Microbiota of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Infancy

Colonization of the human gut microbiome begins in utero and continues through infancy and into childhood. Microbiota of the human gut share a symbiotic relationship with the human host and early life dysbiosis may contribute to acute and distal health effects. Numerous factors in early life may contribute to the establishment of the microbiome and to dysbiosis, including maternal, intrapartum, and postnatal factors. Elucidating the contribution of these factors to health and disease, as mediated by the establishment of the gut microbiome, may offer not only insights into disease pathogenesis, but also opportunities for disease prevention and mitigation through manipulation of the gut microbiome.