scholarly journals Identifying the critical time window for the association of the early-life gut microbiome and metabolome with childhood neurodevelopment

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Sun ◽  
Kathleen Lee-Sarwar ◽  
Rachel S. Kelly ◽  
Jessica A. Lasky-Su ◽  
Augusto A. Litonjua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Human Study ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
First Year ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
First Year Of Life

It has been widely recognized that a critical time window for neurodevelopment occurs in early life, and that the host's gut microbiome plays an important role in neurodevelopment. While murine models have demonstrated that the maternal gut microbiome also influences offspring brain development, for humans it is still unclear if the critical time window for the association between the gut microbiome and neurodevelopment is prenatal, postnatal or both. Here we leverage a large-scale human study and compare the associations between the gut microbiota and metabolites from mothers and their children with the children's neurodevelopment. We show, for the first time, that the maternal gut microbiome is more relevant than the children's gut microbiome to the children's neurodevelopment in the first year of life. Interestingly, the roles of the same taxa with respect to neurodevelopment can be opposite at the two stages of fetal neurodevelopment. These findings shed light on potential therapeutic interventions to prevent neurodevelopmental disorders.

scholarly journals Levels of Predominant Intestinal Microorganisms in 1 Month-Old Full-Term Babies and Weight Gain During the First Year of Life

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2412
Author(s):  
Sonia González ◽  
Marta Selma-Royo ◽  
Silvia Arboleya ◽  
Cecilia Martínez-Costa ◽  
Gonzalo Solís ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Full Term ◽  
First Year ◽  
Term Infants ◽  
Term Newborns ◽  
Infant Weight Gain ◽  
First Year Of Life

The early life gut microbiota has been reported to be involved in neonatal weight gain and later infant growth. Therefore, this early microbiota may constitute a target for the promotion of healthy neonatal growth and development with potential consequences for later life. Unfortunately, we are still far from understanding the association between neonatal microbiota and weight gain and growth. In this context, we evaluated the relationship between early microbiota and weight in a cohort of full-term infants. The absolute levels of specific fecal microorganisms were determined in 88 vaginally delivered and 36 C-section-delivered full-term newborns at 1 month of age and their growth up to 12 months of age. We observed statistically significant associations between the levels of some early life gut microbes and infant weight gain during the first year of life. Classifying the infants into tertiles according to their Staphylococcus levels at 1 month of age allowed us to observe a significantly lower weight at 12 months of life in the C-section-delivered infants from the highest tertile. Univariate and multivariate models pointed out associations between the levels of some fecal microorganisms at 1 month of age and weight gain at 6 and 12 months. Interestingly, these associations were different in vaginally and C-section-delivered babies. A significant direct association between Staphylococcus and weight gain at 1 month of life was observed in vaginally delivered babies, whereas in C-section-delivered infants, lower Bacteroides levels at 1 month were associated with higher later weight gain (at 6 and 12 months). Our results indicate an association between the gut microbiota and weight gain in early life and highlight potential microbial predictors for later weight gain.

scholarly journals Expression network analysis reveals cord blood vitamin D-associated genes affecting risk of early life wheeze

Thorax ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hooman Mirzakhani ◽  
Amal A Al-Garawi ◽  
Vincent J Carey ◽  
Weiliang Qiu ◽  
Augusto A Litonjua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Cord Blood ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
First Year ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Recurrent Wheeze ◽  
First Year Of Life

Cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) has been reported in association with risk of early life recurrent wheeze. In a subset of infants who participated in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial, we demonstrated that higher cord blood 25OHD at birth (>31 ng/mL) was associated with a reduced risk of recurrent wheeze in the first year of life. We then identified a module of co-expressed genes associated with cord blood 25OHD levels >31 ng/mL. Genes in this module are involved in biological and immune pathways related to development and progression of asthma pathogenesis including the Notch1 and transforming growth factor-beta signalling pathways.

scholarly journals Higher Ultraviolet Radiation During Early Life Reduces Risk of Childhood Type 1 Diabetes in Boys

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Miller
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Population Based ◽  
First Year ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
First Year Of Life

IntroductionThere is increasing evidence that environmental exposures may be important in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is of interest in relation to the development of T1D because of its immunoregulatory actions. Ecological studies testing the correlation between levels of UVR and T1D have shown a significant inverse relationship for both incidence and prevalence. Objectives and Approach We used large linked datasets to test ambient UVR during early life against T1D risk at the individual level. We conducted a nested case-control study using linked data from state-wide administrative datasets and NASA satellites. Cases (n=1819) were all children born in Western Australia from 1980-2014 with a diagnosis of T1D on the population-based Western Australian Children’s Diabetes Database between 0-16 years of age. Controls (n=27 259) were randomly selected from all live births in Western Australia and matched to cases on sex and date of birth. Daily UVR data from NASA satellites, that were date-and location-specific for each individual, were used to estimate total UVR dose for each trimester of pregnancy and the first year of life. ResultsConditional logistic regression showed that T1D risk was 44% lower in boys of mothers with UVR levels in the highest quartile (compared to the lowest quartile) during their third trimester of pregnancy (p=0.04). Higher UVR in the first year of life was also associated with a significantly lower risk of T1D in later childhood among boys. Among girls, there was no evidence of an association between total UVR dose and T1D risk. ConclusionHigher UVR in the third trimester and first year of life appears to interact with sex-specific factors to lower T1D risk among boys (but not girls) in Western Australia.

scholarly journals 4444 The effect of early life antibiotics on gut microbiome and fecal bile acid concentrations in children

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
pp. 146-147
Author(s):  
Alain Jesus Benitez ◽  
Jeffrey S. Gerber ◽  
Ceylan Tanes ◽  
Kyle Bittinger ◽  
Elliot S. Friedman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bile Acid ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
First Year ◽  
Antibiotic Exposure ◽  
Fecal Bile Acid ◽  
Gi Symptoms ◽  
First Year Of Life

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The current proposal seeks to investigate the effect of early life antibiotic use in the development of functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. We propose that infants exposed to antibiotics will present with gut microbial dysbiosis, changes in fecal bile acid concentrations and develop more GI symptoms compared to unexposed children. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We analyzed fecal samples from 174 subjects at 12 months of age, of whom 52 were exposed to antibiotics in their first year of life. Of these, 33 subjects were sampled again at 24 months of age. DNA from 200mg of frozen stool (−80C) was isolated with the Qiagen DNeasy PowerSoil kit. Shotgun libraries were generated using the NexteraXT kit and sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 using 2x125 bp chemistry. Sequence data were analyzed using the Sunbeam metagenomics pipeline. The abundance of bacteria was estimated using Kraken version 2.0.8. Fecal bile acids will be quantified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Overall bacterial community composition at 12 or 24 months was not associated with antibiotic exposure (PERMANOVA test, Bray-Curtis distance). An increase in Enterobacteriaceae, in particular Escherichia coli, is a signature of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis, but also of early infant gut. Children with antibiotic exposure had slightly higher abundance of Escherichia coli compared to those with no exposure (p = 0.03). At 24 months, the abundance of Bacteroides caccae, a commensal gut species, was decreased for children exposed to antibiotics in the first year of life (fdr = 0.02). We will perform further analysis of bile acid modifying bacteria, fecal bile acid concentrations and correlate to GI symptoms. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Our findings suggest a significant but nuanced impact of early life antibiotic use on the composition of the gut microbiota. The association of antibiotic exposure with B. caccae and E. coli warrant further attention in the context of the rapidly developing early-life microbiome. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DESCRIPTION: The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this work.

scholarly journals Fecal Microbiotas of Indonesian and New Zealand Children Differ in Complexity and Bifidobacterial Taxa during the First Year of Life

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Blair Lawley ◽  
Anna Otal ◽  
Kit Moloney-Geany ◽  
Aly Diana ◽  
Lisa Houghton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
First Year ◽  
Natural Ecosystem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Year Of Life

ABSTRACT The biological succession that occurs during the first year of life in the gut of infants in Western countries is broadly predictable in terms of the increasing complexity of the composition of microbiotas. Less information is available about microbiotas in Asian countries, where environmental, nutritional, and cultural influences may differentially affect the composition and development of the microbial community. We compared the fecal microbiotas of Indonesian (n = 204) and New Zealand (NZ) (n = 74) infants 6 to 7 months and 12 months of age. Comparisons were made by analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and derivation of community diversity metrics, relative abundances of bacterial families, enterotypes, and cooccurrence correlation networks. Abundances of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and B. longum subsp. longum were determined by quantitative PCR. All observations supported the view that the Indonesian and NZ infant microbiotas developed in complexity over time, but the changes were much greater for NZ infants. B. longum subsp. infantis dominated the microbiotas of Indonesian children, whereas B. longum subsp. longum was dominant in NZ children. Network analysis showed that the niche model (in which trophic adaptation results in preferential colonization) of the assemblage of microbiotas was supported in Indonesian infants, whereas the neutral (stochastic) model was supported by the development of the microbiotas of NZ infants. The results of the study show that the development of the fecal microbiota is not the same for infants in all countries, and they point to the necessity of obtaining a better understanding of the factors that control the colonization of the gut in early life. IMPORTANCE This study addresses the microbiology of a natural ecosystem (the infant bowel) for children in a rural setting in Indonesia and in an urban environment in New Zealand. Analysis of DNA sequences generated from the microbial community (microbiota) in the feces of the infants during the first year of life showed marked differences in the composition and complexity of the bacterial collections. The differences were most likely due to differences in the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding of infants in the two countries. These kinds of studies are essential for developing concepts of microbial ecology related to the influence of nutrition and environment on the development of the gut microbiota and for determining the long-term effects of microbiological events in early life on human health and well-being.

scholarly journals Dynamics and Stabilization of the Human Gut Microbiome during the First Year of Life

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 690-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik Bäckhed ◽  
Josefine Roswall ◽  
Yangqing Peng ◽  
Qiang Feng ◽  
Huijue Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
First Year ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Human Gut Microbiome ◽  
First Year Of Life

scholarly journals Interactions of Respiratory Viruses and the Nasal Microbiota during the First Year of Life in Healthy Infants

mSphere ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Insa Korten ◽  
Moana Mika ◽  
Shkipe Klenja ◽  
Elisabeth Kieninger ◽  
Ines Mack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Human Rhinovirus ◽  
First Year ◽  
Disease Development ◽  
Potential Marker ◽  
Acute Changes ◽  
First Year Of Life ◽  
Nasal Microbiota

ABSTRACT Respiratory viral infections are very frequent in infancy and of importance in acute and chronic disease development. Infections with human rhinovirus (HRV) are, e.g., associated with the later development of asthma. We found that only symptomatic HRV infections were associated with acute changes in the nasal microbiota, mainly characterized by a loss of microbial diversity. Infants with more frequent symptomatic HRV infections had a lower bacterial diversity at the end of the first year of life. Whether the interaction between viruses and the microbiota is one pathway contributing to asthma development will be assessed in the follow-ups of these children. Independent of that, measurements of microbial diversity might represent a potential marker for risk of later lung disease or monitoring of early life interventions. Traditional culture techniques have shown that increased bacterial colonization is associated with viral colonization; however, the influence of viral colonization on the whole microbiota composition is less clear. We thus aimed to understand the interaction of viral infections and the nasal microbiota in early life to appraise their roles in disease development. Thirty-two healthy, unselected infants were included in this prospective longitudinal cohort study within the first year of life. Biweekly nasal swabs (n = 559) were taken, and the microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA pyrosequencing, and 10 different viruses and 2 atypical bacteria were characterized by real-time PCR (combination of seven duplex samples). In contrast to asymptomatic human rhinovirus (HRV) colonization, symptomatic HRV infections were associated with lower alpha diversity (Shannon diversity index [SDI]), higher bacterial density (PCR concentration), and a difference in beta diversities (Jaccard and Bray-Curtis index) of the microbiota. In addition, infants with more frequent HRV infections had a lower SDI at the end of the study period. Overall, changes in the microbiota associated with symptomatic HRV infections were characterized by a loss of microbial diversity. The interaction between HRV infections and the nasal microbiota in early life might be of importance for later disease development and indicate a potential approach for future interventions. IMPORTANCE Respiratory viral infections are very frequent in infancy and of importance in acute and chronic disease development. Infections with human rhinovirus (HRV) are, e.g., associated with the later development of asthma. We found that only symptomatic HRV infections were associated with acute changes in the nasal microbiota, mainly characterized by a loss of microbial diversity. Infants with more frequent symptomatic HRV infections had a lower bacterial diversity at the end of the first year of life. Whether the interaction between viruses and the microbiota is one pathway contributing to asthma development will be assessed in the follow-ups of these children. Independent of that, measurements of microbial diversity might represent a potential marker for risk of later lung disease or monitoring of early life interventions.

scholarly journals Dynamics and Stabilization of the Human Gut Microbiome during the First Year of Life

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik Bäckhed ◽  
Josefine Roswall ◽  
Yangqing Peng ◽  
Qiang Feng ◽  
Huijue Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
First Year ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Human Gut Microbiome ◽  
First Year Of Life

scholarly journals Composition and Associations of the Infant Gut Fungal Microbiota with Environmental Factors and Childhood Allergic Outcomes

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rozlyn C. T. Boutin ◽  
Hind Sbihi ◽  
Ryan J. McLaughlin ◽  
Aria S. Hahn ◽  
Kishori M. Konwar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Fungal Communities ◽  
First Year ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Early Life Factors ◽  
Fungal Microbiota ◽  
First Year Of Life ◽  
First Time

Recent evidence suggests an immunomodulatory role for commensal fungi (mycobiota) in the gut, yet little is known about the composition and dynamics of early-life gut fungal communities. In this work, we show for the first time that the composition of the gut mycobiota of Canadian infants changes dramatically over the course of the first year of life, is associated with environmental factors such as geographical location, diet, and season of birth, and can be used in conjunction with knowledge of a small number of key early-life factors to predict inhalant atopy status at age 5 years.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of Pond Expansion in a Rapidly Submerging Marsh

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Himmelstein ◽  
Orencio Duran Vinent ◽  
Stijn Temmerman ◽  
Matthew L. Kirwan
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Pond Size ◽  
Power Law Equation ◽  
Historical Photographs

The development and expansion of ponds within otherwise vegetated coastal marshes is a primary driver of marsh loss throughout the world. Previous studies propose that large ponds expand through a wind wave-driven positive feedback, where pond edge erosion rates increase with pond size, whereas biochemical processes control the formation and expansion of smaller ponds. However, it remains unclear which mechanisms dominate at a given scale, and thus how, and how fast, ponds increase their size. Here, we use historical photographs and field measurements in a rapidly submerging microtidal marsh to quantify pond development and identify the processes involved. We find that as small ponds emerge on the marsh platform, they quickly coalesce and merge, increasing the number of larger ponds. Pond expansion rates are maximized for intermediate size ponds and decrease for larger ponds, where the contribution of wave-driven erosion is negligible. Vegetation biomass, soil shear strength, and porewater biogeochemical indices of marsh health are higher in marshes adjacent to stable ponds than in those adjacent to unstable ponds, suggesting that pond growth rates are negatively related to the health of the surrounding marsh. We find that the model of Vinent et al. (2021) correctly predicts measured pond growth rates and size distribution, which suggest the different mechanisms driving pond growth are a result of marsh drowning due to sea level rise (SLR) and can be estimated by simplified physical models. Finally, we show that all relevant processes increasing pond size can be summarized by an empirical power-law equation for pond growth which predicts the temporal change of the maximum pond size as a lower bound for the total pond area in the system. This gives a timescale for the growth of ponds by merging and thus the critical time window for interventions to prevent the irreversible pond expansion associated with large scale pond merging.

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