Abstract
Extensive microbial colonization of the infant gastrointestinal tract starts after parturition. There are several parallel mechanisms by which early life microbiome acquisition may proceed, including early exposure to maternal vaginal and fecal microbiota, transmission of skin associated microbes, and ingestion of microorganisms present in breast milk. The crucial role of vertical transmission from the maternal microbial reservoir during vaginal delivery is supported by the shared microbial strains observed among mothers and their babies and the distinctly different gut microbiome composition of caesarean-section born infants. The healthy infant colon is often dominated by members of the keystone genus Bifidobacterium that have evolved complex genetic pathways to metabolize different glycans present in human milk. In exchange for these host-derived nutrients, bifidobacteria’s saccharolytic activity results in an anaerobic and acidic gut environment that is protective against enteropathogenic infection. Interference with early-life microbiota acquisition and development could result in adverse health outcomes. Compromised microbiota development, often characterized by decreased abundance of Bifidobacterium species has been reported in infants delivered prematurely, delivered by caesarean section, early life antibiotic exposure and in the case of early life allergies. Various microbiome modulation strategies such as probiotic, prebiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics have been developed that are able to generate a bifidogenic shift and help to restore the microbiota development. This review explores the evolutionary ecology of early-life type Bifidobacterium strains and their symbiotic relationship with humans and discusses examples of compromised microbiota development in which stimulating the abundance and activity of Bifidobacterium has demonstrated beneficial associations with health.
Highlights
Intestinal microbiota development in early life is very dynamic and is in synergy with anatomical, intestinal physiology, immune and neurological development [1]
We aim to provide mechanistic insights which support the application of bifidobacteria as microbiome modulators to restore compromised microbiota development linked to mode of delivery, antibiotic exposure, prematurity and childhood pathology such as allergy
These findings support the hypothesis that inadequate microbiome colonization is key in the manifestation of allergic diseases and that Bifidobacterial levels in early life align with key stages in immune maturation
Summary
Intestinal microbiota development in early life is very dynamic and is in synergy with anatomical, intestinal physiology, immune and neurological development [1]. The subsequent colonization process is a balance between influx of microbes and niche adaptability [8] These first microbial pioneers become key players in the assembly of a complex ecosystem that follows distinct successional stages with potential long term health consequences [9]. The formation of this complex ecosystem is influenced by multiple factors including host genetics, mother’s microbiota, gestational age, medical practices, mode of delivery, diet, life style, familial environment, presence of pets, infectious diseases and antimicrobial therapies [10]. Microbiota assembly in the infant gut is not strictly deterministic, there is an overarching directionality of microbial succession strongly driven by early life nutrition, human breast milk. We aim to provide mechanistic insights which support the application of bifidobacteria as microbiome modulators (in conjunction with prebiotics) to restore compromised microbiota development linked to mode of delivery, antibiotic exposure, prematurity and childhood pathology such as allergy
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