About this Research Topic
Early life is a critical period for establishing the human microbiota, which is affected by many factors. Interferences in this process may impact the infant nutritional metabolism, immune regulation, and increased risks of chronic diseases in adulthood. The origins and establishment process of gut microbiota in early life engage in a mutualistic relationship with the host and play a lasting role in childhood health and disease. However, when does the development of the human microbiome begin, mothers' contribution, how the microbiome is transmitted to infants, and what roles does the microbiome play in the host immune system and health remain largely unexplored.
In this Research Topic, we aim to tackle several questions in the list below:
- When does the development of human microbiota begin? Are there any bacteria in the maternal womb (placenta, amniotic fluid, etc.) and neonatal meconium?
- What is the maternal contribution to infant microbial establishment? How the maternal microbiota at multiple body sites are transmitted to the infant, and which type is the most contributor?
- What is the role of maternal breast milk act on health and development of offspring immune system, metabolic regulation and nutrition?
- What is the role of perinatal factors on infant microbiota? How do the delivery mode, feeding patterns, etc., influence the colonization and maturation of human microbiota, and how long do the impacts last?
- What is the relationship between microbiota and its function shift during early life and long-term health? What are the critical factors that might restore and modify microbial perturbation?
- What are the overlooked messages in a baby's first meconium? Based on its component or metabolite, is it possible to divide the meconium into several types linked to any specific kind of newborn future gut microbiota feature, future diseases, or the mother's characteristics?
We welcome Original Research and Review. Specific themes include, but are not limited to:
• Placenta/Amniotic fluid/Meconium microbiota
• The establishment and influence factors on infant gut microbiota
• The mutualistic relationship between gut microbiota in early life with the host
We would like to acknowledge Dr. Yu Liu , Peking University First Hospital, has acted as the Research Topic Coordinator for this project and has contributed to preparing the proposal for this Research Topic.
In this Research Topic, we aim to tackle several questions in the list below:
- When does the development of human microbiota begin? Are there any bacteria in the maternal womb (placenta, amniotic fluid, etc.) and neonatal meconium?
- What is the maternal contribution to infant microbial establishment? How the maternal microbiota at multiple body sites are transmitted to the infant, and which type is the most contributor?
- What is the role of maternal breast milk act on health and development of offspring immune system, metabolic regulation and nutrition?
- What is the role of perinatal factors on infant microbiota? How do the delivery mode, feeding patterns, etc., influence the colonization and maturation of human microbiota, and how long do the impacts last?
- What is the relationship between microbiota and its function shift during early life and long-term health? What are the critical factors that might restore and modify microbial perturbation?
- What are the overlooked messages in a baby's first meconium? Based on its component or metabolite, is it possible to divide the meconium into several types linked to any specific kind of newborn future gut microbiota feature, future diseases, or the mother's characteristics?
We welcome Original Research and Review. Specific themes include, but are not limited to:
• Placenta/Amniotic fluid/Meconium microbiota
• The establishment and influence factors on infant gut microbiota
• The mutualistic relationship between gut microbiota in early life with the host
We would like to acknowledge Dr. Yu Liu , Peking University First Hospital, has acted as the Research Topic Coordinator for this project and has contributed to preparing the proposal for this Research Topic.
Keywords: early life, microbial origin, microbial establishment, infant microbiota, long-term health
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
