Bacterial blooms compromise cognition

Advances in neonatal care have increased the survival of extremely premature infants born before the gestational age of 28 weeks; however, neurodevelopmental impairment of premature neonates remains significant. Recent research has shed light on the link between the developing brain and the establishment of the human microbiome. The microbiome refers to the collection of micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which colonise the mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract to control pathogen invasion and prime host immune responses. During the third trimester, the developing brains of premature infants are particularly sensitive to pathogens.