Deciphering Bifidobacterium-diet-immune interactions in global infant populations

Microbes in our gut – termed the microbiota - have emerged as central players in human health and wellbeing. Importantly, initial contact between these beneficial microbes and their infant host is a critical time during human development, when foundations for lifelong health are laid down. It is recognised that disturbing this early microbial ecosystem has both short- and long-term consequences including an increased risk of infection and chronic inflammatory disease. In this study we seek to understand how infant-associated bacteria digest the infant diet (i.e. breastmilk), and what genes the bacteria use to achieve this. By comparing across geographically distinct infant populations, we will determine how digestion of breastmilk promotes beneficial bacterial growth within the gut, and how it enables these beneficial bacterial to programme important infant immune responses. The ultimate goal is to develop new cost-effective microbial and dietary therapies to promote infant health.