Comparison of Bifidobacteria isolates from the vaginal and infant stool microbiomes

The maternal vaginal microbiome is among the first microbial exposures that many infants experience, yet little is known about the effect of maternal vaginal microbiome composition on infant gut microbiome development, or direct vertical transfer of maternal vaginal microbes. As part of the Maternal Microbiome LEGACY Project, we aimed to determine the extent to which maternal vaginal bacteria are transmitted to infants delivered vaginally or by caesarean section.