The gut microbiome is integral to health throughout life. A recent study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe explores the paternal role in infant gut seeding and the impact of induced seeding by maternal fecal microbiota transplant (FMT). Study: Paternal and induced gut microbiota seeding complement mother-to-infant transmission .
Image Credit: Natalia Deriabina / Shutterstock.com The fetal gut is sterile, as seeding begins after birth. Materno-fetal transmission of microorganisms occurs intrapartum and afterward, contributing to about 50% of microbial taxa in the infant's gut by one year.
This process may be disrupted by cesarean delivery, as vaginal delivery also facilitates the colonization of microorganisms in the infant's gut. Antibiotics are often administered to mothers who undergo cesarean delivery to reduce the risk of post-operative infections. Antibiotic treatment may also alter the composition of the maternal microbiome, thereby reducing the amount of maternal bacteria available for colonizing the infant's gut.
Cesarean delivery currently accounts for over 25% of births worldwide. Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and antibiotic stewardship can be utilized to mitigate the effects of cesarean delivery on infant gut colonization. Currently, researchers estimate that about half of the strains found within the fetal microbiome are not acquired from maternal transmission.
Therefore, in addition to the maternal influence on the development of the infant gut .
