Transmission of Maternal Oral Pathobionts to the Infant Gut Predisposes Offspring to Exacerbated Enteritis.
The goal of this study was to understand the link between maternal oral dysbiosis and the gut health of offspring. We demonstrate that maternal oral dysbiosis can have lasting health impacts on offspring. Ligature-induced periodontitis in mothers promotes the expansion of oral pathobionts in the mouth, which are transmitted to the infant gut, rendering offspring more susceptible to enteritis. Notably, although these maternal oral pathobionts are eradicated as the microbiota matures, the imprinted susceptibility to enteritis persists into adulthood. Overall design: To compare gene expression in small intestine tissues from pups born to control dams and dams with periodontitis, we performed the bulk RNA-sequencing. Four groups of pups, 5 samples per group. Group 1: pups at 7 weeks born to dams with periodontitis. Group 2: control pups at 7 weeks. Group 3: pups at 2 weeks born to dams with periodontitis. Group 4: control pups at 2 weeks.