The acquisition and early maturation of infant microbiota is not well understood despite its likely influence on later health. We investigated the contribution of the maternal microbiota to the microbiota of infant gut and nose in the context of mode of delivery and feeding. Using 16S rRNA sequencing and specific qPCR, we profiled microbiota of 42 mother-infant pairs from the GUSTO birth cohort, at body sites including maternal vagina, rectum and skin; and infant stool and nose. In our study, overlap between maternal vaginal microbiota and infant faecal microbiota was minimal, while the similarity between maternal rectal microbiota and infant microbiota was more pronounced. However, an infant’s nasal and gut microbiota were no more similar to that of its own mother, than to that of unrelated mothers. These findings were independent of delivery mode. We conclude that the transfer of maternal vaginal microbes play a minor role in seeding infant stool microbiota. Transfer of maternal rectal microbiota could play a larger role in seeding infant stool microbiota, but approaches other than the generally used analyses of community similarity measures are likely to be needed to quantify bacterial transmission. We confirmed the clear difference between microbiota of infants born by Caesarean section compared to vaginally delivered infants and the impact of feeding mode on infant gut microbiota. Only vaginally delivered, fully breastfed infants had gut microbiota dominated by Bifidobacteria. Our data suggest that reduced transfer of maternal vaginal microbial is not the main mechanism underlying the differential infant microbiota composition associated with Caesarean delivery. The sources of a large proportion of infant microbiota could not be identified in maternal microbiota, and the sources of seeding of infant gut and nasal microbiota remain to be elucidated.
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Does the maternal vaginal microbiota play a role in seeding the microbiota of neonatal gut and nose?
O. Sakwinska Related information
1Nestlé Research Center, Vers-Chez-Les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland.
*Corresponding author: olga. sakwinska@rdls. nestle. com
, F. Foata Related information*Corresponding author: olga.
1Nestlé Research Center, Vers-Chez-Les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland.
, B. Berger Related information1Nestlé Research Center, Vers-Chez-Les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland.
, H. Brüssow Related information1Nestlé Research Center, Vers-Chez-Les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland.
, S. Combremont Related information1Nestlé Research Center, Vers-Chez-Les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland.
, A. Mercenier Related information1Nestlé Research Center, Vers-Chez-Les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland.
, S. Dogra Related information2Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR), 30 Medical Drive, 117609 Singapore.
3Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, 119228 Singapore.
, S.-E. Soh Related information3Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, 119228 Singapore.
2Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR), 30 Medical Drive, 117609 Singapore.
4Vishuo BioMedical Pte Ltd, 03-33/35A, Teletech Park, 2O Science Park Road, Singapore.
, J.C.K. Yen Related information4Vishuo BioMedical Pte Ltd, 03-33/35A, Teletech Park, 2O Science Park Road, Singapore.
5Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899 Singapore.
, G.Y.S. Heong Related information6Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899 Singapore.
7Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore.
8Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228 Singapore.
, Y.S. Lee Related information7Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore.
8Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228 Singapore.
2Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR), 30 Medical Drive, 117609 Singapore.
3Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, 119228 Singapore.
9Division of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228 Singapore.
, F. Yap Related information3Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, 119228 Singapore.
9Division of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228 Singapore.
10Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899 Singapore.
, M.J. Meaney Related information2Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR), 30 Medical Drive, 117609 Singapore.
11Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas University Mental Health Institute, McGill University, 3755 Côte-Ste-Catherine Montreal, QC H3T 1E2 Canada.
, Y.-S. Chong Related information11Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas University Mental Health Institute, McGill University, 3755 Côte-Ste-Catherine Montreal, QC H3T 1E2 Canada.
2Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR), 30 Medical Drive, 117609 Singapore.
8Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228 Singapore.
, K.M. Godfrey Related information8Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119228 Singapore.
12MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom.
13NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, MP 218 Tremona Road, SO16 6YD Southampton, United Kingdom.
, J.D. Holbrook Related information13NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, MP 218 Tremona Road, SO16 6YD Southampton, United Kingdom.
2Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR), 30 Medical Drive, 117609 Singapore.
13NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, MP 218 Tremona Road, SO16 6YD Southampton, United Kingdom.
13NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, MP 218 Tremona Road, SO16 6YD Southampton, United Kingdom.
Beneficial Microbes: 8
(5)- Pages: 763 - 778
Published Online: October 12, 2017
Abstract
Keywords: microbiota transfer, delivery mode, perinatal microbiota
2022 Journal Impact Factor
5.4
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