Maternal antibodies shape host-microbiota mutualism in neonates | New Voices in Infection Biology

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Talk abstract:

The infant gut is exposed to a massive influx of generally harmless bacteria, both following birth and after weaning, when a shift in diet leads to marked changes in the composition of the microbiota. Establishing mutualism with these microbial invaders is essential for host health, yet how the developing immune system accomplishes this task remains an open question. We, and others, have shown that maternal antibodies, transmitted via breastmilk, instruct microbiota-dependent CD4 T cell responses in neonates. I will discuss our current research regarding the mechanisms by which breastmilk antibodies regulate host-microbiota mutualism in offspring and the impact of this early life process on long-term health.