Australian researchers have found that healthy gut bacteria develop after just five months in the uterus. TheGut microbiome is a complex ecosystemof microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi and other life forms. This environment is essential for survival and is associated with digestion, brain and heart health, weight control and reduced blood sugar.
How do healthy intestinal bacteria develop?
Several autoimmune diseases are also caused by processes andInfluenced by fungi in the intestines. This includes cancer, multiple sclerosis and autism. The new discovery, led by scientists at La Trobe University, sheds new light on the developing fetal immune system, gut and brain. Using extremely strict controls, the researchers examined the development of microbiomes along the gastrointestinal tract in calves before birth. The innovative study shows that the microbiome differs along different components of the fetal gastrointestinal tract. It is the first study to completely eliminate the potential for microbial contamination and put to rest the long-standing theory that fetal development occurs in a sterile womb. Ashley Franks, a professor at La Trobe University, said the research turned this area of science on its head.
From infancy to adulthood, trillions of microbial cells account for a significant portion of biological and physiological functions. They also maintain the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and even protect against disease. Until now, science has assumed that the baby's first gut microbiome comes from the environment into which it is born. These results undoubtedly confirm that healthy gut bacteria colonize the gut before birth and change the future of fetal research and the understanding of how the microbiome influences the developing immune system. The researchers identified 559 bacterial and 1,736 discrete archaebacteria through next-generation sequencing of five components of the fetal gastrointestinal tract and amniotic fluid.
Research results
The study showed that the distribution of these microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract is not random. This suggests that the selection of the optimal microbiome occurs in the uterus. The research team also found that tightly controlled microbial selection took place along the gastrointestinal tract. This selection was the same for every calf examined. The scientists believe this shows that gut microbiota are essential for fetal development.
DieResults of the studyare of great importance for humans because signals in theGut-brain axis for the brainare crucial in development. These results also shape ongoing research. Together they are investigating the connection between the nervous system and microbes in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. The development of the gut at a very young age and the role of the prenatal gut microbiome could have far-reaching consequences for human health.
