Maternal microbe-specific modulation of the offspring microbiome and development during pregnancy and lactation

ABSTRACT

The maternal microbiome is essential for the healthy growth and development of offspring and has long-term effects later in life. Recent advances indicate that the maternal microbiome begins to regulate fetal health and development during pregnancy. Furthermore, the maternal microbiome continues to affect early microbial colonization via birth and breastfeeding. Compelling evidence indicates that the maternal microbiome is involved in the regulation of immune and brain development and affects the risk of related diseases. Modulating offspring development by maternal diet and probiotic intervention during pregnancy and breastfeeding could be a promising therapy in the future. In this review, we summarize and discuss the current understanding of maternal microbiota development, perinatal microbial metabolite transfer, mother-to-infant microbial transmission during/after birth and its association with immune and brain development as well as corresponding diseases.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Maternal microbiota
• microbial metabolite
• fetus
• neonate
• immunity
• brain development

Authors’ contributions

MT and SHZ initiated the idea, scope, and outline of this review paper. MT, SHZ, QHL, THZ, SWY and FC studied and analyzed all of the publications cited in this paper and were involved in manuscript preparation. SHZ and WTG conducted the final editing and proofreading. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China [No. 2021YFD1300700], Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [No. 2021A1515010440], Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou [No. 202102020056], and National Natural Science Foundation of China [Nos. 31802067 and 31872364].