New microbiome research model aims to understand nutrition-related childhood growth

13 May 2024 --- Childhood undernutrition remains a significant global health challenge, contributing to nearly half of all deaths of children under the age of five, according to a recent study. To address this pressing issue, researchers at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine unveil a tool to increase understanding of undernutrition’s impact on childhood development and immunity through the microbiome.

The team at UVA says it has devised a sophisticated research model that allows stakeholders to delve deeper into the complex interactions between undernutrition, the microbiome and their effects on growth and immune function. The microbiome, composed of colonies of microbes residing in the gut, plays a crucial role in human health, making it a key focus of study in undernutrition research.

“We believe this new model will help us investigate many of the major challenges facing undernourished children, including higher rates of infection and changes in cognitive development,” says Carrie A. Cowardin, PhD, a co-author of the study and the creator of the research model.

“Our current studies are using this system to identify specific microbes that impact development, with the goal of using these microbes as therapies to promote healthy growth.”

Younger test subjects
Traditionally, one of the ways in which researchers study the microbiome is by transferring samples from the human microbiome into laboratory mice. However, Cowardin and her colleagues identified a significant improvement in this model by introducing the microbes to the mice at a very young age, before they were weaned. 

According to the team, this innovative approach, published in Microbiome and dubbed “intergenerational colonization,” better replicates the effects of undernutrition during early childhood. Through this novel model, the researchers observed that unweaned mice receiving microbes from children with impaired growth experienced stunted growth themselves.

Additionally, these young mice exhibited immune system responses similar to those observed in undernourished human children. Conversely, when the microbes were introduced to mice later in life, the effects were less consistent with those in humans.

Understanding developing microbiomes
The research team further highlights that these findings underscore infant microbiomes’ critical role in shaping long-term immune health and highlight the importance of early interventions in combating childhood undernutrition.

Cowardin says the model offers a valuable tool for advancing the understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying stunted growth by providing a more accurate representation of undernutrition’s impact on growth and immunity.

Moreover, this research paves the way for developing new strategies to prevent and mitigate the harmful effects of undernutrition in developing countries. By elucidating the underlying biological pathways involved, scientists can work toward solutions to promote healthier outcomes for children worldwide.

“We hope this work also allows us to answer fundamental questions about how the microbiome interacts with our own cells to shape the course of development,” Cowardin concludes. “Growth stunting due to undernutrition is a really difficult problem facing global child health, and the lessons we learn will likely apply to many other conditions as well.”

Edited by William Bradford Nichols