Delivery mode impacts gut bacteriophage colonization during infancy

Cesarean section delivery is associated with altered early-life bacterial colonization and later adverse inflammatory and immune health outcomes. Although gut bacteriophages alter gut microbiome composition and impact host immune responses, little is known about how delivery mode impacts bacteriophage colonization over time. We show Cesarean section delivery is associated with decreased diversity of bacteriophages at 2 months of life, with altered predicted bacterial hosts up to 24 months of life.