The composition of human vaginal microbiota transferred at birth affects offspring health in a mouse model
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Newborns are colonized by maternal microbiota that is essential for offspring health and development. The composition of these pioneer communities exhibits individual differences, but the importance of this early-life heterogeneity to health outcomes is not understood. Here we validate a human microbiota-associated model in which fetal mice are cesarean delivered and gavaged with defined human vaginal microbial communities. This model replicates the inoculation that occurs during vaginal birth and reveals lasting effects on offspring metabolism, immunity, and the brain in a community-specific manner. This microbial effect is amplified by prior gestation in a maternal obesogenic or vaginal dysbiotic environment where placental and fetal ileum development are altered, and an augmented immune response increases rates of offspring mortality. Collectively, we describe a translationally relevant model to examine the defined role of specific human microbial communities on offspring health outcomes, and demonstrate that the prenatal environment dramatically shapes the postnatal response to inoculation.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Topic: Gut microbiota and health
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,560
Funders: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, University of Virginia, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G119478995, Role of hormonal state in programming effects of peripubertal stress in females, G146438514, G1484563997, G2175386647, G2402765826, G3226444392, G3592343486, Elucidating causes of vaginal symptoms using a multi-omics approach, G4078500136, G408341937, G4867113482, G6211616406, G6512948858, G6676039741, G7241560168, G7300441087, G7479602579, G8365701126, Immune and developmental actions of the maternal microbial metabolites on the hypothalamus, G9000147122
OpenAlex ID: W3209770903