Right blend of gut microbiota could avert hospitalization for viral respiratory infection in babies

News brief

An optimal mix of gut bacteria (microbiome) found in infants born vaginally could help children fight off severe viral lower respiratory-tract infections (vLRTIs) for the first 2 years of life, UK researchers wrote yesterday in The Lancet Microbe.

The University College London-led Baby Biome Study enrolled mother-baby pairs at three UK hospitals from January 2016 to December 2017. The researchers collected newborn stool samples for whole-genome sequencing to assess microorganism diversity (Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices) and the organization of microbial communities.

The team used electronic health records to determine the link between microbiota features and vLRTI hospital admission incidence in the first 2 years of life.

"Early-life gut microbiota affects immune system development, including the lung immune response (gut–lung axis)," the authors noted.

Vaginally delivered infants had most beneficial microbiota

A total of 1,082 newborns (564 born vaginally and 518 born via caesarean delivery) were included in the study. The vast majority of infants were born full-term and healthy (97% had no underlying conditions).

Different types of infant gut bacteria may provide different benefits, and understanding these could pave the way for developing targeted infant probiotics to support early microbiome development.

Trevor Lawley, PhD

Greater gut microbiota diversity in the first week was tied to lower rates of vLRTI hospitalization (Chao1 Index adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.92; Shannon Index aHR, 0.57; and Simpson Index aHR, 0.36).

Of the three microbiota clusters identified, Cluster 1 had a mixed composition, and cluster 2 was dominated by beneficial Bifidobacterium breve; both clusters occurred in all infants, regardless of delivery method. But only babies born vaginally had cluster 3 microbiota, predominantly beneficial Bifidobacterium longum.

Cluster 1 and 2 microbiota were independently associated with higher rates of vLRTI hospitalization than cluster 3 (cluster 1 aHR, 3.05; cluster 2 aHR, 2.80).

"Different types of infant gut bacteria may provide different benefits, and understanding these could pave the way for developing targeted infant probiotics to support early microbiome development," senior author Trevor Lawley, PhD, of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said in a Wellcome news release.

Colorado announces another measles case linked to Turkish Airlines flight

News brief

Stephanie Soucheray, MA

Yesterday, Colorado announced a seventh measles case linked to a Turkish Airlines flight. The latest case-patient is a vaccinated adult Denver resident who was a passenger on Turkish Airlines flight 201, which arrived at Denver International Airport (DIA) on May 13.

So far, four of the people who contracted measles were passengers on the May 13 flight, and three were at DIA during the exposure period on May 14, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.

In other US measles developments, New York's Putnam County has reported a measles case in a person who is no longer contagious. The person contracted the virus while traveling abroad.

“Currently this is a single case of measles,” said Putnam County Health Director Rian Rodriguez, MPH, in a press release.

England warns of potential summer surge

In international developments, the UK's Health Security Agency warns that with measles activity increasing in England, especially in kids under 10, there could be a summer surge in virus activity.

In England, 109 measles cases were reported in April, and 86 were documented in May. Most people infected have been under 10 years old and unvaccinated.