Background Fetal growth restriction (FGR) in utero leads to failure of fetus to reach the genetically normal growth potential. Currently available means of treating FGR are limited. And it remains unknown how pregnant women who give birth to FGR fetus differ in gut microbiota composition from normal pregnant women. Methods In this case-control study, fecal samples were obtained from maternal rectum in the operation room by an obstetrician under strict aseptic conditions. We compared gut microbiota of 14 pregnant women with FGR and 18 normal controls by performing 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Results We identified significant differences in β-diversity between the FGR and control groups (P < 0.05). At genus level, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium and Lachnospira were highly abundant in the FGR subjects, which are significantly enriched in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways related to glycometabolism. Conclusion These findings demonstrated that the distinct composition of the gut microbiota between FGR and normal pregnant women could contribute to an improved understanding of the prevention and treatment of FGR.

Background Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Since meconium microbiome is a critical component for the health of newborns, the aim of this study was to characterize the meconium microbiota in neonates with FGR compared with healthy controls. Methods To avoid bacteria contamination, all included neonates were delivered by elective C-section, with their samples collected in the operation room. We collected meconium samples from 14 neonates affected by FGR and 20 matched healthy newborns. The microbiome profiles were examined by using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing and analyzed with customized bioinformatics pipelines. Results The β-diversity analysis demonstrated that FGR neonates clustered together that was distinct from control subjects. A number of taxa were found to be significantly depleted (e.g., Chryseobacterium) or enriched (e.g., Asticcacaulis) in the FGR group. In addition, the coordination network between various intestinal bacteria was found to be altered in FGR neonates. Conclusions FGR neonates exhibited alterations in the composition and symbiosis of microbiome, which will contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and FGR.

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