The Human Microbiome before Birth

Martin J Blaser; Maria G Dominguez-Bello

doi:10.1016/j.chom.2016.10.014

The Human Microbiome before Birth

Cell Host Microbe. 2016 Nov 9;20(5):558-560. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.10.014.

Authors

Martin J Blaser¹, Maria G Dominguez-Bello²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Microbiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA. Electronic address: Martin.Blaser@nyumc.org.
² Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.

PMID: 27832586
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.10.014

Abstract

The conservation of the microbiota within humans and other hominids suggests an ancient assembly that has been selected to optimize host fitness. Pregnancy induces changes in the maternal microbiome just before the intergenerational hand-off of the microbiota. Interventions, including peri-partum antibiotics and Cesarean sections, may have unintended effects on babies.

MeSH terms

Female
Fetus / microbiology*
Humans
Microbiota*
Pregnancy

Grants and funding

R01 DK090989/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States