Biology subjects

Pell, L. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Pell, L. G..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Environmental and Maternal Imprints on Infant Gut Metabolic Programming

Early life is a critical period for immune and metabolic programming, but developmental patterns remain underexplored in populations from low- and middle-income countries. Here, we profiled the microbiome and metabolome of 55 Bangladeshi mother-infant dyads over the first six months of life. Importantly, we observed an increase in microbially-derived bile amidates and N-acyl lipids with age in conjunction with reads matching the bile salt hydrolase/transferase (bsh) gene. While microbial source tracking confirmed maternal fecal seeding, a substantial environmental contribution was also highlighted. Differences in infant fecal metabolic profiles were associated with delivery mode, maternal milk composition, household assets, and household-level water treatment. C-section delivery and untreated drinking water were linked to transient metabolic differences, including increases in bile amidates, N-acyl lipids, and other host-microbe co-metabolic products, including acylcarnitines. Multi-omics analysis revealed specific microbial-metabolite relationships, highlighting how early environmental and maternal living circumstances shape metabolic gut programming through the microbiome.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Micronutrient supplements with iron promote disruptive protozoan and fungal communities in the developing infant gut

Supplementation with micronutrients, including vitamins, iron and zinc, is a key strategy to alleviate child malnutrition. However, adverse events resulting in gastrointestinal disorders, largely associated with iron, has resulted in ongoing debate over their administration. To better understand their impact on gut microbiota, we analysed the bacterial, protozoal, fungal and helminth communities of stool samples collected from children that had previously been recruited to a cluster randomized controlled trial of micronutrient supplementation in Pakistan. We show that while bacterial diversity was reduced in supplemented children, vitamins and iron may promote colonization with distinct protozoa and mucormycetes, whereas the addition of zinc ameliorates this effect. In addition to supplements, residence in a rural versus urban setting is an important determinant of eukaryotic composition. We suggest that the risks and benefits of such interventions may be mediated in part through eukaryotic communities, in a manner dependent on setting.

microbiology↗