All Early Life Microbiome articles
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NewsStudy links influenza A viral infection to microbiome, brain gene expression changes
Infection with influenza A is found to be associated with disruptions in newborn piglets’ nasal and gut microbiomes and with potentially detrimental changes in gene activity in the hippocampus, a brain structure that plays a central role in learning and memory.
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NewsBaby’s microbiome may protect against childhood viral infection
A baby’s makeup of gut bacteria — their microbiome — which starts to form as soon as they are born, could help protect against viral infections later in childhood, a new study suggests.
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NewsAntibiotics taken during pregnancy may reduce preterm births
A study of almost 1000 pregnant women in Zimbabwe found that a daily dose of a commonly used, safe and inexpensive antibiotic may have led to fewer babies being born early.
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NewsSelenium exposure during pregnancy may reduce childhood streptococcal infections
Higher maternal selenium levels during pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of streptococcal infections in children, a new study shows, suggesting a potential protective effect.
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NewsConsumption of ultra-processed foods by children up to one year old favors harmful bacteria in the gut
Analysis of the gut microbiota of more than 700 babies also showed that breastfeeding was a protective factor, mitigating the problem in those who consumed industrialized products. The study underscores the importance of breastfeeding.
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NewsFrequent use of antibiotics in infants and young children may increase risk for asthma, allergies and other conditions
Researchers have found that repeated antibiotic use before age 2 is associated with a higher risk for asthma, food allergies and hay fever later in life. These findings also applied to siblings who had different experiences with antibiotics.
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NewsDeadly rodent-borne hantavirus is an emerging disease with pandemic potential
Researchers have found three hotspots of hantavirus circulation in wildlife in the US – Virginia, Colorado, and Texas – and identified 15 rodent species as carriers, including six species that had not previously been identified as hosts of the virus.
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NewsHepatitis B: new rapid diagnostic test to halt mother-to-child transmission
Scientists have assessed a new rapid diagnostic test to identify pregnant women at elevated risk of transmitting hepatitis B to their babies. This diagnostic tool could help eliminate hepatitis B by preventing mother-to-child transmission during childbirth.
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NewsAntibiotic exposure in infancy may boost Type 1 diabetes risk - but microbiota can help
Exposure to antibiotics during a key developmental window in infancy can stunt the growth of insulin-producing cells and may boost risk of diabetes later in life. But the research pinpoints specific microbes that may help those critical cells proliferate in early life.
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NewsThe gut microbiota-metabolites-brain axis mediates social behavior dysfunction following anaesthesia
New research shows that the anaesthetic Sevoflurane (Sev) influences social functioning via the gut-brain axis, with microbiota-derived bile acids serving as critical mediators in this pathway.
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NewsThe relationship between gut microbiota, immunoglobulin A, and vaccine efficacy
Researchers concluded that the close relationship between immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency and the gut microbiota overgrowth is closely tied with the pneumococcal vaccine effectiveness in adults, thus providing insights for preventative strategies to enhance the vaccine response.
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NewsMeningococcal vaccine found to be safe and effective for infants in sub-Saharan Africa
A new global health study found a vaccine that protects against five strains of meningitis prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa is safe and effective for use in young children beginning at 9 months of age.
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NewsEarly-life gut microbes may protect against diabetes, research in mice suggests
A research discovered that the colonization of a fungus called <i>Candida dubliniensis</i> in the early life gut microbiome of mice, is able to promote growth of pancreatic beta cells in the presence of macrophages to restore blood insulin level and improve metabolic functions, thus reducing risks of type 1 diabetes.
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NewsLonger breastfeeding linked to blood-pressure lowering effects of certain infant gut bacteria
An observational study has found that infants who had more diverse bacteria in their gut had lower childhood blood pressure, and this protective association was stronger if they were breastfed for at least six months.
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NewsAMI member Christopher Stewart named as laureate in 2025 UK Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
Applied Microbiology International member Professor Christopher Stewart of Newcastle University has been named as one of three 2025 laureates in the eighth Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK.
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NewsResearchers uncover blood metabolites that may influence early childhood development
Researchers have identified small molecules in the blood that may impact early childhood development, showing how dietary exposures, early life experiences, and gut health can influence a child’s growth and cognitive milestones.
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NewsResearch suggests common viral infection worsens deadly condition among premature babies
Researchers say they found that infection with a common virus that can be transmitted from mother to fetus before birth significantly worsens an often-fatal complication of premature birth called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in experiments with mice.
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NewsAMI member Christopher Stewart named as finalist in 2025 UK Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
Applied Microbiology International member Dr Christopher Stewart of Newcastle University has been named as a finalist for the eighth Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK. He is the 2023 winner of AMI’s WH Pierce Prize for microbiology.
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NewsNew study highlights role of lean red meat in gut and heart health as part of a balanced healthy diet
A research has suggested that a balanced and healthy dietary pattern that includes lean red meat has a beneficial role in gut microbiota changes and cardiovascular health.
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NewsResearchers find rotavirus vaccine is safe for use in NICU babies
Transmission of rotavirus vaccine strains in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is rare and without clinical consequences, suggesting that giving the rotavirus vaccine to eligible infants during their hospitalization provides immune benefits that outweigh any risks.