Early microbial colonization affects DNA methylation of genes related to intestinal immunity and metabolism in preterm pigs

Epigenetic regulation may play an important role in mediating microbe–host interactions and adaptation of intestinal gene expression to bacterial colonization just after birth. This is particularly important after preterm birth because the immature intestine is hypersensitive to invading bacteria. We compared the intestinal DNA methylome and microbiome between conventional (CON) and antibiotics-treated (AB) preterm pigs, used as a model for...