The stability of gut bacteria in early life may play a crucial role in whether children thrive or struggle with undernutrition, a condition that affects millions of children worldwide.
Published in Cell, the study followed children in Malawi for nearly a year and found that those who grew steadily had more stable gut bacterial communities, while those who experienced slower growth showed more frequent shifts in their microbiomes. The findings suggest that gut health may influence nutrient absorption and growth, even when food is available.
“If the microbial community is unstable, nutrients may not be absorbed properly — even if food is available,” said Jake Minich, PhD, assistant professor of biology and one of the study’s lead researchers. “Our work suggests that the gut microbiome could be a predictor of which children are at risk for undernutrition, allowing for earlier and more effective interventions.”
Using long-read DNA sequencing technology, researchers built a detailed catalog of nearly 1,000 bacterial genomes from the children’s gut microbiomes, the most complete picture yet of the microbes that shape early growth. The approach allowed scientists to connect specific bacterial patterns with nutrient absorption and healthy development.
The study also found that many gut microbes are passed from mothers to children, and that microbial makeup varied widely between villages. Geography, diet and cultural practices all appeared to influence gut ecosystems, underscoring the need for greater diversity in global microbiome research.
Researchers say the goal now is to translate these findings into tools that could help identify at-risk children before symptoms of undernutrition appear.
“Just like maternal HIV testing helps protect newborns, microbiome screening could one day guide preventative care for moms and babies,” Minich said.
This research was supported by the NOMIS Foundation and the Tang Genomics Fund.