Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41387551›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2026

Bidirectional relations between the maternal and infant gut microbiome and behavior.

Caroline Kelsey, Robert Moulder, Heath Yancey, Stephanie Prescott, John A McCulloch, Giorgio Trinchieri, Caitlin Dreisbach, Jeanne Alhusen, Tobias Grossmann

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Caroline KelseyDepartment of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. cmkelsey@illinois.edu.
Robert MoulderInstitute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
Heath YanceyDepartment of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Stephanie PrescottNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
John A McCullochNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Giorgio TrinchieriNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Caitlin DreisbachSchool of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Jeanne AlhusenSchool of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Tobias GrossmannDepartment of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Grossmann@virginia.edu.

Funding

Neural Markers of Developmental Delays in Premature and Full Term InfantsK99HD115830 · NICHD · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · PI KELSEY, CAROLINE M. · 2024 to 2025
$265k
NICHD NIH HHS K99 HD115830
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAn infant's mother is one of the first sources of neonatal microbial colonization, and infant-maternal dyad microbial variations have been linked to childhood behavioral traits and mental health outcomes. However, how the gut microbiome influences mental health, including potential bidirectional relations between mother and child, remains poorly understood.

methodUsing metagenomic sequencing and behavioral questionnaires, we examined within-person and between-person (mother-infant dyad) associations between the gut microbiota and behavior across the first year of postnatal life (N = 121 dyads; N = 514 stool samples).

resultsThere were rapid changes in taxa diversity and gut microbiota composition for infants, whereas the maternal microbiome remains relatively constant. Gut microbes and functional terms (e.g., antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors) were associated with infant temperament but not maternal depression symptoms. Whereas maternal depression was not associated with any maternal taxa or functional terms.

conclusionsOur findings provide evidence for complex within- and between-person relations between maternal and infant gut microbiomes and behavioral traits. IMPACT: How the gut microbiome influences maternal mental health and infant behavior remains poorly understood. We measured mothers' and infants' gut microbiota composition and behavior across the first year of the infant's life. Individual taxa from the infant, but not the maternal, gut were associated with infant behavioral temperament. Our findings provide evidence for complex bidirectional gut-behavior associations between mothers and infants.

Indexed as

Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeInfant BehaviorMother-Child RelationsMothersAdultFecesFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleMetagenomicsSurveys and QuestionnairesTemperament

Identifiers

PMID41387551
PMCPMC12758567

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.