This NYTimes article is relevant to the nature of our discussion on microbiomes and how they can be used for the treatment of various disorders. The article begins by addressing the common misconceptions that fetuses are sterile and that babies are first exposed to bacteria when they exit the birth canal. In 2010, Dr. Josef Neu closely studied stool samples from newborns before their first meal and found diverse microbes in the samples, regardless of whether the child was born on time or prematurely. Additionally, Dr. Esther Quintana studied the amniotic fluid, placenta, and umbilical cord blood of healthy babies and found that each contained a certain amount of bacteria. Questions remain, however, on how the bacteria are first transported from the mother to the fetus and whether a random or beneficial set of microbes are delivered to the fetus during pregnancy. Currently, Dr. Neu and other researchers are studying whether a microbiome helps a fetus during pregnancy. Intriguingly, beyond exploring the microbiome found in fetuses, researchers are also closely studying how the microbiome can be functionalized to treat disorders such as gut infections and autoimmune disorders. For example, the article mentions the possibility of providing a mother with a ‘microbial cocktail’ that can be used to transport specific microbes to the fetus for the treatment of a specific disorder.

I found this article rather interesting as I was not aware that bacteria naturally occur in fetuses, amniotic fluid, and placenta blood. Building from our discussion in class, this article is evolutionarily significant as it suggests that a mother can possibly influence her child’s microbiome, which can ultimately have extensive health and dietary impacts for the child.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/29/science/human-microbiome-may-be-seeded-before-birth.html