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Comprehensive Analysis of Maternal and Infant Microbiome Profiles: Maternal Microbial Transmission Shapes Offspring Somatic Growth Trajectory
30 Pages Posted: 14 May 2025 Publication Status: Under Review
More...Abstract
Perinatal and early‑life exposures are known to shape the infant gut microbiota, yet their long‑term consequences remain poorly characterized. In this prospective analysis of 3,310 mother-infant dyads (18,878 fecal samples), we systematically profiled the maternal gut microbiota progression across pregnancy trimesters and the infant gut microbiota development in first 36 months after birth. Delivery mode was the strongest early‑life determinant of infant gut microbiome composition; and with its influence diminishing over time, maternal pre‑pregnancy BMI exerted an increasing effect. Infant somatic growth trajectory was jointly associated with maternal and infant gut microbiome. We observed trajectory‑specific microbial abundance shifts resulted from vertical transmission. The somatic overgrowth trajectory exhibited delayed Bifidobacterium bifidum transmission followed by a compensatory surge. In contrast, the optimal trajectory was associated with increased vertical transmission and more balanced carbohydrate degradation preference of Phocaeicola vulgatus. These results underscored the role of maternally microbial strains in shaping infant somatic development.
Note:
Funding Information: The study was sponsored by Shenzhen Science and Technology Program JCYJ20240813150000001, the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC0900602), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82103863), Tianjin Health Research Project (Grant No. TJWJ2024QN092) and Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin, China (Grant No. 23JCYBJC00960).
Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests
Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board of Tianjin Women and Children's Health Center (No:201706012-1). All women provided informed consent.
Keywords: infant microbiota, maternal transmission, somatic growth
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