Dutton Christopher L, Maisha Felicien Masanga, Quinn Edward B, Morales Katherine Liceth, Moore Julie M, Mulligan Connie J
Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, 1115 Turlington Hall, P.O. Box 117305, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305, USA.
Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Rd, P.O. Box 103610, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, USA.
Microorganisms. 2023 Apr 8;11(4):975. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11040975.
The developing infant gut microbiome is highly sensitive to environmental exposures, enabling its evolution into an organ that supports the immune system, confers protection from infection, and facilitates optimal gut and central nervous system function. In this study, we focus on the impact of maternal psychosocial stress on the infant gut microbiome. Forty-seven mother-infant dyads were recruited at the HEAL Africa Hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Extensive medical, demographic, and psychosocial stress data were collected at birth, and infant stool samples were collected at six weeks, three months, and six months. A composite maternal psychosocial stress score was created, based on eight questionnaires to capture a diverse range of stress exposures. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences were generated. Infants of mothers with high composite stress scores showed lower levels of gut microbiome beta diversity at six weeks and three months, as well as higher levels of alpha diversity at six months compared to infants of low stress mothers. Longitudinal analyses showed that infants of high stress mothers had lower levels of health-promoting and at six weeks compared to infants of low stress mothers, but the differences largely disappeared by three to six months. Previous research has shown that can be used as a probiotic to reduce inflammation, stress, and fatigue, as well as to improve mental state, while is important in modulating the gut-brain axis in early development and in preventing mood disorders. Our finding of reduced levels of these health-promoting bacteria in infants of high stress mothers suggests that the infant gut microbiome may help mediate the effect of maternal stress on infant health and development.
发育中的婴儿肠道微生物群对环境暴露高度敏感，使其能够演变成一个支持免疫系统、提供抗感染保护并促进肠道和中枢神经系统最佳功能的器官。在本研究中，我们关注母亲心理社会压力对婴儿肠道微生物群的影响。在刚果民主共和国戈马的HEAL非洲医院招募了47对母婴。在婴儿出生时收集了广泛的医学、人口统计学和心理社会压力数据，并在六周、三个月和六个月时收集了婴儿粪便样本。基于八份问卷创建了一个综合的母亲心理社会压力评分，以捕捉各种压力暴露情况。生成了全长16S rRNA基因序列。与低压力母亲的婴儿相比，综合压力评分高的母亲的婴儿在六周和三个月时肠道微生物群的β多样性水平较低，而在六个月时α多样性水平较高。纵向分析表明，与低压力母亲的婴儿相比，高压力母亲的婴儿在六周时促进健康的[细菌名称]水平较低，但到三到六个月时，差异基本消失。先前的研究表明，[细菌名称]可作为益生菌用于减轻炎症、压力和疲劳，以及改善精神状态，而[另一种细菌名称]在早期发育中调节肠脑轴和预防情绪障碍方面很重要。我们发现高压力母亲的婴儿中这些促进健康的细菌水平降低，这表明婴儿肠道微生物群可能有助于介导母亲压力对婴儿健康和发育的影响。
