What role do soil bacteria play at a young age in preventing allergies and respiratory infections later in life? With this innovative question and research, Dr. Niels van Best, Assistant Professor of Medical Microbiology, has won the Hustinx Science Award 2026.
(Photo: Joey Roberts)
The motto for young children is 'The dirtier, the better,' says Van Best. The bacteria children come into contact with early on largely determine the composition of their gut flora. This can influence health later in life, for example, in the development of allergies. “In principle, a more diverse gut flora is better.”
Van Best has been studying for years which factors influence that diversity. “The method of delivery – natural or a caesarean section – plays a role, as does whether the baby is breastfed or bottle-fed. But the environment is also important: are there siblings or pets running around that bring 'dirt' into the house, does the child go to daycare? And therefore also: does the child come into contact with microbes from the soil by playing in nature?”
Since 2018, Van Best and colleagues from Maastricht have been following babies in South Limburg during their first year of life within the LucKi study; the count now stands at around 150. At various times, the parents send a scoop of stool from the diaper to Randwyck.
By now, we have a number of large freezers full of poop here.
They also fill out questionnaires about things like what their baby eats, how often they get sick, and how often they go outside. “In the lab, we then investigate which microorganisms are present in the intestines and what function they have there.”
To determine the precise effect of digging in the earth, Van Best compares the bacteria from baby poop with the microbes teeming in soil samples taken from playgrounds. “This allows us to find out which environmental critters are actually ingested by children while playing, and at what age. By now, we already have a good picture of this.”
That knowledge is useful when developing measures, says Van Best. “Think of a program for daycare centers where the children go play in the woods every week. Or making playgrounds greener, bringing nature closer. It helps if you know at what age this has the most effect, or what type of soil or vegetation you want on that green playground.”
Van Best hopes that South Limburg will become a living lab in the future.
Source: Observant Online
He connects the detection of environmental microbes in the gut, via immune and metabolite profiles, with the translation into actionable insights for childcare, the living environment, and early prevention strategies.
Jury Report Hustinx Science Award 2026
