USF nurse-scientist Maureen Groer found that of 78 neonatal intensive care babies studied, all developed an extremely abnormal microbiome called dysbiosis that affects digestion and the immune system and significantly stunts growth. This may occur because they receive more antibiotics and interact less with their mothers in the NICU.

Breast milk transfers beneficial gut bacteria from mothers to infants, and NICU babies often consume more formula than breast milk. Two years later, Groer followed up with 24 of the children she observed previously and found that their microbiomes remarkably improved. She attributes that improvement to eating regular diets and being outside of hospital settings.

• Maureen Groer