A multidisciplinary team of microbiome researchers at Birmingham is unravelling the mysteries of how ‘healthy’ bacteria work within the human body, and creating new therapies to treat new-born premature babies at risk of deadly infections.
Translational research from a University of Birmingham team is developing new treatments to supply vulnerable pregnant women and premature babies with bacteria the human body uses to fight off illness.
The team has already tested a therapy for premature babies that reduces the risk of fatality from a deadly infection by half.
And they are now investigating whether beneficial bacteria could directly kill ‘bad’ counterparts, in research that could be a major asset to the field of antimicrobial resistance, which is forecast to kill millions of people by 2050 if not addressed.
Professor Lindsay Hall, Chair of Microbiome Research in the Institute of Microbiology and Infection (pictured) says: ‘Our bodies are home to tiny superheroes, these marvellous microbes. They live both on the skin and within us, including in the gut. They help us digest the food we eat, producing small molecules as they do it, and some of these molecules are really important for programming our bodies to resist threats.
‘For example, some strengthen our gut barrier, preventing infection from other, nasty microbes like salmonella. And more recently, we’re beginning to understand that the “good” microbes are also important for cognitive development, too.’
Giving premature babies the protection they miss out on
Beneficial or ‘good’ microbes are transmitted during natural birth – with the mother passing on important microbes to the baby, with the mother’s milk further supporting growth of beneficial bacteria during early life.
Lindsay explained: ‘Premature babies have a less-developed immune system than those that are full term. But the other special thing – and why they’re very, very fragile – is that the microbes they have in their gut and intestine are normally very different to their full-term compatriots.
‘That’s partly because many are born by caesarean section, missing out on the transfer of beneficial microbes from mum to baby through the birth canal, and also the fact that they will get antibiotics at birth to help fight off infection, while residing in sterile neonatal care units.
‘Clinical and healthcare staff are doing an incredible job in keeping these little ones alive, but the trade-off is that these factors disrupt the beneficial microbial communities we want to see growing in the babies. Our research is investigating how we can offer them both.’
The dangers premature babies face
One key early life microbe is Bifidobacterium, found in high levels in naturally delivered and breastfed babies, but which is commonly missing in premature births. It leaves new-borns vulnerable to serious infection, including the condition necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), where the bowel becomes inflamed and damaged. NEC can cause death in premature babies.
Clinical trials conducted as a result of Lindsay’s research saw babies given Bifidobacterium as a probiotic supplement, leading to a 50% reduction in cases of necrotising enterocolitis and a 50% reduction in all mortality. Results were so successful that the research was cited in clinical care guidelines by the World Health Organization. Read more about our excellence in clinical trials.
Saving babies' lives
Looking ahead, Lindsay is in discussions with colleagues at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital to investigate whether pregnant women at risk of premature birth could also benefit from similar therapy, helping both them and their babies once they are born.
Her research is supported by a gift in the will of an alumnus, funding two PhD students who are analysing data towards developing novel antibiotics by understanding which beneficial microbes can directly kill other pathogens. Their gift could literally help save the lives of future generations born prematurely. Lindsay added: ‘Without that generous donation, this work would not be possible.’