Linking human milk oligosaccharide metabolism and early life gut microbiota: bifidobacteria and beyond

SUMMARYHuman milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex, multi-functional glycans present in human breast milk. They represent an intricate mix of heterogeneous structures which reach the infant intestine in an intact form as they resist gastrointestinal digestion. Therefore, they confer a multitude o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microbiology and molecular biology reviews 2024-03, Vol.88 (1), p.e0009423-e0009423
Main Authors: Lordan, Cathy, Roche, Aoife K, Delsing, Dianne, Nauta, Arjen, Groeneveld, Andre, MacSharry, John, Cotter, Paul D, van Sinderen, Douwe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bifidobacterium
Biodegradation
Breast Feeding
Breast milk
Breastfeeding & lactation
Degradation
Digestive system
Digestive tract
Female
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Gastrointestinal tract
Glycan
Human Microbiome
Humans
Infant formulas
Infant, Newborn
Infants
Intestinal microflora
Intestine
Metabolites
Microbiota
Microorganisms
Milk, Human - chemistry
Oligosaccharides
Oligosaccharides - analysis
Oligosaccharides - metabolism
Polysaccharides
Review
Syntrophism
Taxa
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Summary:SUMMARYHuman milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex, multi-functional glycans present in human breast milk. They represent an intricate mix of heterogeneous structures which reach the infant intestine in an intact form as they resist gastrointestinal digestion. Therefore, they confer a multitude of benefits, directly and/or indirectly, to the developing neonate. Certain bifidobacterial species, being among the earliest gut colonizers of breast-fed infants, have an adapted functional capacity to metabolize various HMO structures. This ability is typically observed in infant-associated bifidobacteria, as opposed to bifidobacteria associated with a mature microbiota. In recent years, information has been gleaned regarding how these infant-associated bifidobacteria as well as certain other taxa are able to assimilate HMOs, including the mechanistic strategies enabling their acquisition and consumption. Additionally, complex metabolic interactions occur between microbes facilitated by HMOs, including the utilization of breakdown products released from HMO degradation. Interest in HMO-mediated changes in microbial composition and function has been the focal point of numerous studies, in recent times fueled by the availability of individual biosynthetic HMOs, some of which are now commonly included in infant formula. In this review, we outline the main HMO assimilatory and catabolic strategies employed by infant-associated bifidobacteria, discuss other taxa that exhibit breast milk glycan degradation capacity, and cover HMO-supported cross-feeding interactions and related metabolites that have been described thus far.
ISSN:1092-2172
1098-5557
DOI:10.1128/mmbr.00094-23