Huang Fangjun, Li Jiawen, Liu Dengjun, Li Yuling, Tang Jun
Department of Neonatology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2025 Aug 18;15:1642072. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1642072. eCollection 2025.
The neonatal period is a critical stage for microbial colonization and immune system development, with dynamic changes in the microbiome closely linked to the pathogenesis of various diseases. Traditional microbiological testing methods have low sensitivity and time-consuming limitations compared to metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), which makes it difficult to meet the diagnostic and therapeutic needs of critically ill neonates. mNGS analyzes the total DNA in a sample without bias, allowing comprehensive identification of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and resolution of functional genes, providing new avenues for precision diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal pneumonia, neonatal meningitis, neonatal jaundice, and other diseases. However, challenges remain, including the need to optimize sample processing workflows and develop portable devices to enhance clinical conversion potential. In this review, we summarize the application, efficacy, and limitations of mNGS in neonatal diseases. This approach paves the way for novel avenues in mechanistic research, early diagnosis, and personalized therapy for these conditions.
新生儿期是微生物定植和免疫系统发育的关键阶段，微生物群的动态变化与各种疾病的发病机制密切相关。与宏基因组下一代测序（mNGS）相比，传统微生物检测方法存在灵敏度低和耗时的局限性，难以满足危重新生儿的诊断和治疗需求。mNGS无偏倚地分析样本中的总DNA，能够全面鉴定细菌、病毒、真菌和寄生虫，并解析功能基因，为新生儿败血症、坏死性小肠结肠炎、新生儿肺炎、新生儿脑膜炎、新生儿黄疸等疾病的精准诊断和治疗提供了新途径。然而，挑战依然存在，包括需要优化样本处理流程以及开发便携式设备以提高临床转化潜力。在本综述中，我们总结了mNGS在新生儿疾病中的应用、疗效和局限性。这种方法为这些疾病的机制研究、早期诊断和个性化治疗开辟了新途径。
