Li Shanshan, Liang Qijun, Qing Wei, Fang Zhencheng, Yuan Chunlei, Pan Shilei, Xie Hairui, Li Xiaocong, Chen Muxuan, He Yan, Zhou Hongwei, Wang Qian
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiome Medicine Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boai Hospital of Zhongshan, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
Ann Med. 2025 Dec;57(1):2442070. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2442070. Epub 2024 Dec 18.
Maternal colonization with Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disrupts the vaginal microbiota, potentially affecting infant microbiota assembly and growth. While the gut microbiota's importance in infant growth is recognized, the specific effects of maternal GBS on growth remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of maternal vaginal GBS during pregnancy on early infant growth, microbiome, and metabolomics.
We recruited and classified 453 pregnant women from southern China into GBS or healthy groups based on GBS vaginal colonization. Their infants were categorized as GBS-exposed or GBS-unexposed groups. We comprehensively analyzed infant growth, gut microbiota, and metabolites during early life, along with maternal vaginal microbiota during pregnancy, using 16S rDNA sequencing and targeted metabolomics.
GBS-exposed infants exhibited lower length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) than GBS-unexposed infants, especially at 2 months. Altered gut microbiota and metabolites in GBS-exposed infants correlated with growth, mediating the impact of maternal GBS on infant LAZ. Changes in the vaginal microbiota of the GBS group during the third trimester correlated with infant LAZ. Additionally, differences in neonatal gut microbiota, metabolites, and vaginal microbiota during pregnancy were identified between infants with overall LAZ<-1 within 8 months after birth and their counterparts, enhancing the discriminatory power of fundamental data for predicting the occurrence of LAZ<-1 during the first 8 months of life.
GBS exposure is associated with decreased infant length growth, with altered microbiota and metabolites potentially mediating the effects of maternal GBS on offspring length growth, offering potential targets for predicting and addressing growth impairment.
B族链球菌（GBS）在母体中的定植会破坏阴道微生物群，可能影响婴儿微生物群的组装和生长。虽然肠道微生物群在婴儿生长中的重要性已得到认可，但母体GBS对生长的具体影响仍不清楚。本研究旨在探讨孕期母体阴道GBS对婴儿早期生长、微生物组和代谢组学的影响。
我们从中国南方招募了453名孕妇，根据阴道GBS定植情况将她们分为GBS组或健康组。她们的婴儿被分为GBS暴露组或GBS未暴露组。我们使用16S rDNA测序和靶向代谢组学方法，全面分析了婴儿早期的生长、肠道微生物群和代谢产物，以及孕期母体阴道微生物群。
GBS暴露组婴儿的年龄别身长Z评分（LAZ）低于GBS未暴露组婴儿，尤其是在2个月时。GBS暴露组婴儿肠道微生物群和代谢产物的改变与生长相关，介导了母体GBS对婴儿LAZ的影响。GBS组孕晚期阴道微生物群的变化与婴儿LAZ相关。此外，出生后8个月内总体LAZ<-1的婴儿与其对应婴儿在新生儿肠道微生物群、代谢产物和孕期阴道微生物群方面存在差异，增强了基础数据对预测出生后前8个月LAZ<-1发生情况的判别能力。
GBS暴露与婴儿身长增长减少有关，微生物群和代谢产物的改变可能介导了母体GBS对后代身长增长的影响，为预测和解决生长发育障碍提供了潜在靶点。
