Interactions with alloparents are associated with the diversity of infant skin and fecal bacterial communities in Chicago, United States.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Social interactions shape the infant microbiome by providing opportunities for caregivers to spread bacteria through physical contact. With most research focused on the impact of maternal-infant contact on the infant gut microbiome, it is unclear how alloparents (i.e., caregivers other than the parents) influence the bacterial communities of infant body sites that are frequently contacted during bouts of caregiving, including the skin.

Methods

To begin to understand how allocare may influence the diversity of the infant microbiome, detailed questionnaire data on infant-alloparent relationships and specific allocare behaviors were coupled with skin and fecal microbiome samples (four body sites) from 48 infants living in Chicago, United States.

Results

Data

SUBMITTER: Manus MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11667966 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature