UK scientists have discovered that the first bacteria encountered by newborns, particularly *Bifidobacterium longum*, can significantly reduce the risk of young children being hospitalized with lung infections, potentially halving the risk. This 'phenomenal' finding, based on a study of 1,082 newborns, suggests that early microbiome formation is crucial for immune system development and could lead to new microbial therapies like probiotics. The protective effect was observed primarily in babies born via vaginal delivery.
Microbiome: First bacteria we meet can keep us out of hospital
BacteriaMedical researchScience & EnvironmentHealthInfection
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️UK scientists have discovered that the first bacteria encountered by newborns, particularly *Bifidobacterium longum*, can significantly reduce the risk of young children being hospitalized with lung infections, potentially halving the risk. This 'phenomenal' finding, based on a study of 1,082 newborns, suggests that early microbiome formation is crucial for immune system development and could lead to new microbial therapies like probiotics. The protective effect was observed primarily in babies born via vaginal delivery.
Trending- 1 First week of life: Stool samples collected from 1,082 newborns.
- 2 Next two years: Babies tracked using hospital data.
- 3 Recent: Findings announced by UK scientists.
- Halved risk of young children being admitted to hospital with lung infections (for those with *B. longum*)
- Potential for new microbial therapies (e.g., probiotics) for babies to set microbiomes on a healthy path
- Further research needed to understand the exact mechanisms of bacterial interaction with the immune system
- Vaginal seeding not justified as a practice
What: Research by UK scientists demonstrating that early exposure to specific bacteria, such as *Bifidobacterium longum*, in newborns can protect against dangerous lung infections and reduce hospital admissions.
When: Study conducted over two years (tracking babies); findings recently announced (implied by 'UK scientists say').
Where: United Kingdom; University College London (UCL); Sanger Institute; University of Liverpool.
Why: To understand how the early human microbiome develops and its impact on immune system maturation and susceptibility to infections, particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The goal is to potentially develop microbial therapies.
How: Researchers collected stool samples from 1,082 newborns in their first week of life, performed massive genetic analysis to identify bacterial species, and then tracked hospital data for the babies over the next two years to correlate bacterial presence with infection risk.