Intergenerational transfer of antibiotic-perturbed microbiota enhances colitis in susceptible mice

Antibiotics have long-lasting consequences on the gut microbiota with the potential to impact host physiology and health. However, little is known about the transgenerational impact of an antibiotic-perturbed microbiota. Here we demonstrated that adult pregnant female mice inoculated with a gut microbial community shaped by antibiotic exposure passed on their dysbiotic microbiota to their offspring. This dysbiotic microbiota remained distinct from controls for at least 5 months in the offspring without any continued exposure to antibiotics. By using IL-10 deficient mice, which are genetically susceptible to colitis, we showed mice that received an antibiotic-perturbed gut microbiota from their mothers had increased risk of colitis. Taken together, our findings indicate that the consequences of antibiotic exposure affecting the gut microbiota can extend to a second generation.

抗生素对肠道微生物群（gut microbiota）具有持久影响，且可影响宿主生理机能与健康状态。然而，目前对于经抗生素扰动的微生物群（antibiotic-perturbed microbiota）的跨代影响仍鲜有研究。本研究证实，定植了经抗生素暴露塑造的肠道微生物群落的成年妊娠雌性小鼠，可将其失调肠道微生物群（dysbiotic microbiota）传递给子代。即便子代未再接触任何抗生素，该失调肠道微生物群至少在5个月内仍与对照组存在显著差异。本研究借助对结肠炎（colitis）具有遗传易感性的白细胞介素10（IL-10）缺陷小鼠模型，证实从母体获得经抗生素扰动的肠道微生物群的小鼠，其结肠炎发病风险显著升高。综上，本研究结果表明，抗生素暴露对肠道微生物群造成的影响可延续至第二代子代。