Temporal dynamics of gut microbiota and virome in preterm infants: insights from longitudinal metagenomic analysis

These findings suggest that microbial changes during the first month of life may reflect a combination of host developmental processes and external influences, such as antibiotic exposure or delivery mode. The observed microbial signatures provide preliminary insights into early gut microbiota and virome development in preterm infants. However, their functional relevance and long-term stability require confirmation in larger, well-powered longitudinal studies with denser temporal sampling. The enrichment of <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> may indicate its opportunistic colonization potential in the preterm gut and warrants further investigation regarding its role in gut homeostasis and immune system maturation.