Dynamic alternations in mother-infant dyad’s gut microbiota over the period of six months

Abstract Since birth, the human microbiome plays a pivotal role in health. It is intriguing to understand the establishing roles of intestinal microbiota in infants. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in maternal and infant’s gut microbiota, the interaction between intestinal microbiota, and the function of intestinal microbiota. This study recruited one pregnant woman > 35 weeks gestational age. Faeces of the mother-infant dyad were regularly collected until six months of infant’s age for metagenomic analysis. The results showed the infant’s gut microbiota was different from the mother’s, majorly, encompassing Bacteroides fragilis, Ruminococcus gnavus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella michiganensis. Infant- or mother-specific differential metabolic pathways were found between the mother and infant’s gut microbiome, implicating differences in the intestinal metagenomic potential/function. In conclusion, the gut microbes and functions were gradually established as infant grew.