Progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three months
Abstract The colonization and evolution of gut microbiota early in life play a vital role in shaping a healthy, robust immune system for infant health, whether in combating short-term illness or improving long-term health outcomes. Early-life clinical practices may interrupt or disrupt the normal co...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95198-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850184672617693184 |
|---|---|
| author | Fangfang Li Suet Li Hooi Yao Mun Choo Cindy Shuan Ju Teh Kai Yee Toh Lydia Wan Zhen Lim Yee Qing Lee Chun Wie Chong Azanna Ahmad Kamar |
| author_facet | Fangfang Li Suet Li Hooi Yao Mun Choo Cindy Shuan Ju Teh Kai Yee Toh Lydia Wan Zhen Lim Yee Qing Lee Chun Wie Chong Azanna Ahmad Kamar |
| author_sort | Fangfang Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The colonization and evolution of gut microbiota early in life play a vital role in shaping a healthy, robust immune system for infant health, whether in combating short-term illness or improving long-term health outcomes. Early-life clinical practices may interrupt or disrupt the normal colonization process of the infant gut microbiota, thereby increasing disease susceptibility. In this prospective cohort study, we analyzed the gut microbiota of 46 term and 23 preterm infants using 16S rRNA gene metagenomic sequencing. Fecal samples were collected at six timepoints during the first three months of life. Notably, gestational age was the main factor contributing to differences in the meconium microbial composition. Intriguingly, our study unveiled a more homogeneous microbial composition in preterm infants with more abundant Bifidobacterium from the postnatal age (PNA) of one month. Concurrently, the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus gradually increased, and the potentially pathogenic bacteria Clostridium, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas gradually decreased. Furthermore, our study underscored a link between decreased microbial diversity of preterm infants and exclusive breastfeeding and antibiotic exposure. Moreover, preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) exhibited reduced microbial diversity but higher abundances of Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus mitis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-678cd3373acc4e8faf033707796eb952 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-678cd3373acc4e8faf033707796eb9522025-08-20T02:16:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-95198-1Progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three monthsFangfang Li0Suet Li Hooi1Yao Mun Choo2Cindy Shuan Ju Teh3Kai Yee Toh4Lydia Wan Zhen Lim5Yee Qing Lee6Chun Wie Chong7Azanna Ahmad Kamar8Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti MalayaAMILI Pte LtdDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti MalayaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti MalayaAMILI Pte LtdAMILI Pte LtdDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti MalayaSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University MalaysiaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti MalayaAbstract The colonization and evolution of gut microbiota early in life play a vital role in shaping a healthy, robust immune system for infant health, whether in combating short-term illness or improving long-term health outcomes. Early-life clinical practices may interrupt or disrupt the normal colonization process of the infant gut microbiota, thereby increasing disease susceptibility. In this prospective cohort study, we analyzed the gut microbiota of 46 term and 23 preterm infants using 16S rRNA gene metagenomic sequencing. Fecal samples were collected at six timepoints during the first three months of life. Notably, gestational age was the main factor contributing to differences in the meconium microbial composition. Intriguingly, our study unveiled a more homogeneous microbial composition in preterm infants with more abundant Bifidobacterium from the postnatal age (PNA) of one month. Concurrently, the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus gradually increased, and the potentially pathogenic bacteria Clostridium, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas gradually decreased. Furthermore, our study underscored a link between decreased microbial diversity of preterm infants and exclusive breastfeeding and antibiotic exposure. Moreover, preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) exhibited reduced microbial diversity but higher abundances of Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus mitis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95198-1Gut microbiomeNICU16S amplicon sequencingMeconiumPatent ductus arteriosus (PDA)Preterm infants |
| spellingShingle | Fangfang Li Suet Li Hooi Yao Mun Choo Cindy Shuan Ju Teh Kai Yee Toh Lydia Wan Zhen Lim Yee Qing Lee Chun Wie Chong Azanna Ahmad Kamar Progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three months Scientific Reports Gut microbiome NICU 16S amplicon sequencing Meconium Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) Preterm infants |
| title | Progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three months |
| title_full | Progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three months |
| title_fullStr | Progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three months |
| title_full_unstemmed | Progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three months |
| title_short | Progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three months |
| title_sort | progression of gut microbiome in preterm infants during the first three months |
| topic | Gut microbiome NICU 16S amplicon sequencing Meconium Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) Preterm infants |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95198-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fangfangli progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths AT suetlihooi progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths AT yaomunchoo progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths AT cindyshuanjuteh progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths AT kaiyeetoh progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths AT lydiawanzhenlim progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths AT yeeqinglee progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths AT chunwiechong progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths AT azannaahmadkamar progressionofgutmicrobiomeinpreterminfantsduringthefirstthreemonths |