Microbiome affected by birth method, sleep cycles

A newly published study adds to the growing body of evidence that how babies are delivered — vaginal or by C-section — could influence their microbiome. Specifically, researchers found that babies born via C-section were missing beneficial strains of Bacteroides bacteria from their mother, but instead had high levels of infectious bacteria often found in hospitals, including Enterococcus and Klebsiella species.

At the same time, a different study reports that sleep cycles could affect the gut microbiome. Researchers found that disruptions in sleep patterns — measured by the presence or absence of light — led to a reduced number of a type of immune cell that maintains gut health. This in turn led to changes in the makeup of the gut microbiome, which could make people more susceptible to infection.