Fetal exposure to the maternal microbiota in humans and mice

• DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.127806
• Publication Date: 2019-09-03T16:03:07Z
• Authors: Noelle Younge; Jessica R. McCann; Julie Ballard; Catherine Plunkett; Suhail Akhtar; Félix Araújo-Pérez; Amy Murtha; Debra Brandon; Patrick C. Seed
• Keywords: Meconium; Mouth; 0303 health sciences; Microbial Viability; Bacteria; Cesarean Section; Microbiota; Placenta; Infant, Newborn; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; 3. Good health; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Pregnancy; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Animals; Humans; Female; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence

Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of microbial DNA in fetal environment. However, it remains unclear whether this represents viable bacteria and how relates to maternal microbiota across body sites. We studied human mouse dyads understand these relationships, localize fetus, demonstrate bacterial viability. In preterm full-term mother-infant at time cesarean delivery, oral cavity meconium newborn infants born as early 24 weeks gestation contained a that was predicted originate from utero sources, including placenta. Using operative deliveries pregnant mice under highly controlled, sterile conditions laboratory, composition, visualization, viability compartment intestine were by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, fluorescence situ hybridization, culture. The composition source gut shifted between mid- late gestation. Cultivatable found during mid-gestation but not Our results dynamic, mammalian development.