Human milk oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium species

Trends Microbiol. 2024 Feb;32(2):118-119. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.015. Epub 2023 Dec 11.

Abstract

Several bacterial species initially colonise the infant gut, but are outcompeted. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breast milk create an environment for Bifidobacterium to flourish. Laursen and Roager recently showed a clear link between breast milk and the dominance of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis in the infant gut.

MeSH terms

  • Bifidobacterium*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Milk, Human*
  • Oligosaccharides

Substances

  • Oligosaccharides