Gut microbiota and maternal immune transfer at birth influence pre-allergic clinical outcome.

Abstract

The gut microbiota of 2-3 month-old infants is associated with later pre-allergic signs, while the microbiota at the time of allergic manifestation is not. We hypothesized that the infant gut microbiota and immune system are primed shortly after birth, and that this is influenced by maternal transfer of humoral immunity. We investigated the association between allergic outcomes and composition and humoral immunity to gut microbiota at birth, 2 months, and 2 years-of-age. Meconium microbiota clustered into three groups dominated by Escherichia, Enterococcus, and mixed genera, respectively. The Escherichia cluster was associated with protection against later allergic manifestations. We moreover studied the proportion and specificity of humoral immunity to gut microbiota. Humoral immunity to gut microbiota at birth was associated with future allergies. Future studies should evaluate whether interventions to alter gut microbiota and humoral immunity in early-life protects against allergy.