MYBIOTA: A birth cohort on maternal and infant microbiota and its impact on infant health in Malaysia

BACKGROUND: The microbiota plays a key role in early immunity maturation that affects infant health and is associated with the development of non-communicable diseases and allergies in later life. OBJECTIVE: The MYBIOTA is a prospective mother-infant cohort study in Malaysia aiming to determine the association between gut microbiota with infant health (temperament, gastrointestinal disorders, eczema, asthma, and developmental delays) in Selangor, Malaysia. METHODS: Pregnant mothers will be enrolled in their first trimester of pregnancy, and follow-ups will be done for infants during their first year of life. Maternal-infant biological samples (blood, feces, saliva, urine, and breast milk), anthropometric, dietary, and clinical information will be collected at different time points from early pregnancy to 12 months postpartum. DISCUSSION: This study could provide a better understanding of the colonization and development of the gut microbiome during early life and its impact on infant health. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT04919265.