Characteristics of gut microbiota of term small gestational age infants within 1 week and their relationship with neurodevelopment at 6 months

Abstract

The gut microbial diversity of term SGA infants was significantly lower in the first week of life than that of term AGA infants. Certain pathogenic and conditional pathogenic bacteria, such as <i>Escherichia_Shigella</i>, <i>Ralstonia</i> and <i>Clostridium</i> increased or formed the dominant microbiota in SGA infants. Alpha diversity, <i>Bacteroidota</i>, <i>Bacteroides</i>, <i>Bacteroides_fragilis</i>, and <i>Clostridium_saccharobutylicum</i> found in SGA infants may be associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6 months of age, indicating possible therapeutic targets for clinical intervention.