Maternal factors are more capable of influencing the structure of infant gut microbes and bacteriophages than geography

Our study highlights the important influence of maternal factors, especially the mode of delivery, on the microbial structure of the neonatal gut compared to geography. We hypothesize that key species such as Phocaeicola vulgatus are influenced by the mode of delivery, interact with specific bacteriophages, or produce different metabolic effects. These changes may have implications for the development and functional integrity of the gut in later infancy. However, we focused solely on newborns, and to explore the long-term impacts under various factors, a larger and more extended cohort would be necessary. Despite these limitations, our findings contribute to a better understanding of the early gut microbiome's composition and function, shedding light on infant growth and development processes and their interactions with maternal microbes. This knowledge holds promising implications for the prevention and intervention of childhood diseases.