Maternal Psychosocial Stress Is Associated with Reduced Diversity in the Early Infant Gut Microbiome

Abstract

The developing infant gut microbiome is highly sensitive to environmental exposures, enabling its evolution into an organ that supports the immune system, confers protection from infection, and facilitates optimal gut and central nervous system function. In this study, we focus on the impact of maternal psychosocial stress on the infant gut microbiome. Forty-seven mother–infant dyads were recruited at the HEAL Africa Hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Extensive medical, demographic, and psychosocial stress data were collected at birth, and infant stool samples were collected at six weeks, three months, and six months. A composite maternal psychosocial stress score was created, based on eight questionnaires to capture a diverse range of stress exposures. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences were generated. Infants of mothers with high composite stress scores showed lower levels of gut microbiome beta diversity at six weeks and three months, as well as higher levels of alpha diversity at six months compared to infants of low stress mothers. Longitudinal analyses showed that infants of high stress mothers had lower levels of health-promoting Lactobacillus gasseri and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum at six weeks compared to infants of low stress mothers, but the differences largely disappeared by three to six months. Previous research has shown that L. gasseri can be used as a probiotic to reduce inflammation, stress, and fatigue, as well as to improve mental state, while B. pseudocatenulatum is important in modulating the gut–brain axis in early development and in preventing mood disorders. Our finding of reduced levels of these health-promoting bacteria in infants of high stress mothers suggests that the infant gut microbiome may help mediate the effect of maternal stress on infant health and development.

Daily skin-to-skin contact alters microbiota development in healthy full-term infants

“… 79 Furthermore, Flavonifractor plautii was negatively associated with maternal stress in samples obtained at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. 77 Rothia , with a slightly lower relative abundance in the SSC group, has been reported to be increased in formula-fed infants in two studies (one study found the opposite) 80 and to be negatively associated with childhood asthma. 81 Lastly, Eubacterium hallii , reclassified as Anaerobutyricum soehngenii , 82 was lower in the SSC group.…”

“…This genus includes butyrate- and propionate-producing strains 75 and has been negatively associated with diarrheal cryptosporidiosis 76 and maternal stress. 77 However, the relationship with maternal stress was only present at 6 weeks and 3 months of age and reversed at 6 months of age. Flavonifractor , also higher in the SSC group, has been negatively associated with the development of asthma later in life 78 and was able to strongly suppress Th2 immune responses in mice.…”

Infants exposed in utero to Hurricane Maria have gut microbiomes with reduced diversity and altered metabolic capacity

“…Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum also plays a regulatory role in mediating the gut-brain axis ( 68 ). Interestingly, a recent study found that maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy was associated with a reduced abundance of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum in the infant gut microbiome ( 69 ). Clostridium innocuum and Clostridium neonatale are both gut commensals, but they can also be potential pathobionts ( 70 – 73 ).…”

The Contribution of the Intestinal Microbiota to the Celiac Disease Pathogenesis along with the Effectiveness of Probiotic Therapy

“…[5]. Many authors suggest that the method of delivery plays a key role in this process [6]. It was found that infants born by caesarean section, as a rule, have more species of Staphylococcus, Bacillales, Propionobacterineae, Corynebacterineae, Firmicutes and Acinetobacter in the intestinal microflora, with fewer Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while in the case of natural childbirth, increased colonization of the intestinal biotope Clostridium is revealed [7].…”