It is now known that the microbiome influences health as well as disease. The preterm infant faces the unique situation of being born immature and thus obligated to undergo development of all systems within the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment under the influence of a developing microbiome rather than the expected sterile intrauterine environment. The microbiome thus has significant potential to influence preterm infant development and health. Our laboratory investigates the effect of the preterm infant microbiome on development by transfaunating microbial communities from human infants into germ free mice. We have found effects of the microbiome on growth, inflammation, intestinal maturation as well as brain development. An important aspect of preterm infant health is neurodevelopment. This project will specifically explore the influence of the gut microbiome on neurodevelopment.

The aim of this project will be to determine the effect of different preterm infant microbial colonization patterns on brain development and function.

Gnotobiotic mouse models transfaunated with preterm infant microbiota will be used. Molecular biology techniques will be used to analyze neuronal development. Behavioral testing platforms will be used to investigate the functional effect of different intestinal microbial colonization patterns on neurodevelopment.

Students will be involved in weekly laboratory meetings and able to attend clinical neonatology conferences if interested.