits of probiotics.<\/b> Proposed mechanisms of probiotic action include: <b>(a) <\/b>enhanced epithelial barrier function, <b>(b)<\/b> enhanced mucosal IgA response, <b>(c)<\/b> direct antagonism against pathogens, <b>(d)<\/b> competitive exclusion of pathogens, <b>(e)<\/b> prevention of apoptosis, <b>(f)<\/b> production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and <b>(g)<\/b> downregulation of proinflammatory pathways. However, the exact mechanism of probiotics is probably strain dependent.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Although less researched than probiotics, <span class=\"span-orange\">the potential for prebiotic to modulate a healthy gut microbiome is huge<\/span>. As discussed above, <span class=\"span-orange\">much of the beneficial nature of breast milk is thought to result from its prebiotic properties<\/span>. However, supplementation of HMOs to the feed of preterm infants did not result in the expected increase in <i>bifidobacteria<\/i> [1; 5-6].<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">For infancy, one of the most prominent probiotics is <b>lactoferrin<\/b>, which is known to help protect against infection and promote nutritional status. Lactoferrin has been shown to specifically inhibit pathogenic bacteria in the gut microbiome by <span class=\"span-orange\">scavenging free iron to such an extent that remaining concentrations are too low to enable the growth of <b>pathogenic <\/b><b><i>Escherichia Coli<\/i><\/b><\/span>. The effects of prebiotics on the overall gut microbiome structure will emerge in the coming years.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;blog-text-35795&#8243; el_id=&#8221;blog-scroll-point-8&#8243;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Take Home Messages&#8221; el_class=&#8221;blog-text-35795&#8243;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong><em>We are not alone <sup>~<\/sup> Living with microbes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40\">\n<li>The <b>gut microbiome<\/b> of humans and animals, predominantly found in the <i>colon<\/i>, plays a crucial role in health and wellbeing by <i>protecting against pathogens<\/i>, <i>supporting metabolism<\/i>, <i>influencing the immune system<\/i>, and <i>affecting mood and emotional state<\/i>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong><em>Human milk <sup>~<\/sup> Gut microbiome<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40\">\n<li><b>Breastfeeding<\/b> is essential for seeding the infant gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria, such as <b><i>Bifidobacterium<\/i><\/b> and <b><i>Lactobacillus<\/i><\/b>, which contribute to a stable and diverse microbial community.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Human milk contains oligosaccharides that act as prebiotics<\/strong>, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and protecting against pathogens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong><em>Antibiotics exposure <sup>~<\/sup> Later life disease<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40\">\n<li><b>Antibiotic exposure in infancy<\/b> can have long-lasting effects on the gut microbiome, increasing the risk of diseases like <i>obesity, asthma, and immune-mediated conditions<\/i>. \u200b<\/li>\n<li><b>Antibiotics can alter the microbiota composition<\/b>, leading to pathobiont colonization and delayed microbiome maturation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong><em>Nutraceutical products <sup>~<\/sup> Probiotic\/Prebiotic supplementation <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40\">\n<li><b>Probiotics<\/b>, <u><i>live microorganisms that provide health benefits<\/i><\/u>, and <b>prebiotics<\/b>, <u><i>substrates that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria<\/i><\/u>, are being explored to manipulate the gut microbiome for improved health outcomes in infants. \u200b<\/li>\n<li><strong>Probiotics<\/strong> can shift the gut microbiome composition, while <strong>prebiotics<\/strong> like human milk oligosaccharides have potential prebiotic properties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong><em>Infant gut microbiome <sup>~<\/sup> Main drivers of the microbial colonization <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"mr-left-ul-40\">\n<li>The <b>establishment of the infant gut microbiota<\/b> is influenced by factors like <i>maternal inheritance of specific microorganisms<\/i>, <i>dietary compounds in human milk<\/i>, <i>mode of delivery<\/i>, <i>host genetics<\/i>, <i>gestational age<\/i>, and <i>maternal diet.<\/i> \u200b\u00a0\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Understanding these factors and interventions like probiotics and prebiotics can play <strong>a crucial role in shaping long-term host health through the gut microbiome.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;blog-text-35795&#8243; el_id=&#8221;conclusion&#8221;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Summary and Conclusions&#8221; el_class=&#8221;blog-text-35795&#8243;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">The gut microbiota represents a prime example of how an environment which is considered sterile, or at least poorly colonized, at birth is rapidly occupied by a plethora of microbial communities. Notably, this colonization appears to follow typical trajectories that are governed by stochastic processes and microbe-host coevolution forces.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221; el_class=&#8221;u-orange&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">In this context, only specific microorganisms that are maternally inherited are, under natural circumstances, driving the establishment of the infant gut microbiota. The subsequent development of this early gut microbiota is then modulated by specific dietary compounds present in human milk that support selective colonization.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">It has been shown that the genomes of infant gut commensals, in particular bifidobacteria, are genetically adapted to utilize specific glycan components of this human secretory fluid, the milk. This represents a very intriguing example of host-microbe coevolution, where both partners are believed to benefit.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">There is growing evidence that such a mechanism, by which host products act as key agents for the modulation of the gut microbiota, thus acting as natural prebiotics, is a common scheme not limited to humans or other primates but extending to all species across the mammalian tree of life.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Notably, other maternally linked forces responsible for the establishment of the very early infant gut microbiota include the mode of delivery, host genetics, gestational age, and maternal diet.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">There are intriguing indications that the infant gut is not always sterile at delivery and that fetal colonization might sometimes occur, with a concurrent transfer of maternal microbiota to the fetus during pregnancy.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">In this context, the early stages of life represent a more opportunistic period of human life where the gut microbiota may be more prone to changes by interventions involving probiotics, prebiotics, phages, or combinations of these.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221; el_class=&#8221;blog-banner-section&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div id=\"blog-scroll-point-11\">\n<div class=\"w-71 cbp-ntopenact\">\n<div id=\"metabolic-testing\" class=\"blog-info-234542\">\n<h4 id=\"developmental-screening-tests-for-autism p-mr-bottom-10\">Did You Know? Folate Receptor Autoantibodies (FRAAs) may impede proper folate transport.<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Folate (vitamin B9) is very important for your child\u2019s brain development!<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">During pregnancy, it helps prevent neural tube defects and plays a big role in forming a normal and healthy baby\u2019s brain and spinal cord. Folate also helps cells divide and assists in both DNA and RNA synthesis.<\/p>\n<p>Emerging research suggests that the presence of FRAAs negatively impacts folate transport into the brain.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul-36784 table-2339 mr-left-ul-40\">\n<li>Recent studies reveal that a large subgroup of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have FRAAs.<\/li>\n<li>This suggests that a possible disruption in folate transport across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier may potentially influence ASD-linked brain development.<\/li>\n<li>Screening for the FRAAs in your child should be part of your early intervention strategies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"metabolic-testing\" class=\"blog-info-234542\">\n<h4 id=\"developmental-screening-tests-for-autism p-mr-bottom-10\">Is there a test for identifying Folate Receptor Autoantibodies (FRAAs)?<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">Yes, there is a test &#8211; The Folate Receptor Antibody Test (FRAT<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>) has emerged as a diagnostic tool for detecting the presence of FRAAs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-10\">It is important to screen at an early age or as soon as possible as there may be corrective measures available. Please consult your physician for further information.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-mr-bottom-30\">To request a test kit, click on the button below.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"download-info-grap-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fratnow.com\/order-a-test-kit.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Request Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"w-28\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/frat-mascot-image.webp\" alt=\"FRAT Mascot Image\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221; el_class=&#8221;text-gray-23&#8243;]For information on autism monitoring, screening and testing please read <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/decoding-autism-essential-tests-and-key-indicators-you-cant-afford-to-ignore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">our blog<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=&#8221;blog-references&#8221; el_class=&#8221;blog-text-35795&#8243;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;References&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221; el_id=&#8221;blog-ref-3564&#8243;]<\/p>\n<div id=\"blog-ref-3564\">\n<ol class=\"ul-36784\">\n<li>Milani C, Duranti S, Bottacini F, Casey E, Turroni F, Mahony J, Belzer C, Delgado Palacio S, Arboleya Montes S, Mancabelli L, Lugli GA, Rodriguez JM, Bode L, de Vos W, Gueimonde M, Margolles A, van Sinderen D, Ventura M. The First Microbial Colonizers of the Human Gut: Composition, Activities, and Health Implications of the Infant Gut Microbiota. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2017 Nov 8;81(4):e00036-17. doi: 10.1128\/MMBR.00036-17. PMID: 29118049; PMCID: PMC5706746.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29118049\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29118049\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Huus KE, Petersen C, Finlay BB. Diversity and dynamism of IgA-microbiota interactions. Nat Rev Immunol. 2021 Aug;21(8):514-525. doi: 10.1038\/s41577-021-00506-1. Epub 2021 Feb 10. PMID: 33568782.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33568782\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33568782\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Dombrowska-Pali A, Wiktorczyk-Kapischke N, Chrustek A, Olszewska-S\u0142onina D, Gospodarek-Komkowska E, Socha MW. Human Milk Microbiome-A Review of Scientific Reports. Nutrients. 2024 May 8;16(10):1420. doi: 10.3390\/nu16101420. PMID: 38794658; PMCID: PMC11124344.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/38794658\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/38794658\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Tanaka M, Nakayama J. Development of the gut microbiota in infancy and its impact on health in later life. Allergol Int. 2017 Oct;66(4):515-522. doi: 10.1016\/j.alit.2017.07.010. Epub 2017 Aug 18. PMID: 28826938.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28826938\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28826938\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Dominguez-Bello MG, Godoy-Vitorino F, Knight R, Blaser MJ. Role of the microbiome in human development. Gut. 2019 Jun;68(6):1108-1114. doi: 10.1136\/gutjnl-2018-317503. Epub 2019 Jan 22. PMID: 30670574; PMCID: PMC6580755.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30670574\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30670574\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Cunningham M, Azcarate-Peril MA, Barnard A, Benoit V, Grimaldi R, Guyonnet D, Holscher HD, Hunter K, Manurung S, Obis D, Petrova MI, Steinert RE, Swanson KS, van Sinderen D, Vulevic J, Gibson GR. Shaping the Future of Probiotics and Prebiotics. Trends Microbiol. 2021 Aug;29(8):667-685. doi: 10.1016\/j.tim.2021.01.003. Epub 2021 Feb 4. PMID: 33551269.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33551269\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33551269\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Iebba V, Totino V, Gagliardi A, Santangelo F, Cacciotti F, Trancassini M, Mancini C, Cicerone C, Corazziari E, Pantanella F, Schippa S. Eubiosis and dysbiosis: the two sides of the microbiota. New Microbiol. 2016 Jan;39(1):1-12. PMID: 26922981.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26922981\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26922981\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the human microbiome&#8217;s impact on health, focusing on infant gut development, feeding modes, antibiotics, and the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76,77,64],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Infant Gut Microbiome - Day 31 to 364<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore the human microbiome&#039;s impact on health, focusing on infant gut development, feeding modes, antibiotics, and the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/developmental-origins-of-health-and-disease-infant-gut-microbiome\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Infant Gut Microbiome - Day 31 to 364\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore the human microbiome&#039;s impact on health, focusing on infant gut development, feeding modes, antibiotics, and the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/developmental-origins-of-health-and-disease-infant-gut-microbiome\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"fratnow.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/autismfrat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-07-30T06:07:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-10T08:13:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/neonatal-microbiome-breastfed-infants-versus-formula-fed-infants-blog-listing-image.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"730\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mani T. 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