Metagenomic Analysis of The Gut Microbiome of Term Infants In The United States Reveals Widespread Dysbiosis

Purpose: The neonatal period represents a unique stage of life when critical foundations of lifelong health are established. Throughout this period, the gut microbiome provides protection against infections and is crucial for the proper development of the immune system. Deviations from optimal microbiome compositions during the postnatal stage, conceptually referred to as dysbiosis, are associated with the absence of key infant-associated Bifidobacterium known to facilitate the utilization of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), increased enteric inflammation, and an increase in potentially pathogenic taxa. Although previous studies have revealed a marked dysbiosis …