Compiling an early life human gut microbiome atlas and identification of key microbial drivers.

2025-12-05
NPJ biofilms and microbiomes 12(1)

PubMed: 41350579
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-025-00868-7

Study Design

Type: Observational
Population: healthy, full-term infants across various geographical locations
Methods: assessed the interindividual variability of the infant gut microbiome using a comprehensive infant gut microbiome database of 5288 fecal metagenomic data; Indicative Species analysis and Random Forest modeling; established a bacterial biobank through dedicated cultivation efforts of the infant microbiota, comprising 182 genome-sequenced isolates; co-cultivation experiments combined with transcriptome analyses

During the first year after birth, the infant gut microbiome undergoes a rapid and profound compositional and functional transformation, impelled by an intricate network of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This process results in increased taxonomic and functional diversification, alongside greater interindividual variability. To better understand this early-life ecosystem, this study assessed the interindividual variability of the infant gut microbiome using a comprehensive infant gut microbiome database of 5288 fecal metagenomic data from healthy, full-term infants across various geographical locations. Our study identified six reference microbial communities, termed Early-Life Community State Types (ELi-CSTs), which not only capture specific compositional profiles and heterogeneity of the infant gut microbiome, but also record the extensive transformation experienced by this developing microbial community during the first year of human life. Indicative Species analysis and Random Forest modeling assisted the precise identification of unique, key taxonomic signatures that are critical to the structure of each ELi-CST, highlighting microbial taxa with pivotal roles in shaping the infant gut microbiota. To complement these findings, we established a bacterial biobank through dedicated cultivation efforts of the infant microbiota, comprising 182 genome-sequenced isolates corresponding to key taxa involved in early life gut microbiota assembly. This biobank provided the basis for co-cultivation experiments combined with transcriptome analyses, thereby enabling in vitro investigations into microbial cross-talk among key modulators, and yielding novel insights into the molecular interactions and cooperative dynamics behind early microbiome development.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium longum BI-05	—	Improved Microbial Identification	Beneficial	Moderate	View source Indicative Species analysis and Random Forest modeling assisted the precise identification of unique, key taxonomic signatures that are critical to the structure of each ELi-CSTs, highlighting microbial taxa with pivotal roles in shaping the infant gut microbiota.