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Origins of human milk microbiota: new evidence and arising questions.

ABSTRACT: Human milk contains a diverse community of bacteria. The growing appreciation of commensal microbes and increasing availability of high-throughput technology has set the stage for a theory-driven approach to the study of milk microbiota, and translation of this knowledge to improve maternal and child health. We recently profiled the milk microbiota of healthy Canadian mothers and applied theory-driven causal modeling, finding that mode of breast milk feeding (nursing directly at the breast vs. pumping and feeding breast milk from a bottle) was significantly associated with milk microbiota composition. This observation could reflect an increased exposure to pumps and/or a decreased exposure to the infant mouth. Either way, it provides evidence for the retrograde mechanism of milk inoculation. Here, we discuss the implications of this research and related controversies, and raise new questions about the origins and function of milk bacteria.

SUBMITTER: Moossavi S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7524145 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Origins of human milk microbiota: new evidence and arising questions.

Moossavi Shirin S Azad Meghan B MB

Gut microbes 20191104 1

Human milk contains a diverse community of bacteria. The growing appreciation of commensal microbes and increasing availability of high-throughput technology has set the stage for a theory-driven approach to the study of milk microbiota, and translation of this knowledge to improve maternal and child health. We recently profiled the milk microbiota of healthy Canadian mothers and applied theory-driven causal modeling, finding that mode of breast milk feeding (nursing directly at the breast vs. p ...[more]

PMID: 31684806

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Project description:BackgroundThe interaction between the human breast milk microbiota and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) plays a crucial role in the healthy growth and development of infants. We aimed to clarify the link between the breast milk microbiota and HMOs at two stages of lactation.MethodsThe microbiota and HMOs of 20 colostrum samples (C group, 1-5 days postpartum) and 20 mature milk samples (S group, 42 days postpartum) collected from postpartum mothers were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.ResultThe total average HMO content was significantly higher in the C group than in the S group (6.76 ± 1.40 g/L vs. 10.27 ± 2.00 g/L, p < 0.05). Among the HMOs, the average values of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL, 1.64 ± 1.54 g/L vs. 3.03 ± 1.79 g/L), 3'-sialyllactose (3'-SL, 0.10 ± 0.02 g/L vs. 0.21 ± 0.06), 6'-SL (0.22 ± 0.09 g/L vs. 0.33 ± 0.11 g/L), and lacto-N-triaose 2 (LNT2, 0.03 ± 0.01 g/L vs. 0.16 ± 0.08 g/L) were significantly lower in the S group than in the C group (p < 0.05), while that of 3'-FL was significantly higher in the S group than in the C group (1.35 ± 1.00 g/L vs. 0.41 ± 0.43 g/L, p < 0.05). The diversity and structure of the microbiota in the S and C groups were also significantly different (p < 0.05). Comparative analysis of the microbial communities revealed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the most abundant phyla, in both groups, with the keystone species (Serratia, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus) of breast milk closely interacting with HMOs, including 3'-SL, 6'-SL, and LNT2. In PICRUSt2 functional prediction analysis, the S group exhibited significant reduction in the expression of genes involved in several infectious disease pathways.DiscussionOur findings support the recognition of human milk as a synbiotic comprising beneficial bacteria and prebiotic HMOs.

Project description:Viable microorganisms and a diverse microbial ecosystem found in human milk play a crucial role in promoting healthy immune system and shaping the microbial community in the infant's gut. Culturomics is a method to obtain a comprehensive repertoire of human milk microbiota. However, culturomics is an onerous procedure, and needs expertise, making it difficult to be widely implemented. Currently, there is no efficient and feasible culturomics method specifically designed for human milk microbiota yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a more efficient and feasible culturomics method specifically designed for human milk microbiota. We obtained fresh samples of human milk from healthy Chinese mothers and conducted a 27-day enrichment process using blood culture bottles. Bacterial isolates were harvested at different time intervals and cultured on four different types of media. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis, we identified a total of 6601 colonies and successfully obtained 865 strains, representing 4 phyla, 21 genera, and 54 species. By combining CBA and MRS media, we were able to cultivate over 94.4% of bacterial species with high diversity, including species-specific microorganisms. Prolonged pre-incubation in blood culture bottles significantly increased the number of bacterial species by about 33% and improved the isolation efficiency of beneficial bacteria with low abundance in human milk. After optimization, we reduced the pre-incubation time in blood culture bottles and selected optimal picking time-points (0, 3, and 6 days) at 37°C. By testing 6601 colonies using MALDI-TOF MS, we estimated that this new protocol could obtain more than 90% of bacterial species, reducing the workload by 57.0%. In conclusion, our new culturomics strategy, which involves the combination of CBA and MRS media, extended pre-incubation enrichment, and optimized picking time-points, is a feasible method for studying the human milk microbiota. This protocol significantly improves the efficiency of culturomics and allows for the establishment of a comprehensive repertoire of bacterial species and strains in human milk.

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Origins of human milk microbiota: new evidence and arising questions.

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Origins of human milk microbiota: new evidence and arising questions.

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