Establishment of the early gut microbiota in vaginally delivered infants: the influence of maternal gut microbiota outweighs vaginal microbiota.

ABSTRACT: Gut microbiota is one of the largest microbial communities within the human body, yet its origins and early developmental processes remain not fully understood. This study collected samples from 26 mother-infant pairs from the third trimester to 14 days postpartum, using 16S rDNA sequencing and Source Tracker analysis to investigate the dynamic changes and sources of early infant gut microbiota. Results showed that maternal gut microbiota at 32 weeks of gestation was the primary source of meconium microbiota in vaginally delivered infants and continued to influence day-14 gut microbiota, while maternal vaginal microbiota contributed minimally (<1%). Regardless of bacterial presence in breast milk, maternal gut microbiota remained a critical source for day-14 gut microbiota of vaginally del

SUBMITTER: Xie H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12403616 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature