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  • Review Article
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Microbial contact during pregnancy, intestinal colonization and human disease

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 9, pages 565–576 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Interaction with colonizing intestinal bacteria is essential for healthy intestinal and immunological development in infancy. Advances in understanding early host–microbe interactions indicate that this early microbial programming begins in utero and is substantially modulated by mode of birth, perinatal antibiotics and breastfeeding. Furthermore, it has become evident that this stepwise microbial colonization process, as well as immune and metabolic programming by the microbiota, might have a long-lasting influence on the risk of not only gastrointestinal disease, but also allergic, autoimmune and metabolic disease, in later life. Modulating early host–microbe interaction by maternal probiotic intervention during pregnancy and breastfeeding offers a promising novel tool to reduce the risk of disease. In this Review, we describe the current body of knowledge regarding perinatal microbial contact, initial intestinal colonization and its association with human disease, as well as means of modulating early host–microbe interaction to reduce the risk of disease in the child.

Key Points

  • Contact with microbes begins in utero and proceeds in a stepwise manner during birth and early infancy

  • Early host–microbe interaction is a crucial component of healthy immune and metabolic programming

  • Mode of delivery, prematurity, perinatal antibiotic exposure and breastfeeding have a major influence on early microbial contact, intestinal colonization and subsequent risk of disease

  • Maternal probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding has shown potential in reducing the risk of immune-mediated and metabolic disease via modulation of early host–microbe interactions

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Figure 1: The gut microbiota programmes host health—from mother to infant.
Figure 2: Early programming of immune and metabolic phenotype.
Figure 3: Interactions between indigenous microbes and TGF-β2 in breast milk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4–8, Turku, 20520, Finland

    Samuli Rautava

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4–8, Turku, 20520, Finland

    Raakel Luoto & Erika Isolauri

  3. Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4A, Turku, 20520, Finland

    Seppo Salminen

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  1. Samuli Rautava
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  2. Raakel Luoto
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  4. Erika Isolauri
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All authors contributed equally to all aspects of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Erika Isolauri.

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Rautava, S., Luoto, R., Salminen, S. et al. Microbial contact during pregnancy, intestinal colonization and human disease. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 9, 565–576 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2012.144

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