Human Microbiome Mini-Symposium – Pregnancy and Early Life

The symposium is arranged as a collaboration between the Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS) and Veronika K. Pettersen’s young CAS fellow project “Infant Gut Microbiome Acquisition: Off to a Healthy Start”. One of the main topics will be how the gut microbiome modulates pregnant women's and neonates’ health. UiT trainees will also get the opportunity to showcase their work.

Background

The mammalian gastrointestinal tract accommodates one of the densest microbial populations known, the gut microbiome. The trillions of microbial cells, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, archaea, as well as viruses, all take advantage of the nutrient-rich gut environment, but it is mainly bacteria for which there is evidence of benefits being provided to host physiology. Commensal bacteria augment host metabolic functions, stimulate the immune system, and protect against invading pathogens.

The gut microbiome also supports physiological changes during pregnancy and influences foetal development by microbial metabolites circulating in the bloodstream. Importantly, maternal microbes seed the neonatal gut at birth. Subsequent formation of the infant's microbiome happens alongside physiological maturation and represents a unique developmental window that lays the foundation for long-term health.

Still, the nature of the relationship mammalian hosts share with their gut microbiomes is convoluted, and research has so far elucidated only initial clues of the functions involved in microbiome-host crosstalk.

You can also attend the symposium via Zoom by using this link.

You will also receive a link to the Zoom meeting when you register.

Program