Maternal and Infant Microbiota during Gestation and the Postpartum Period

Microbiota from the gut, vagina, placenta, and oral cavity play a crucial role in human life, including that of pregnant women and their infants. These microbiota impact metabolism, immunity, neurodevelopment, and many other aspects related to maternal and infant health. The composition of microbiota undergoes continuous alterations influenced by factors such as age, sex, genetics, dietary habits, and medication. These changes occur during pregnancy and after birth, although the precise composition of microbiota remains a contentious point of discussion. Simultaneously, the origins of placental microbiota are coming to the forefront of research concerns. Whether the placental microbiota consists of contaminated or colonized bacteria remains debatable. Innovative techniques are required to establish whether or not the placenta is contaminated. Moreover, there is a scarcity of studies focusing on the origins of infant and neonatal microbiota. The timing of microbiota appearance in meconium, before or after birth, requires further investigation. While a significant amount of research has focused on microbiota before and during gestation, the microbiota presenting after birth merits additional attention. The role and nature of breast milk microbiota are still under debate and demand more extensive research.

We aim to systematically explore the variations in the gut, vaginal, and oral cavity microbiota during gestation or after birth. We also wish to determine whether these variations influence the placental microbiota and that of their infants or neonates. Another goal is to investigate the impact of breast milk microbiota on neonatal microbiota.

This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, and Perspective articles related to, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:

• Does the uterus have a resident microbiome? If not, will the uterine microbiota influence the infant?
• Where does the infant microbiota originate from, and what is the most important factor influencing it?
• Where does the microbiota in the placenta come from? Are these bacteria contaminants, or are they colonizing the placenta?
• Is there a new method available to solve the problem of placental contamination?
• Can probiotics or prebiotics cause variations in maternal microbiota and consequently induce changes in infant microbiota to prevent related diseases?
• Does the microbiota in breast milk influence the neonatal microbiota? Can probiotics or prebiotics change the microbiota in breast milk, which in turn changes the neonatal microbiota?
• Does the maternal oral microbiota affect the neonatal microbiota?

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Maternal microbiota; Infant microbiota; Breast milk microbiota

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