Scarring the early-life microbiome: its potential life-long effects on human health and diseases

The gut microbiome is widely recognized as a dynamic organ with a profound influence on human physiology and patho-logy. Extensive epidemiological and longitudinal cohort studies have provided compelling evidence that disruptions in the early-life microbiome can have long-lasting health implications. Various factors before, during, and after birth contribute to shaping the composition and function of the neonatal and in-fant microbiome. While these alterations can be partially re-stored over time, metabolic phenotypes may persist, necessi-tating research to identify the critical period for early inter-vention to achieve phenotypic recovery beyond microbiome composition. In this review, we provide current understanding of changes in the gut microbiota throughout life and the va-rious factors affecting these changes. Specifically, we highlight the profound impact of early-life gut microbiota disruption on the development of diseases later in life and discuss perspec-tives on efforts to recover from such disruptions. [BMB Reports 2023; 56(9): 469-481]