How early life experiences shape a child's gut bacteria
Impact of early-life perturbations on pediatric microbiome maturation
This research explores how diet and antibiotics in a child's first few years affect the helpful bacteria in their gut, which is important for their healthy development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11094077 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
During the first three years of life, a baby's gut bacteria rapidly changes and grows, influenced by what they eat and their environment. We know that each child's gut bacteria responds differently to outside factors, making it hard to predict individual health risks. This project aims to understand how specific types of bacteria and their unique functions in the gut are shaped by early life events, like diet and antibiotic use. We are looking closely at how these early experiences lead to lasting changes in the gut bacteria and its overall function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research focuses on understanding the gut microbiome development in infants and young children, particularly those exposed to different diets and antibiotics early in life, including preterm neonates.
Not a fit: Patients outside the pediatric age range or those without a focus on early-life gut microbiome development would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how to better support healthy gut development in children, potentially preventing future health issues related to the microbiome.
How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of the gut microbiome is well-studied, this project delves into the specific strain-level functional maturation and horizontal gene transfer, representing a more detailed and potentially novel approach building on existing data.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dantas, Gautam — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Dantas, Gautam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.