ONE HEALTH CIRCLE

One Health Within: Establishing healthy microbiomes in infants

Wednesday, January 19, 2022
7 – 8 p.m. (MT)

Humans and their microbial communities have been evolving together for billions of years. It is understood that our relationship with microbiota in biodiverse environments is vital to the evolution and progression of resilient immune systems. Scientists have observed that environmental changes over the past 50 years have altered our microbiomes and are studying the influence of the change on our health. Such altered microbiomes are passed down to the next generation, further compounding health outcomes. How does the microbiota of mothers shape the microbe and immune system of their infants? What impact does this have on their health trajectory?

Dr. Kathy McCoy (Killam Memorial Chair, Snyder Institute, Cumming School of Medicine and International Microbiome Centre) will describe the microbiome, how our microbiomes have changed over the past 50 years, and the influences of the maternal microbiome on the infant. 

Dr. Laura Sycuro (Cumming School of Medicine and International Microbiome Centre) will discuss how the microbial makeup of infants is influenced by their mothers during and after birth, and what this means in terms of infant health in the long run.