... or bacterial pathogens by coating them and acting as decoys for receptors located on the gut epithelium, and suppress inflammatory signaling in intestinal epithelial cells. They also provide indirect effects by stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. HMOs are strong...

... Abstract The development of the microbiome within the human digestive tract starts at birth and continues up to approximately 3 years of age when the microbial ecosystem resembles a more adulthood-like state. The pace of colonization and diversification of the gut microbiota in the early stages...

..., given the crucial developmental stage of the preterm brain developing ex-utero through the period of what should have been the third trimester, feeding practices directly (via constituents) and indirectly (via the gut-brain axis) [ 2 ] impact on neurodevelopmental outcome after early birth. Through...

... is the most important factor shaping the gut microbiome, in particular receipt of human milk. Human milk contains viable bacteria and numerous components that modulate the bacterial community, including human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) which promote the growth of Bifidobacterium species. Notably...

... Infant microbiota Colonization Mode of birth Key Messages Early gut microbiota colonization is crucial for infant development and health programming. Maternal microbiota is the most relevant microbial source for infant microbiota. There are perinatal factors including mode...

... that the microbiome, especially that within the gastrointestinal tract, is most dynamic and perhaps has its greatest influence on host health. Here, we focus on the role of the gut microbiome as a regulator of brain and behaviour through key points in the human lifespan. We first describe trajectories...

... are programmed, this chapter will focus on the impacts of maternal history of childhood adversity on offspring mental health, including the role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. One of the most commonly used frameworks of the last several decades for measuring childhood adversity is the Adverse Childhood...

... integrity. Gut microbes interact with the host in a bi-directional manner as the microbiota can support the development and education of the innate and adaptive immune systems, thereby conferring protection against pathogens and harmful stimuli while training the host to maintain a homeostatic tolerance...

... Abstract Understanding how the microbiome influences health and disease has emerged as an important area of research across all domains of biomedical and health sciences. An extensive body of work in animal models has established a link between the gut microbiome and anxiety-like behaviour...

... Abstract The gut microbiome plays a vital role in numerous aspects of physiology, including functions related to metabolism, the immune system, behaviour, brain structure and function. Furthermore, it is now becoming increasingly clear that alterations in microbial composition or diversity...

... of the infant gut may actually begin in the womb [ 13 , 14 ]. Studies suggesting a nonsterile in utero microbiome are controversial [ 15 - 17 ]. Whether microbes are only present during pathological states or whether they are present as commensals is currently being debated and remains a topic...

... to the immunocompromised gut of the premature infant. Fig. 3. A meta-analysis of the probiotic effect on NEC in premature infants [ 29 - 40 ]. Reproduced with permission from Deshpande et al. [ 40 ]. Effect of B. infantis Interaction with Tryptophan in Breast Milk Of interest...

... gut. This enteromammary pathway is facilitated by hormonal influence on the intestinal microorganisms to be taken up through the intercellular pathway in the gut, engulfed by microphages, and transported to the breast. To date, it is not entirely clear to what extent the breast milk microbiome...

... Abstract Newborn infants, especially those born preterm, are at risk of infections in early life. In preterm infants, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating inflammatory gut condition, and late-onset sepsis (LOS) are important causes of serious morbidity and are the commonest reasons...

..., an emerging body of evidence suggests that commensal microbial communities, known as the microbiome, also play an important role. The gut microbiome regulates energy harvesting from nutrients, growth hormone signaling, colonization resistance, and immune tolerance against pathogens, amongst other pathways...

... Abstract Gut immune function conditions the development of local and systemic diseases that result from defects in immune regulation, such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergy and obesity. As epidemiological studies support the developmental origin of health and disease, deciphering...

... Abstract Gastrointestinal hormones are released from enteroendocrine cells in the digestive tract. More than 30 hormone genes are expressed, which make the gut the largest endocrine organ in the body. At present, it is feasible to conceive the hormones under 5 headings: the structural homology...

... pathways and development of new anti-obesity drugs with increased efficacy and safety are of utmost necessity. The 2 major biological players in the regulation of food intake are the gut and the brain as peptides released from the gut in response to meals convey information about the energy needs to brain...