Infant gut microbiome composition and function

The infant gut microbiome refers to the complex community of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, that colonize the gastrointestinal tract during the first years of life (Milani et al., 2017). This ecosystem is fundamental to human health, serving as a primary driver for the maturation of the mucosal immune system and the establishment of metabolic homeostasis (Arrieta et al., 2014). The composition is highly sensitive to early-life exposures such as delivery mode, breastfeeding, and antibiotic use, with a critical window of development that influences long-term health outcomes (Bokulich et al., 2016). Dysbiosis in this system is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants and the later development of allergic and autoimmune diseases (Warner et al., 2016). Therapeutic strategies, including the use of live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) and prebiotics, aim to restore or maintain a healthy microbial assembly to prevent or treat these conditions (Underwood et al., 2015).

Other names

Infant gut microbiotaNeonatal intestinal microbiomeEarly-life gut microbiomeInfant intestinal flora

Modulation of the microbial ecosystem through the introduction of beneficial commensal strains (probiotics), provision of selective substrates (prebiotics), or elimination of pathogenic taxa (antibiotics) to restore homeostatic balance and support host physiological development (Hill et al., 2014).