The use of antibiotics to prevent transmission of Group B Streptococcus to vaginally born babies seems to reduce the bacterial diversity of the infant gut microbiome.
Antibiotic Use for Group B Strep + Moms Lowers Infant Microbe Diversity
The Hunt is On: Finding New Antibiotics
Today’s post is the first guest post on Mostly Microbes. Dr. Adam Roberts at the University College London and one of his students, Tim Walker, share their initial findings from their citizen science project to isolate novel antibiotics – Swab and Send. Ever wonder what unusual bacteria might be lurking in your kid’s smelly, worn out shoes or under their fingernails? In your office fridge? On the dog’s paws? Donate to Swab and Send and the Roberts’ lab will send you materials to collect the samples, isolate the bacteria, and test them for novel antibacterial and fungicides! Photos of the swab isolates and their antimicrobial activity is posted on their Facebook page. For some of my favorites – see the Storify at the end of the post. I’m looking forward to purchasing a kit and setting the kids (and myself) loose with swabs. – Anne Update 6/21/17 – The Atlantic has a great article about Swab and Send – Could the Answer to Our Most Urgent Health Crisis Be Found on a Toilet Seat?
Missed Marti’s “Missing Microbes” Message?
One of the many reasons I am a member of the American Society for Microbiology is their dedication not only to excellent science, but science communication and public policy. “Microbes After Hours” is one of their fabulous science communication events. Since 2012, the ASM headquarters in Washington, DC has opened its doors to anyone interested in microbiology for talks, appetizers, and some microbially-fermented beverages. For those who can’t make it to DC, the talks are live streamed through ASM’s MicrobeWorld site. Speakers even take questions via email and twitter at the end of the talk. Fortunately, my mama-scientist, microbe-road trip friend, Robin Munroe, and I made it down in person to the January 28, 2016 Microbes After Hours that featured Dr. Marti Blaser talking about his research and book, Missing Microbes. Read more about his book in this previous post. I was thrilled to finally get my copy of his book signed! Below is our journey in photos compliments of Robin! She also live-tweeted our trip. For future adventures – follow me on Twitter @mostlymicrobes. Microbes After Hours Do you have questions about this or Dr. Blaser’s book? Anything else microbe related? Feel free to ask in the comments section below, fill out a
“Seeding” a C-section Newborn with Vaginal Microbes: Can we? Should we?
New research is out today from the laboratory of Dr. Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello demonstrating that at least part of mom’s vaginal microbiome can be transmitted to her c-section delivered infant. Infants born via c-section are at increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as asthma, diabetes, immune system disorders, and obesity. C-section babies frequently have a microbiome that is more similar to skin bacteria than mom’s vagina or GI tract. Swabbing a baby at birth with mom’s vaginal fluids is a potentially low cost, easy way to mimic one aspect of vaginal birth and transmit potentially beneficial microbes. Parents considering this procedure should check for the presence of pathogens such as Group B Strep and viral pathogens. Any such procedure should be discussed with your medical care team. For the full post – go to the post at Science and Sensibility’s website. Vaginal Seeding Procedure Illustration by Cara Gibson, Phd
Can Breastfeeding Help Antibiotic-Exposed Microbiomes Recover?
Exclusive breastfeeding for at least three months may lessen the effect of antibiotic use during labor and delivery on an infant’s microbiome. Cesarean delivery and antibiotic use during vaginal or C-section childbirth decreases diversity of an infant’s microbiome [1, 2]. However, a study by Azad et al. suggests that exclusive breastfeeding for at least three months may lessen the effect of maternal use of antibiotics during labor and delivery on the microbiome [3]. Breastfeeding may repair the infant microbiome after antibiotic use. Birth is a key time for beneficial microbes to be transmitted from mother to infant, especially during vaginal birth [1, 4, 5]. However antibiotics that disrupt microbiome transmission may be used during both vaginal and Cesarean section (C-section) deliveries. During childbirth, especially in Canada and the United States, antibiotics may be used for several reasons. In vaginal deliveries, antibiotics are used to prevent transmission of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) transmission to the infant. However, the use of antibiotics for GBS is correlated with increased antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli infections in infants [6]. Antibiotics may also be given to reduce opportunistic pathogen infections during long labors where the amniotic sac membrane has ruptured. Cesarean section surgeries use antibiotics as