New research reveals stalled microbiome maturation in infants with cystic fibrosis, potentially impacting long-term health.

A Dartmouth-led study, published in mBio, found that infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience delayed gut microbiome development compared to healthy peers. While a typical infant’s gut microbiome evolves rapidly in early life before stabilizing in childhood, researchers discovered that CF infants showed minimal microbiome changes over time.

Analyzing stool samples from 40 CF infants, researchers observed a depletion of beneficial bacteria, including Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which supports digestion and reduces inflammation. This stagnation in microbiome development may contribute to poor health outcomes in CF patients.

The team, led by Benjamin Ross, PhD, at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, plans further research using mouse models to investigate the mechanisms behind these disruptions. Future studies may explore probiotic and dietary interventions to support microbiome health in CF infants.

Reference: Ross B, O’Toole G, Madan J, Sanville J. Stalled Microbiomes: Cystic Fibrosis Disrupts Early Gut Development in Infants. mBio. 2024.