The gut microbiota has been reported to be involved in a variety of physiological processes, including digestion, immunity, and metabolism, thereby having substantial implications for host health (Valdes et al., 2018). Increasing studies suggest that manipulating the gut microbiota can alter behavior and cognitive function, highlighting its potential role in neurodevelopment (Cerdo et al., 2023; Nuzum et al., 2024). For example, Koren et al. (2023) have indicated that the maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy plays an essential role in shaping the infant gut microbiota, thereby influencing the neurodevelopment of offspring. Moreover, microbial transmission is more likely to occur during and after birth (Perez-Muñoz et al., 2017). Early-life microbiota alterations have been shown to significantly impact the infant's immune system development, metabolism, and neurodevelopment, with potential lifelong consequences (Stiemsma and Michels, 2018).

Human studies have indicated that the gut microbiota's composition and function during infancy are associated with cognitive outcomes later in life (Christian et al., 2015; Carlson et al., 2018). However, the relationship between maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring is still not entirely understood due to a lack of direct evidence from longitudinal cohorts of different populations. Recent reviews have highlighted the importance of microbial transmission and immune imprinting between mothers and their offspring during the perinatal period, as well as the extensive remodeling of maternal microbiota across different body sites during pregnancy (Xiao and Zhao, 2023; Xiao et al., 2024). These studies indicate that alterations in the maternal microbiome can affect the establishment of the infant's microbiome and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes, highlighting the importance of additional research in order to unravel these intricate interactions. Neurodevelopment is a complex process influenced by multiple factors, including genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, as well as microbiota (Bale et al., 2010). Cognitive and motor skills develop rapidly during infancy, making this period particularly critical in the course of life (Nelson et al., 2019). Understanding the role of the gut microbiota during this period could have substantial implications for child development and the prevention of neurodevelopmental disorders.

In the present study, through a longitudinal cohort of mother-infant pairs, we compared the composition of gut microbiota in mothers during pregnancy and their infants at 1 year of age, further integrating these microbial signatures with neurodevelopmental assessments of the children. By studying the link between maternal-infant gut microbiota and neurodevelopment, we aimed to identify key microbes and microbial-related pathways that influence brain development. This research sought to justify the targeting of microbiota composition as an early intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders.