Maternal influences on infant gut microbiome and health.

Maternal gut microbiome significantly influences infant gut strain transmission and predicts early health outcomes like eczema, with higher maternal species abundance increasing transmission likelihood.

• Why it matters: Understanding how maternal factors shape the infant gut microbiome is crucial for early health interventions, yet the specific maternal contributions and transmission dynamics remain poorly defined.
• What they did: Metagenomic sequencing of 4,526 fecal samples from 714 mother-infant pairs, combined with clinical data and microbiome profiling of breast milk and vaginal samples, was used to analyze microbiome transmission and influences.
• The result: Findings reveal the maternal gut as a key reservoir for infant strains, with mode of delivery and feeding mode shaping the infant microbiome, highlighting the mother's central role in early health development.