It has been shown that infants acquire microbes from various maternal sources (skin, oral cavity, intestine, vagina, etc.), and these microbes are among the earliest colonizers of the infant's gut. Therefore, disturbances in the mother's healthy microbial flora, particularly intestinal dysbiosis, may impact the composition of the child's gut microbiota and, consequently, their health. However, research on the effects of maternal microbes, beyond those from the intestine, on infant health and disease is limited.

A research group led by Hiroko Kitamoto (Lab. Microbiology and Immunology, IFReC) and Nobuhiko Kamada (IFReC/CiDER/jointly appointed at the University of Michigan) demonstrated that maternal oral dysbiosis may have a lasting effect on children's health.
(online publication in Cell Reports on July 16, 2025)

Contact

Nobuhiko Kamada Lab.

nobukamadaifrec.osaka-u.ac.jp

Microbiology and Immunology