The bloom of microbes and immune development in early life

Human microbial colonization begins at birth and continues to develop for about three years, coinciding with the infant’s crucial developmental window. Typically, there is a primary succession in the establishment of the microbiota as the infant develops, which involves the rise and fall of different species in the microbiome. This relates to different gut functions and immune functions and shifts with the changes in a child’s diet from milk consumption to solid food. Diet and environmental exposure, influence how the microbiome evolves in early life. During breastfeeding, HMOs help provide food for the microbiota allowing it to flourish. The gut microbiome increases in diversity and stability during the introduction of solid food. Prof. Marie Claire Arrieta emphasizes that these key milestones in microbiome maturation and its relationship with immune system development indicate associations between dysbiosis in early life and allergic diseases.