Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Gut Microbes. 2024 Jan-Dec;16(1):2414798. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2414798. Epub 2024 Oct 28.
Weaning, the transition from a milk-based diet to solid food, coincides with the most significant shift in gut microbiome composition in the lifetime of most mammals. Notably, this period also marks a "window of opportunity" where key components of the immune system develop, and host-microbe interactions shape long-term immune homeostasis thereby influencing the risk of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the changes in nutrition, microbiota, and host physiology that occur during weaning. We explore how these weaning-associated processes differ across species, lifestyles, and regions of the intestine. Using prinicples of microbial ecology, we propose that the weaning transition is an optimal period for microbiome-targeted therapeutic interventions. Additionally, we suggest that replicating features of the weaning microbiome in adults could promote the successful engraftment of probiotics. Finally, we highlight key research areas that could deepen our understanding of the complex relationships between diet, commensal microbes, and the host, informing the development of more effective microbial therapies.
断奶是指从以奶类为主的饮食过渡到固体食物，这与大多数哺乳动物一生中肠道微生物组组成发生的最显著变化相吻合。值得注意的是，这一时期也标志着免疫系统关键组成部分发育的“机会窗口”，宿主-微生物相互作用形成长期免疫稳态，从而影响自身免疫和炎症性疾病的风险。本综述全面分析了断奶期间营养、微生物群和宿主生理学的变化。我们探讨了这些与断奶相关的过程在不同物种、生活方式和肠道区域之间的差异。我们运用微生物生态学原理，提出了断奶过渡期是针对微生物组进行治疗干预的最佳时期。此外，我们还提出，在成人中复制断奶微生物组的特征可以促进益生菌的成功定植。最后，我们强调了一些关键的研究领域，这些领域可以加深我们对饮食、共生微生物和宿主之间复杂关系的理解，为更有效的微生物治疗方法的发展提供信息。
