Q&A from the NNI and WNSC symposium, "Milestones That Matter: How Early Microbiome Development Shapes Immune and Metabolic Health," held on April 17, 2026, at the 10th International Congress of Probiotics, Prebiotics, Postbiotics in Pediatrics in Lecce, Italy.
This symposium, moderated by Pr. Marie‑Claire Arrieta, delves into how the infant gut microbiome forms and matures in early life—and why the timing of that maturation profoundly influences immune and metabolic health. Pr. Marie‑Claire Arrieta highlights the critical microbial milestones of infancy and how deviations from expected trajectories relate to allergy risk. Dr. Stéphane Duboux then explores the ecological succession of Bifidobacterium species across the transition from milk to solids, demonstrating how the handover from B. infantis to B. iuvenis contributes to functional microbiome maturation.
Author(s):
Marie-Claire Arrieta, Stéphane Duboux
