Mother-infant Microbiota Transmission and Its Link to the Health of the Baby
Mother-infant Microbiota Transmission and Its Link to the Health of the Baby
The human intestinal tract harbors a diverse and complex microbial community, known as gut
 microbiota, which is critical in sustaining physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune
 function. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota has been linked with obesity, hyperglycemia,
 hyperlipidemia, inflammatory bowel disease and other chronic inflammatory diseases. Gut
 microbiota is affected by host genetic markup, diet and life style; and therefore varied by
 human races and geographical locations.

 The development of gut microbiota starts before birth. The infant's microbiome can impact on
 human health in later life. The microbiome of pregnant women are associated with early-life
 microbiota of their offspring as well as growth, neurodevelopment and the development of
 allergic and neurocognitive disorders.

 Early childhood, when the microbiota is less mature and more malleable, is a golden age for
 microbiota manipulation to prevent disease. Studying microbiota at this golden age also allow
 us to dissect the development of a faulty microbiota and identify therapeutic targets to
 reverse it and cure diseases that are already developed.
Pregnant women

 Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Being pregnant

 2. Plan to give birth in local hospital

 3. Competent to provide informed consent (no mental illness or dementia, etc. that will
 hinder their ability to undertake informed consent)

 4. Plan to stay in the same local area for at least 7 years post-delivery Exclusion
 Criteria: No

 New Born Baby Inclusion Criteria

 1. Be a new born baby of an enrolled pregnant woman

 2. One of the parents or legal guardian is competent to provide informed consent (no
 mental illness or dementia, etc. that will hinder their ability to undertake informed
 consent) Exclusion Criteria: No

 Father of new born baby Inclusion Criteria

 1. Biological father of an enrolled new born baby

 2. Competent to provide informed consent (no mental illness or dementia, etc. that will
 hinder their ability to undertake informed consent) Exclusion Criteria: No