Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in Human Breast Milk

Abstract

Objective:The objective of this work was to study the lactobacilli and bifidobacteria population in human milk of healthy women, and to investigate the influence that several factors (including antibioteraphy during pregnancy and lactation, country and date of birth, delivery mode, or infant age) may exert on such population.Methods:A total of 160 women living in Germany or Austria provided the breast milk samples. Initially, 66 samples were randomly selected and cultured on MRS-Cys agar plates. Then, the presence of DNA from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and from most of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species that were isolated, was assessed by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using genus- and species-specific primers.Results:Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria could be isolated from the milk of 27 (40.91%) and 7 (10.61%), respectively, of the 66 cultured samples. On the contrary, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium sequences were detected by PCR in 108 (67.50%) and 41 (25.62%), respectively, of the 160 samples analyzed. The Lactobacillus species most frequently isolated and detected was L salivarius (35.00%), followed by L fermentum (25.00%) and L gasseri (21.88%), whereas B breve (13.75%) was the bifidobacterial species most commonly recovered and whose DNA was most regularly found. The number of lactobacilli- or bifidobacteria-positive samples was significantly lower in women who had received antibiotherapy during pregnancy or lactation.Conclusions:Our results suggest that either the presence of lactobacilli and/or bifidobacteria or their DNA may constitute good markers of a healthy human milk microbiota that has not been altered by the use of antibiotics.

Exploring the role of the microbiota member Bifidobacterium in modulating immune-linked diseases

“…These findings provide initial insights as to why vaginal delivery provides a higher abundance of Bifidobacterium in infants, over a caesarean section (C-section) delivery [24,25]. Following birth, breast milk may provide a secondary delivery route for further bifidobacteria [22,26] and additionally drives proliferation of bifidobacteria due to its unique nutritional milieu of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), proteins, and lipids [27][28][29]. Notably, a reduced abundance of Bifidobacterium in infants is highly correlated to chronic diseases, including asthma and obesity [30].…”

The Postpartum Maternal and Newborn Microbiomes

“…Probiotics have been a recent area of interest as both an adjunct and primary therapy for bacterial mastitis treatment (Amir, Griffin, Cullinane, & Garland, 2016; Arroyo et al, 2010). If antibiotic therapy simultaneously eliminates both pathogenic and commensal bacteria, probiotic treatment can potentially restore the balance of commensal bacteria normally found in breast milk ((Jeurink et al, 2013; Maldonado-Lobon et al, 2015; Soto et al, 2014). When used as a preventative measure, probiotics can help prevent overgrowth of virulent microbial species that contribute to mastitis (Klaenhammer, Kleerebezem, Kopp, & Rescigno, 2012).…”

Maternal–Child Microbiome

“…Human breast milk is highly variable in microbial content but accumulating evidence shows a dominance of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus , and Bifidobacterium (Cabrera-Rubio et al, 2012; Soto et al, 2014). Breast milk provides the infant with a foundation for a diverse microbial gut community, essential nourishment, and immunological compounds.…”

“…It also supplies specific bacteria and probiotic compounds which encourage the colonization of beneficial gut bacteria in the newborn (Yang et al, 2016). Anaerobic gut bacteria such as Bifidobacterium confer protective mechanisms which allow the infant to combat infection and mount an immune response (Soto et al, 2014). Thus, a more complete understanding of the breast milk microbiome enables researchers, nurses, and concerned mothers to encourage behaviors which lead to a more diverse, healthy microbial community within breast milk, ultimately encouraging development of a healthy infant gut microbiome.…”