The early-life gut microbiome in children with congenital heart disease

The distinct gut microbial ecosystem hasn't been deeply studied yet in a large CHD population, though its crucial roles in disease development, treatment, and neurodevelopmental prognosis were acknowledged. This study aimed to investigate the age-specific microbiota composition and functional potential in children with CHD and systematically evaluate the environmental influencing factors. A total of 956 CHD cases were enrolled consecutively in the present study. The intestinal microbial profiles were obtained via 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the correspondent function information was obtained through PICRUST2 prediction. The characteristics of gut microbiome in various dimensions (microbial abundance, enterotypes, diversity, and functionality) present certain variation trends during the first few years and generally stabilize after the age of 3 years. Multiple antenatal and postnatal factors are proved to affect the gut community structure in early life.