Preterm infant gut microbiota affects intestinal epithelial development in a humanized microbiome gnotobiotic mouse model

Changes in the microbiome early in life may affect host physiology across the life span. Early life interaction between host and luminal microbes was investigated using a mouse model in which germ-free mice were transfaunated with fecal lysates from human preterm infants. Our data demonstrate that microbial communities affect differentiation of intestinal epithelial cell lineages, which may lead to significant effects on developmental, defensive, and physiological processes of the gastrointestinal epithelium.