NiPPeR Study - pilot microbiome investigation

The NiPPeR double-blinded randomized controlled trial recruited 1,729 women prior to conception and followed 585 mother-infant dyads from delivery to examine the impact of a nutritional supplement [containing additional micronutrients, myo-inositol and probiotics - Lactobacillus rhamnosus NCC 4007 (CGMCC 1.3724; LPR) and Bifidobacterium animalis sp. lactis NCC 2818 (CNCM I-3446; Bl818)] taken before and during pregnancy on the health of mothers and their babies. In this pilot study, we analyzed 20 stool samples, collected six months after birth, from 10 mother-infant dyads within the NiPPeR cohort (five from Auckland, New Zealand; five from Southampton, United Kingdom) to characterize vertical mother-to-infant microbial transmission and subsequent adaptation in bacterial transcription.