Bovine milk as a source of functional oligosaccharides for improving human health

Nutritional and health effects of bovine colostrum in neonates

High concentrations of immunoglobulins, bioactive peptides, and growth factors are found in bovine colostrum (BC), the milk produced by cows in the first few days after parturition. Various biological functions make it increasingly used to provide nutritional support and immune protection to the offspring of many species, including humans. These biological functions include cell growth stimulation, anti-infection, and immunomodulation. The primary components and biological functions of colostrum were reviewed in the literature, and the authors also looked at its latent effects on the growth and development of neonates as well as on conditions such as infections, necrotizing enterocolitis, short bowel syndrome, and feeding intolerance. The importance of BC in neonatal nutrition, immune support, growth and development, and gut health has been demonstrated in a number of experimental and animal studies. BC has also been shown to be safe at low doses without adverse effects in newborns. BC supplementation has been shown to be efficient in preventing several disorders, including rotavirus diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis in animal models of prematurity and some newborn studies. Therefore, BC supplementation should be considered in cases where maternal milk is insufficient or donor milk is unavailable. The optimal age, timing, dosage, and form of BC administration still require further investigation.

Carbohydrate flow through agricultural ecosystems: Implications for synthesis and microbial conversion of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are chemically and structurally diverse biomolecules, serving numerous and varied roles in agricultural ecosystems. Crops and horticulture products are inherent sources of carbohydrates that are consumed by humans and non-human animals alike; however carbohydrates are also present in other agricultural materials, such as soil and compost, human and animal tissues, milk and dairy products, and honey. The biosynthesis, modification, and flow of carbohydrates within and between agricultural ecosystems is intimately related with microbial communities that colonize and thrive within these environments. Recent advances in -omics techniques have ushered in a new era for microbial ecology by illuminating the functional potential for carbohydrate metabolism encoded within microbial genomes, while agricultural glycomics is providing fresh perspective on carbohydrate-microbe interactions and how they influence the flow of functionalized carbon. Indeed, carbohydrates and carbohydrate-active enzymes are interventions with unrealized potential for improving carbon sequestration, soil fertility and stability, developing alternatives to antimicrobials, and circular production systems. In this manner, glycomics represents a new frontier for carbohydrate-based biotechnological solutions for agricultural systems facing escalating challenges, such as the changing climate.

Isolation of a novel pentasaccharide Ebaliose from immunostimulant fraction of buffalo milk oligosaccharide

Buffalo milk processed by method of Kobata and Ginsburg for isolation of its oligosaccharide contents showed significant stimulation of anti-body, delayed type hypersensitivity response to sheep red blood cells in BALB/c mice. This oligosaccharide mixture also stimulated non-specific immune response in terms of MMI. In continuation to our previous studies of oligosaccharide contents of buffalo milk another novel pentasaccharide Ebaliose was isolated from immunostimulant oligosaccharide fraction of buffalo milk. Ebaliose was procured in its purest form, by combining the different chromatographic techniques like Gel filtration, Silica Gel column chromatography, and HPLC. The structure of novel oligosaccharide was determined by 1H,13C, HSQC, TOCSY, COSY, HMBC, ESI-MS, chemical transformation, and chemical degradation. The stereoscopic structure of this novel pentasaccharide was established as under.

3'sialyllactose and 6'sialyllactose enhance performance in endurance-type exercise through metabolic adaptation

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) belong to a group of multifunctional glycans that are abundantly present in human breast milk. While health effects of neutral oligosaccharides have been investigated extensively, a lot remains unknown regarding health effects of acidic oligosaccharides, such as the two sialyllactoses (SLs), 3'sialyllactose (3'SL), and 6'sialyllactose (6'SL). We utilized Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to investigate the effects of SLs on exercise performance. Using swimming as an endurance-type exercise, we found that SLs decrease exhaustion, signifying an increase in endurance that is strongest for 6'SL. Through an unbiased metabolomics approach, we identified changes in energy metabolism that correlated with endurance performance. Further investigation suggested that these metabolic changes were related to adaptations of muscle mitochondria that facilitated a shift from beta oxidation to glycogenolysis during exercise. We found that the effect of SLs on endurance performance required AMPK- (aak-1/aak-2) and adenosine receptor (ador-1) signaling. We propose a model where SLs alter the metabolic status in the gut, causing a signal from the intestine to the nervous system toward muscle cells, where metabolic adaptation increases exercise performance. Together, our results underline the potential of SLs in exercise-associated health and contribute to our understanding of the molecular processes involved in nutritionally-induced health benefits.

Review on the Impact of Milk Oligosaccharides on the Brain and Neurocognitive Development in Early Life

Milk Oligosaccharides (MOS), a group of complex carbohydrates found in human and bovine milk, have emerged as potential modulators of optimal brain development for early life. This review provides a comprehensive investigation of the impact of milk oligosaccharides on brain and neurocognitive development of early life by synthesizing current literature from preclinical models and human observational studies. The literature search was conducted in the PubMed search engine, and the inclusion eligibility was evaluated by three reviewers. Overall, we identified 26 articles for analysis. While the literature supports the crucial roles of fucosylated and sialylated milk oligosaccharides in learning, memory, executive functioning, and brain structural development, limitations were identified. In preclinical models, the supplementation of only the most abundant MOS might overlook the complexity of naturally occurring MOS compositions. Similarly, accurately quantifying MOS intake in human studies is challenging due to potential confounding effects such as formula feeding. Mechanistically, MOS is thought to impact neurodevelopment through modulation of the microbiota and enhancement of neuronal signaling. However, further advancement in our understanding necessitates clinical randomized-controlled trials to elucidate the specific mechanisms and long-term implications of milk oligosaccharides exposure. Understanding the interplay between milk oligosaccharides and cognition may contribute to early nutrition strategies for optimal cognitive outcomes in children.

The Effect of Using Bovine Colostrum and Probiotics on Performance, Egg Traits, Blood Biochemical and Antioxidant Status of Laying Japanese Quails

The present paper aims to evaluate the effect of different levels of bovine colostrum and probiotic dietary supplementation on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails. For the trial, 240 laying quails, aged between 24 weeks and 30 weeks, were involved in a 3 × 2 factorial experimental design, with 3 levels of bovine fresh colostrum (0, 2, and 4 percent of the total ratio) and 2 levels of probiotics (0 and 0.01 percent of the total ratio) administration. The colostrum supplementation improved the egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status (p < 0.01). Probiotics used without colostrum did not affect the investigated traits of laying Japanese quails (p > 0.05), but a synergistic effect was observed when combined with colostrum. The overall results recommended that using 4% of bovine colostrum in laying Japanese quails, with the addition of 0.01% of probiotic feed additive results in positive effects on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails in the late laying period.

Dietary fibre definition revisited - The case of low molecular weight carbohydrates

Low molecular weight (LMW) non-digestible carbohydrates (namely, oligosaccharides and inulin) are accepted as dietary fibre in many countries worldwide. The inclusion of oligosaccharides as dietary fibre was made optional within the Codex Alimentarius definition in 2009, which has caused great controversy. Inulin is accepted as dietary fibre by default, due to being a non-digestible carbohydrate polymer. Oligosaccharides and inulin occur naturally in numerous foods and are frequently incorporated into commonly consumed food products for a variety of purposes, such as to increase dietary fibre content. LMW non-digestible carbohydrates, due to their rapid fermentation in the proximal colon, may cause deleterious effects in individuals with functional bowel disorders (FBDs) and, as such, are excluded on the low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, and polyols) diet and similar protocols. Their addition to food products as dietary fibre allows the use of associated nutrition/health claims, causing a paradox for those with FBDs, which is further complicated by lack of clarity on food labelling. Therefore, this review aimed to discuss whether the inclusion of LMW non-digestible carbohydrates within the Codex definition of dietary fibre is warranted. This review provides justification for the exclusion of oligosaccharides and inulin from the Codex definition of dietary fibre. LMW non-digestible carbohydrates could, instead, be placed in their own category as prebiotics, recognised for their specific functional properties, or considered food additives, whereby they are not promoted for being beneficial for health. This would preserve the concept of dietary fibre being a universally beneficial dietary component for all individuals.

Functional effects of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are the third most important solid component in human milk and act in tandem with other bioactive components. Individual HMO levels and distribution vary greatly between mothers by multiple variables, such as secretor status, race, geographic region, environmental conditions, season, maternal diet, and weight, gestational age and mode of delivery. HMOs improve the gastrointestinal barrier and also promote a bifidobacterium-rich gut microbiome, which protects against infection, strengthens the epithelial barrier, and creates immunomodulatory metabolites. HMOs fulfil a variety of physiologic functions including potential support to the immune system, brain development, and cognitive function. Supplementing infant formula with HMOs is safe and promotes a healthy development of the infant revealing benefits for microbiota composition and infection prevention. Because of limited data comparing the effect of non-human oligosaccharides to HMOs, it is not known if HMOs offer an additional clinical benefit over non-human oligosaccharides. Better knowledge of the factors influencing HMO composition and their functions will help to understand their short- and long-term benefits.

Prophylactic Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Intestinal Microbiota and Behavior in Wild-Type and Zonulin Transgenic Mice

The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) involves bidirectional communication between intestinal microbiota and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, central nervous system (CNS), neuroendocrine/neuroimmune systems, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and enteric nervous system (ENS). The intestinal microbiota can influence host physiology and pathology. Dysbiosis involves the loss of beneficial microbial input or signal, diversity, and expansion of pathobionts, which can lead to loss of barrier function and increased intestinal permeability (IP). Colostrum, the first milk from mammals after birth, is a natural source of nutrients and is rich in oligosaccharides, immunoglobulins, growth factors, and anti-microbial components. The aim of this study was to investigate if bovine colostrum (BC) administration might modulate intestinal microbiota and, in turn, behavior in two mouse models, wild-type (WT) and Zonulin transgenic (Ztm)-the latter of which is characterized by dysbiotic microbiota, increased intestinal permeability, and mild hyperactivity-and to compare with control mice. Bioinformatics analysis of the microbiome showed that consumption of BC was associated with increased taxonomy abundance (p = 0.001) and diversity (p = 0.004) of potentially beneficial species in WT mice and shifted dysbiotic microbial community towards eubiosis in Ztm mice (p = 0.001). BC induced an anxiolytic effect in WT female mice compared with WT female control mice (p = 0.0003), and it reduced anxiogenic behavior in Ztm female mice compared with WT female control mice (p = 0.001), as well as in Ztm male mice compared with WT BC male mice (p = 0.03). As evidenced in MGBA interactions, BC supplementation may well be applied for prophylactic approaches in the future. Further research is needed to explore human interdependencies between intestinal microbiota, including eubiosis and pathobionts, and neuroinflammation, and the potential value of BC for human use. The MGH Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee authorized the animal study (2013N000013).

Non-Digestible Oligosaccharides: A Novel Treatment for Respiratory Infections?

Emerging antimicrobial resistance in respiratory infections requires novel intervention strategies. Non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs) are a diverse group of carbohydrates with broad protective effects. In addition to promoting the colonization of beneficial gut microbiota and maintaining the intestinal homeostasis, NDOs act as decoy receptors, effectively blocking the attachment of pathogens on host cells. NDOs also function as a bacteriostatic agent, inhibiting the growth of specific pathogenic bacteria. Based on this fact, NDOs potentiate the actions of antimicrobial drugs. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in characterizing the anti-infective properties of NDOs. This focused review provides insights into the mechanisms by which representative NDOs may suppress respiratory infections by targeting pathogens and host cells. We summarized the most interesting mechanisms of NDOs, including maintenance of gut microbiota homeostasis, interference with TLR-mediated signaling, anti-oxidative effects and bacterial toxin neutralization, bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects, and anti-adhesion or anti-invasive properties. A detailed understanding of anti-infective mechanisms of NDOs against respiratory pathogens may contribute to the development of add-on therapy or alternatives to antimicrobials.

The Potential Role of Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorder in Western populations and therefore a major public health/economic concern. However, despite extensive research, psychological and physiological factors that contribute to the aetiology of IBS remain poorly understood. Consequently, clinical management of IBS is reduced to symptom management through various suboptimal options. Recent evidence has suggested human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) as a potential therapeutic option for IBS. Here, we review literature concerning the role of HMOs in IBS, including data from intervention and in vitro trials. HMO supplementation shows promising results in altering the gut microbiota and improving IBS symptoms, for instance by stimulating bifidobacteria. Further research in adults is required into HMO mechanisms, to confirm the preliminary results available to date and recommendations of HMO use in IBS.

Comparison of nutritional composition between plant-based drinks and cow's milk

The high decline in liquid milk consumption in Western countries has been compensated by the increased consumption of processed dairy products and the rapidly increasing number of new plant-based beverages constantly introduced in the market, advertised as milk substitutes and placed on shelves near milk products. To provide better understanding about the nutritional value of these drinks compared with cow's milk, 27 plant-based drinks of 8 different species and two milk samples were purchased from two big retailers in Switzerland, and their composition regarding protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin, and mineral contents and residue load [glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and arsenic] was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Energy and nutrient intakes were calculated and compared with the dietary reference values for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (D-A-CH). In addition, the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) was calculated to estimate the quality of the proteins. Milk contained more energy; fat; carbohydrate; vitamins C, B₂, B₁₂, and A; biotin; pantothenic acid; calcium; phosphorus; and iodine than most plant-based drinks. Soy drinks provided slightly more protein and markedly more vitamins B₁ and B₆, folic acid, and vitamins E and D₂ (with supplemented vitamin D₂) and K₁, magnesium, manganese, iron, and copper than milk and the other plant-based drinks. However, with the exception of cow's milk and soy drinks, which had > 3% protein, most milk alternatives contained ≤ 1% protein; therefore, they cannot be considered good protein sources. In regard to protein quality, milk was outstanding compared with all plant-based drinks and exhibited higher calculated DIAASs. Our results show that the analyzed plant-based drinks are not real alternatives to milk in terms of nutrient composition, even if the actual fortification is taken into account. Improved fortification is still an issue and can be optimized using the most bioavailable and soluble derivatives. Complete replacement of milk with plant-based drinks without adjusting the overall diet can lead to deficiencies of certain important nutrients in the long term.

Nutritional Parameters in Colostrum of Different Mammalian Species

Colostrum (or first milk) is the food produced by all the mothers in all specific mammalian species, ruminants, monogastric and marine mammalians for their newborns during the first 24–48 h post-partum. Colostrum provides to the neonate all essential nutrients necessary for the first week of life, but the effect of colostrum shows a long-term effect not limited to these first days. Colostrum is considered to be a safe and essential food for human consumption. Some young children can show at the beginning of their colostrum-based diet some side effects, such as nausea and flatulence, but they disappear quickly. In human colostrum, the immunoglobulins and lactoferrin determined show the ability to create natural immunity in newborns, reducing greatly the mortality rate in children. Recent studies suggest that bovine colostrum (BC) may be an interesting nutraceutical food, due to its ability in preventing and/or mitigating several diseases in newborns and adults. This review aims to show the nutraceutical and functional properties of colostrum produced by several mammalian species, describing the different colostrum bio-active molecules and reporting the clinical trials aimed to determine colostrum nutraceutical and therapeutic characteristics in human nutrition.

Comparative analysis of yak milk and bovine milk glycoprotein N/O-glycome by online HILIC-UV-ESI-MS/MS

Yak milk (YM) has higher protein content than other bovine milk (BM) varieties. The bioactivity of milk glycoproteins is related to N/O-glycans. We qualitatively and quantitatively compared the N/O-glycome of YM and BM glycoproteins using stable isotope labeling combined with hydrophilic interaction chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. We identified 79 and 78 N-glycans in YM and BM, respectively. Two N-glycans (H4N5F1A1; H5N4F1) were exclusive to YM. The content ratios of different types of N-glycans differed significantly between YM and BM, with sialylated N-glycans 2.33 times more abundant in YM. Five and seven O-glycans were detected in YM and BM, respectively. Two O-glycans (H1N2; H1N2A1) were exclusive to BM. The bi-sialylated O-glycan, H1N1A2, accounted for 56.1% of O-glycans in YM; it was 5.97 times more abundant in YM than in BM (equal volume basis). This study provides a theoretical basis for the future utilization of YM as a functional food.

Biology of human milk oligosaccharides: from Basic Science to Clinical Evidence

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have been researched by scientists for over 100 years, driven by the substantial evidence for the nutritional and health benefits of mother's milk. Yet research has truly bloomed during the last decade, thanks to the progress in biotechnology, which allowed the production of large amounts of bona fide HMOs. The availability of HMOs has been particularly crucial for the renewed interest in HMO research because of the low abundance or even absence of HMOs in farmed animal milk. This interest is reflected in the increasing number of original research publications and reviews on HMOs. Here, we provide an overview and critical discussion on structure function relations of HMOs that highlight why they are such interesting and important components of human milk. Clinical observations in breastfed infants backed by basic research from animal models provide guidance as to what physiological roles for HMOs are to be expected. From an evidence-based nutrition viewpoint, we discuss the current data supporting clinical relevance of specific HMOs based on randomized placebo controlled clinical intervention trials in formula-fed infants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Role of milk carbohydrates in intestinal health of nursery pigs: a review

Intestinal health is essential for the resistance to enteric diseases and for nutrient digestion and absorption to support growth. The intestine of nursery pigs are immature and vulnerable to external challenges, which cause negative impacts on the structure and function of the intestine. Among nutritional interventions, the benefits of milk are significant for the intestinal health of pigs. Milk coproducts have traditionally been used in starter feeds to improve the growth of nursery pigs, but their use is somewhat limited due to the high costs and potential risks of excessive lactose on the intestine. Thus, understanding a proper feeding level of milk carbohydrates is an important start of the feeding strategy. For nursery pigs, lactose is considered a highly digestible energy source compared with plant-based starch, whereas milk oligosaccharides are considered bioactive compounds modulating intestinal immunity and microbiota. Therefore, milk carbohydrates, mainly composed of lactose and oligosaccharides, have essential roles in the intestinal development and functions of nursery pigs. The proper feeding levels of lactose in starter feeds could be variable by weaning age, body weight, or genetic lines. Effects of lactose and milk oligosaccharides have been broadly studied in human health and animal production. Therefore, this review focuses on the mechanisms of lactose and milk oligosaccharides affecting intestinal maturation and functions through modulation of enterocyte proliferation, intestinal immunity, and intestinal microbiota of nursery pigs.

Infant formula containing bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides supports age-appropriate growth and improves stooling pattern

BACKGROUND

Adding bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides (MOS) enhances the oligosaccharide profile of infant formula. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a MOS-supplemented infant formula.

METHODS

In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, healthy infants 21-26 days old were either assigned to bovine milk-based, alpha-lactalbumin, and sn-2 palmitate enriched infant formula (control, n = 115) or the same formula with 7.2 g MOS/L (test, n = 115) until aged 6 months. Co-primary endpoints were weight gain through 4 months and stool consistency (validated scale: 1 = watery to 5 = hard). Secondary endpoints included parent-reported GI tolerance, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

Weight gain was similar (p = 0.695); the difference between test and control (mean; 95% CI: 0.29; -1.15, 1.73 g/day) was above the non-inferiority margin (-3 g/day). Test had softer stools than control (mean difference in stool consistency score: -0.31; 95% CI: -0.42, -0.21; P < 0.0001); fewer parental reports of harder stools (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.49; P < 0.0001) and less difficulties in passing stool (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.65; P = 0.005). Parent-reported GI tolerance and HRQoL were similar between groups as were the overall low AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

MOS-supplemented infant formula is safe and well-tolerated while supporting normal infant growth and promotes softer stooling pattern without increasing parent-reported and physician-confirmed adverse health concerns.

IMPACT

This is the first study investigating the addition of bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides to an infant formula enriched with alpha-lactalbumin and elevated levels of sn-2 palmitate, providing safety and efficacy data for such a formula. Term infant formula supplemented with 7.2 g bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides per liter supported normal infant growth, was well-tolerated and safe. Addition of bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides to term infant formula promoted softer stooling pattern and reduced difficulties in passing stool. The study shows that bovine milk-derived oligosaccharide supplemented infant formula is a safe and effective option for healthy term infants who are formula-fed.

Bioactives in bovine milk: chemistry, technology, and applications

The significance of dairy in human health and nutrition is gaining significant momentum as consumers continue to desire wholesome, nutritious foods to fulfill their health and wellness needs. Bovine milk not only consists of all the essential nutrients required for growth and development, it also provides a broad range of bioactive components that play an important role in managing human homeostasis and immune function. In recent years, milk bioactives, including α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, glycomacropeptide, milk fat globule membrane, and milk oligosaccharides, have been intensively studied because of their unique bioactivity and functionality. Challenges for the application of these bioactive components in food and pharmaceutical formulations are associated with their isolation and purification on an industrial scale and also with their physical and chemical instability during processing, storage, and digestion. These challenges can be overcome by advanced separation techniques and sophisticated nano- or micro-encapsulation technologies. Current knowledge about the chemistry, separation, and encapsulation technology of major bioactives derived from bovine milk and their application in the food industry is reviewed here.

Point-of-care human milk testing for maternal secretor status

We present an electrochemical impedimetric-based biosensor for monitoring the variation in human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) composition. 2′-Fucosyllactose (2’FL) is an HMO associated with infant growth, cognitive development, and protection from infectious diarrhea, one of the major causes of infant death worldwide. Due to genetic variation, the milk of some women (non-secretors) contains no or very little 2′FL with potential implications for infant health and development. However, there is currently no technology to analyze the presence and concentration of HMOs in human milk at the point-of-care (POC). The lack of such technology represents a major impediment to advancing human milk research and improving maternal-infant health. Towards this unmet need, we report an impedimetric assay for HMOs with an α-1,2 linkage, the most abundant of which is 2′FL. The sensor uses a lectin for affinity, specifically Ulex europaeusagglutininI (UEA), with electrochemical readout. In spiked studies, the sensor exhibited a high degree of linearity (R² = 0.991) over 0.5 to 3.0 μM with a 330-nM detection limit. The sensor performance was clinically validated using banked human milk samples and correctly identified all secretor vs. non-secretor samples. Furthermore, despite the short 35-min assay time and low sample volume (25 μL), the assay was highly correlated with HPLC measurements. This bedside human milk testing assay enables POC, “sample-to-answer” quantitative HMO measurement, and will be a valuable tool to assess milk composition.

Effects of donkey milk on oxidative stress and inflammatory response

Donkey milk is gaining interest as a natural nutritional and medicinal product, mainly because its composition is similar to that of human milk, and it has some potential biological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiaging, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Considering the increasing prevalence of several chronic diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation and the multiple beneficial properties and nutritional value of donkey milk, an up-to-date review of the current studies related to the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory abilities of donkey milk is necessary. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the relationship between inflammation and oxidative stress; and to further systematically review the progress of recent research on donkey milk, mainly including its nutritional value and functional properties. Particularly, we highlighted the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of donkey milk using in vitro model, animal model, and the potential role of donkey milk in alleviating some chronic diseases related to inflammation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This paper was conducted on anti-inflammation and antioxidant activities of donkey milk and its related products, in addition to a summary of the relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation and the value of donkey milk. Donkey milk and its related products have been shown to scavenge reactive oxygen species, activate the antioxidant system, enhance immune function, and maintain the balance of intestinal flora in in vitro and in vivo models. This paper should provide a better understanding of the influences of oxidative stress and inflammation on host health and the biological functions and application of donkey milk, and will provide a certain basis for the nutritional regulation of several chronic diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In addition, few clinical studies have been performed to establish its multiple benefits in humans. Further research is warranted to evaluate its impacts on health at molecular levels.

Galacto-oligosaccharides improve barrier function and relieve colonic inflammation via modulating mucosa-associated microbiota composition in lipopolysaccharides-challenged piglets

BACKGROUND

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) have been shown to modulate the intestinal microbiota of suckling piglets to exert beneficial effects on intestinal function. However, the modulation of intestinal microbiota and intestinal function by GOS in intestinal inflammation injury models has rarely been reported. In this study, we investigated the effects of GOS on the colonic mucosal microbiota composition, barrier function and inflammatory response of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-challenged suckling piglets.

METHODS

A total of 18 newborn suckling piglets were divided into three groups, the CON group, the LPS-CON group and the LPS-GOS group. Piglets in the LPS-GOS group were orally fed with 1 g/kg body weight of GOS solution every day. On the d 14, piglets in the LPS-CON and LPS-GOS group were challenged intraperitoneally with LPS solution. All piglets were slaughtered 2 h after intraperitoneal injection and sampled.

RESULTS

We found that the colonic mucosa of LPS-challenged piglets was significantly injured and shedding, while the colonic mucosa of the LPS-GOS group piglets maintained its structure. Moreover, GOS significantly reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the LPS-challenged suckling piglets, and significantly increased the activity of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). GOS significantly increased the relative abundance of norank_f__Muribaculaceae and Romboutsia, and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Alloprevotella, Campylobacter and Helicobacter in the colonic mucosa of LPS-challenged suckling piglets. In addition, GOS increased the concentrations of acetate, butyrate and total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colonic digesta of LPS-challenged suckling piglets. GOS significantly reduced the concentrations of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), and the relative mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) in the LPS-challenged suckling piglets. In addition, GOS significantly reduced the relative mRNA expression of mucin2 (MUC2), and significantly increased the protein expression of Claudin-1 and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) in LPS-challenged suckling piglets.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that GOS can modulate the colonic mucosa-associated microbiota composition and improve the intestinal function of LPS-challenged suckling piglets.

Bovine Colostrum and Its Potential for Human Health and Nutrition

Colostrum is the first milk produced post-partum by mammals and is compositionally distinct from mature milk. Bovine colostrum has a long history of consumption by humans, and there have been a number of studies investigating its potential for applications in human nutrition and health. Extensive characterization of the constituent fractions has identified a wealth of potentially bioactive molecules, their potential for shaping neonatal development, and the potential for their application beyond the neonatal period. Proteins, fats, glycans, minerals, and vitamins are abundant in colostrum, and advances in dairy processing technologies have enabled the advancement of bovine colostrum from relative limitations of a fresh and unprocessed food to a variety of potential applications. In these forms, clinical studies have examined bovine colostrum as having the substantial potential to improve human health. This review discusses the macro-and micronutrient composition of colostrum as well as describing well-characterized bioactives found in bovine colostrum and their potential for human health. Current gaps in knowledge are also identified and future directions are considered in order to elevate the potential for bovine colostrum as a component of a healthy diet for a variety of relevant human populations.

Towards a more complete glycome: Advances in ion chromatography-mass spectrometry (IC-MS) for improved separation and analysis of carbohydrates

To date, few tools are available for the analysis of the glycome without derivatization, a process which is known to introduce issues such as differential loss of sialic acid and incomplete labeling. We have previously reported the use of ion chromatography-mass spectrometry (IC-MS) to analyze native sialylated and sulfated glycans. Here, we introduce improvements to IC column technology, enabling the separation of neutral glycans while maintaining charge separation capabilities. When implemented in an IC-MS workflow, this enables the structural characterization of a broad array of chemically distinct glycans. With the newly developed IC column and modified IC-MS instrumentation configuration, we qualitatively investigated O-glycome profiles in bovine fetuin and porcine gastric mucins. The improved chromatographic resolution in combination with high-resolution MS data present a powerful tool for glycan structural identification.

Microbiota and Metabolite Modifications after Dietary Exclusion of Dairy Products and Reduced Consumption of Fermented Food in Young and Older Men

The gut microbiota adapts to age-related changes in host physiology but is also affected by environmental stimuli, like diet. As a source of both pre- and probiotics, dairy and fermented foods modulate the gut microbiota composition, which makes them interesting food groups to use for the investigation of interactions between diet and ageing. Here we present the effects of excluding dairy products and limiting fermented food consumption for 19 days on gut microbiota composition and circulating metabolites of 28 healthy, young (YA) and older (OA) adult men. The intervention affected gut microbial composition in both groups, with significant increases in Akkermansia muciniphila and decreases in bacteria of the Clostridiales order. Lower fasting levels of glucose and insulin, as well as dairy-associated metabolites like lactose and pentadecanoic acid, were observed after the intervention, with no effect of age. The intervention also decreased HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. Dairy fat intake was positively associated with the HDL cholesterol changes but not with the LDL/HDL ratio. In conclusion, restricting the intake of dairy and fermented foods in men modified their gut microbiota and blood metabolites, while the impact of the dietary restrictions on these outcomes was more marked than the effect of age.

Administration of Bovine Milk Oligosaccharide to Weaning Gnotobiotic Mice Inoculated with a Simplified Infant Type Microbiota

Bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO) share structural similarity to selected human milk oligosaccharides, which are natural prebiotics for infants. Thus, there is a potential in including BMOs as a prebiotic in infant formula. To examine the in vivo effect of BMO-supplementation on the infant gut microbiota, a BMO-rich diet (2% w/w) was fed to gnotobiotic mice (n = 11) inoculated with an infant type co-culture and compared with gnotobiotic mice receiving a control diet (n = 9). Nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics in combination with high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to compare metabolic activity and microbiota composition in different compartments of the lower gastrointestinal tract. BMO components were detected in cecum and colon contents, revealing that BMO was available for the gut bacteria. The gut microbiota was dominated by Enterobacteriaceae and minor abundance of Lactobacilliaceae, while colonization of Bifidobacteriaceae did not succeed. Apart from a lower E. coli population in cecum content and lower formate (in colon) and succinate (in colon and cecum) concentrations, BMO supplementation did not result in significant changes in microbiota composition nor metabolic activity. The present study corroborates the importance of the presence of bifidobacteria for obtaining microbial-derived effects of milk oligosaccharides in the gastrointestinal tract.

The Effects of a High-Protein Dairy Milk Beverage With or Without Progressive Resistance Training on Fat-Free Mass, Skeletal Muscle Strength and Power, and Functional Performance in Healthy Active Older Adults: A 12-Week Randomized Controlled Trial

The study aimed to investigate the independent and combined effects of consuming a high-protein dairy milk beverage, twice daily, with or without a progressive resistance training (PRT) program on outcomes of age-related sarcopenia, in healthy active older (≥50 years) adults. In this 12-week, 2 × 2 factorial study, participants were randomly allocated into one of four groups: dairy milk beverage (DM), exercise and dairy milk beverage (EX+DM), exercise alone (EX), and control (CON). The EX group underwent a 12-week whole-body PRT schedule (three sessions/week) and a high-protein dairy milk beverage (DM) was consumed twice daily (30 g protein/day). At weeks 0, 6, and 12, body composition (iDXA), strength [one-repetition maximum (1RM): leg press, chest press, lateral (lat) pull-down, and handgrip], power (countermovement jump), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2), and physical performance (gait speed) were measured. Before measurements, blood samples were collected to determine the immune (i.e., leukocyte trafficking and inflammatory cytokines) and hormonal (i.e., insulin, cortisol, IGF-1, testosterone, and estradiol) profiles. Participants (n = 37) completed the study within the controlled experimental conditions. Protein intake increased in the EX+DM [mean ± SD, 1.2 ± 0.2 to 1.8 ± 0.4 g/kg body mass (BM) per day-1] and DM (1.3 ± 0.5 to 1.8 ± 0.6 g kg-1 BM day-1) groups during the intervention. Absolute fat-free mass increased in the EX+DM [mean (95% confidence interval) = 0.65 (0.25-1.0) kg] and EX [0.49 (-0.44 to 1.40) kg] groups (P < 0.001) compared to DM [-0.54 (-1.6 to 0.05) kg]. Relative fat mass decreased (group*time, P = 0.018) in DM [-1.8% (-3.3 to -0.35%)] and EX+DM [-1.3% (-2.3 to -0.31%)], which was a greater reduction than that in the CON [0.10% (-0.80 to 1.0%)] group (P < 0.01). Relative maximal strength increased in both the EX and EX+DM (≥35%, P < 0.05) groups, but not in the DM and CON groups. The change in 1RM strength outcomes was higher in EX+DM compared to all other groups (53-78%, P < 0.01). There was an increase in resting plasma IL-10 concentration in EX+DM (88%), compared to all the other groups (P = 0.016). No other differences in systemic inflammatory cytokines were observed. There were no significant changes in all hormone concentrations measured among all groups. In conclusion, a high-protein dairy milk beverage providing additional protein did not further enhance the effects of PRT on outcomes of fat-free mass, power, or physical performance. However, there was a significant augmentative effect for high-protein dairy milk consumption on changes to maximal strength outcomes during PRT in healthy active older adults.

Bovine Colostrum: Its Constituents and Uses

Colostrum is the milk produced during the first few days after birth and contains high levels of immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides, and growth factors. Colostrum is important for supporting the growth, development, and immunologic defence of neonates. Colostrum is naturally packaged in a combination that helps prevent its destruction and maintain bioactivity until it reaches more distal gut regions and enables synergistic responses between protective and reparative agents present within it. Bovine colostrum been used for hundreds of years as a traditional or complementary therapy for a wide variety of ailments and in veterinary practice. Partly due to concerns about the side effects of standard Western medicines, there is interest in the use of natural-based products of which colostrum is a prime example. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated therapeutic benefits of bovine colostrum for a wide range of indications, including maintenance of wellbeing, treatment of medical conditions and for animal husbandry. Articles within this Special Issue of Nutrients cover the effects and use bovine colostrum and in this introductory article, we describe the main constituents, quality control and an overview of the use of bovine colostrum in health and disease.

Dose-response and functional role of whey permeate as a source of lactose and milk oligosaccharides on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate dose-response and supplemental effects of whey permeate on growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs. In experiment (exp.) 1, 1,080 pigs weaned at 6.24 kg body weight (BW) were allotted to five treatments (eight pens/treatment) with increasing levels of whey permeate in three phases (from 10% to 30%, 3% to 23%, and 0% to 9% for phase 1, 2, and 3, respectively) fed until 11 kg BW and then fed a common phase 4 diet (0% whey permeate) until 25 kg BW in a 48-d feeding trial. Feed intake and BW were measured at the end of each phase. In exp. 2, 1,200 nursery pigs at 7.50 kg BW were allotted to six treatments (10 pens/treatment) with increasing levels of whey permeate from 0% to 18.75% fed until 11 kg BW. Feed intake and BW were measured during 11 d. Six pigs per treatment (1 per pens) were euthanized to collect the jejunum to evaluate tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8 (IL-8), transforming growth factor-beta 1, mucin 2, histomorphology, digestive enzyme activity, crypt cell proliferation rate, and jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota. Data were analyzed using contrasts in the MIXED procedure and a broken-line analysis using the NLIN procedure of SAS. In exp. 1, increasing whey permeate had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on feed efficiency (G:F; maximum: 1.35 at 18.3%) in phase 1. Increasing whey permeate linearly increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG; 292 to 327 g/d) and G:F (0.96 to 1.04) of pigs in phase 2. In exp. 2, increasing whey permeate linearly increased (P < 0.05) ADG (349 to 414 g/d) and G:F (0.78 to 0.85) and linearly increased (P < 0.05) crypt cell proliferation rate (27.8% to 37.0%). The breakpoint from a broken-line analysis was obtained at 13.6% whey permeate for maximal G:F. Increasing whey permeate tended to change IL-8 (quadratic, P = 0.052; maximum: 223 pg/mg at 10.9%), to decrease Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes (P = 0.073, 1.59 to 1.13), to increase (P = 0.089) Bifidobacteriaceae (0.73% to 1.11%), and to decrease Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.091, 1.04% to 0.52%) and Streptococcaceae (P = 0.094, 1.50% to 0.71%) in the jejunal mucosa. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of whey permeate increased the growth of nursery pigs from 7 to 11 kg BW. Pigs grew most efficiently with 13.6% whey permeate. Improvement in growth performance is partly attributed to stimulating intestinal immune response and enterocyte proliferation with positive changes in jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota in nursery pigs.

Effect of a novel animal milk oligosaccharide biosimilar on macronutrient digestibility and gastrointestinal tolerance, fecal metabolites, and fecal microbiota of healthy adult cats

GNU100 is a novel animal milk oligosaccharide (AMO) biosimilar. In a recent in vitro fermentation study, GNU100 was shown to be fermentable by feline gastrointestinal microbiota and lead to increased short-chain fatty acid production. Our objectives herein were to evaluate the palatability, safety, and gastrointestinal tolerance of GNU100 in healthy adult cats. Exploratory end-points were measured to assess utility. In study 1, 20 adult cats were used to test the palatability of diets containing 0% or 1% GNU100. In study 2, 32 (mean age = 1.9 yr; mean body weight = 4.6 kg) male (n = 12) and female (n = 20) adult cats were used in a completely randomized design. After a 2-wk baseline, cats were assigned to one of the following treatment groups and fed for 26 wk: control (CT, no GNU100), low dose (LD, 0.5% GNU100), medium dose (MD, 1.0% GNU100), and high dose (HD, 1.5% GNU100). On weeks 2, 4, and 26, fresh fecal samples were collected for the measurement of stool quality and immune and inflammatory markers and on weeks 2 and 4 for microbiota and metabolites. On week 4, total feces were collected to measure apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility. On weeks 2, 4, and 26, blood samples were collected for serum chemistry, hematology, and inflammatory marker measurement. The palatability test showed that 1% GNU100 was strongly preferred (P < 0.05), with GNU100 having a 17.6:1 consumption ratio compared with control. In the long-term study, all cats remained healthy, without any signs of gastrointestinal intolerance or illness. All diets were well accepted, resulting in similar (P > 0.05) food intake, fecal characteristics, immunoglobulin A, and calprotectin, and dry matter, organic matter, fat, and crude protein digestibilities. Fecal butyrate was greater (P = 0.02) in cats fed HD than cats fed LD or MD. Fecal indole was lower (P = 0.02) in cats fed HD than cats fed LD. Cats fed CT had a higher (P = 0.003) relative abundance of Actinobacteria than cats fed LD. The relative abundance of Peptococcus was impacted by diet and time. At 4 wk, Campylobacter was lower in fecal samples of cats fed HD. Overall, the data suggest that dietary GNU100 supplementation was highly palatable, well tolerated, did not cause detrimental effects on fecal quality or nutrient digestibility, increased fecal butyrate concentrations, and reduced fecal indole concentrations, supporting the safety of GNU100 for inclusion in feline diets and suggesting potential benefits on gastrointestinal health of cats.

Effects of Industrial Thermal Treatments on the Release of Bovine Colostrum Glycoprotein N-Glycans by Endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase

N-Glycans are structurally similar to human milk oligosaccharides, the gold standard prebiotics for infants. Bovine milk N-glycans released by endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EndoBI-1) were shown to have similar prebiotic selectivity as human milk oligosaccharides, explaining the interest for N-glycan recovery for use as prebiotics. Industrial thermal treatments such as high-temperature short-time (HTST) and ultra-high-temperature (UHT) might favor the enzymatic deglycosylation of N-glycans through promoting protein denaturation. We investigated the effects of HTST (72 °C for 15 s) and UHT (135 °C for 3 s) on N-glycan release from bovine colostrum glycoproteins by nonimmobilized and amino-immobilized EndoBI-1. A total of 104 N-glycans including isomers/anomers were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry. In both EndoBI-1 forms, HTST increased the release of N-glycans; however, the impact of UHT on releasing N-glycans was comparable to the nonthermal treatment. Although the amino-immobilized enzyme similarly released neutral N-glycans as the free form, it released fewer sialylated and fucosylated N-glycans.

Effect of a novel animal milk oligosaccharide biosimilar on the gut microbial communities and metabolites of in vitro incubations using feline and canine fecal inocula

Milk oligosaccharides (MO) confer multiple potential physiological benefits, such as the selective growth promotion of beneficial microbiota, inhibition of enteric pathogen growth and adhesion to enterocytes, maturation of the gut mucosal barrier, and modulation of the gastrointestinal immune system. This study was conducted to determine the fermentation potential of GNU100, an animal MO biosimilar, in an in vitro system using healthy canine and feline fecal inocula. Single feline and single canine fecal samples were used to inoculate a batch fermentation system. Tubes containing a blank control (BNC), GNU100 at 0.5% (5 g/L; GNU1), or GNU100 at 1.0% (10 g/L; GNU2) were incubated for 48 h. Gas pressure, pH, lactate, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA; acetate, propionate, and butyrate), and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA; isobutyrate, isovalerate, and valerate) were measured after 6, 24, and 48 h. Ammonium and microbiota (total bacteria by flow cytometry and Pet-16Seq; Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium by quantitative polymerase chain reaction ) were measured after 24 and 48 h. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS. Substrates were considered to be a fixed effect and replicates considered to be a random effect. Tukey's multiple comparison analysis was used to compare least squares means, with differences considered significant with P < 0.05. In feline and canine incubations, SCFA increases were greater (P < 0.0001) in GNU100 compared with BNC, with acetate making up the largest SCFA proportion (P < 0.0001). GNU100 cultures led to greater increases (P < 0.0001) in lactate and ammonium than BNC in the feline incubations. GNU100 cultures led to greater increases (P < 0.0001) in ammonium than BNC in canine incubations and greater increases (P < 0.0001) in BCFA than BNC in feline incubations. Pet-16Seq microbial profiles from the feline and canine fecal incubations exhibited a modulation after GNU100 fermentation, with a reduction of the genera Escherichia/Shigella and Salmonella. In feline incubations, Bifidobacterium populations had greater increases (P < 0.0001) in GNU100 than BNC. In feline incubations, Lactobacillus populations had greater increases (P = 0.01) in GNU100 than BNC, with GNU1 leading to greater increases (P = 0.02) in Lactobacillus than BNC tubes in canine incubations. Overall, this study demonstrated that GNU100 was fermented in an in vitro fermentation system inoculated with canine and feline microbiota, resulting in the growth of beneficial bacteria and the production of SCFA, BCFA, and ammonium.

Indole-3-lactic acid associated with Bifidobacterium-dominated microbiota significantly decreases inflammation in intestinal epithelial cells

Background

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) is a commensal bacterium that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract of breast-fed infants. B. infantis can efficiently utilize the abundant supply of oligosaccharides found in human milk (HMO) to help establish residence. We hypothesized that metabolites from B. infantis grown on HMO produce a beneficial effect on the host.

Results

In a previous study, we demonstrated that B. infantis routinely dominated the fecal microbiota of a breast fed Bangladeshi infant cohort (1). Characterization of the fecal metabolome of binned samples representing high and low B. infantis populations from this cohort revealed higher amounts of the tryptophan metabolite indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) in feces with high levels of B. infantis. Further in vitro analysis confirmed that B. infantis produced significantly greater quantities of the ILA when grown on HMO versus lactose, suggesting a growth substrate relationship to ILA production. The direct effects of ILA were assessed in a macrophage cell line and intestinal epithelial cell lines. ILA (1-10 mM) significantly attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-kB in macrophages. ILA significantly attenuated TNF-α- and LPS-induced increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in intestinal epithelial cells. ILA increased mRNA expression of the aryl hydrogen receptor (AhR)-target gene CYP1A1 and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2)-targeted genes glutathione reductase 2 (GPX2), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), and NAD(P) H dehydrogenase (NQO1). Pretreatment with either the AhR antagonist or Nrf-2 antagonist inhibited the response of ILA on downstream effectors.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that ILA, a predominant metabolite from B. infantis grown on HMO and elevated in infant stool high in B. infantis, and protects gut epithelial cells in culture via activation of the AhR and Nrf2 pathway.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-020-02023-y.

Do Human Milk Oligosaccharides Protect Against Infant Atopic Disorders and Food Allergy?

Atopic disorders (AD), often coexistent with food allergy (FA), start developing in early life and have lifelong health consequences. Breastfeeding is thought to be protective against AD and FA, but the data are controversial, and mechanisms are not well understood. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex carbohydrates that are abundant in human milk. These are thought to contribute to the development of the infant immune system by (i) promoting healthy microbiome, (ii) inhibiting pathogen binding to gut mucosa and (iii) modulating the immune system. Differences in microbiome composition between allergic and healthy infants have been observed, regardless of breastfeeding history. To date, limited studies have examined the preventive effects of HMOs on AD and FA in infants and current data relies on observation studies as trials of varying HMO intake through randomising individuals to breastfeeding are unethical. There is evidence for beneficial effects of breastfeeding on lowering the risks of FA, eczema and asthma but there are inconsistencies amongst studies in the duration of breastfeeding, diagnostic criteria for AD and the age at which the outcome was assessed. Furthermore, current analytical methods primarily used today only allow detection of 16-20 major HMOs while more than 100 types have been identified. More large-scale longitudinal studies are required to investigate the role of HMO composition and the impact of changes over the lactation period in preventing AD and FA later in life.

Synbiotic Effect of Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-3446 and Bovine Milk-Derived Oligosaccharides on Infant Gut Microbiota

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the impact of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis CNCM I-3446, Bovine Milk-derived OligoSaccharides (BMOS) and their combination on infant gut microbiota in vitro. In addition, a novel strategy consisting of preculturing B. lactis with BMOS to further enhance their potential synbiotic effects was assessed.

METHOD

Short-term fecal batch fermentations (48 h) were used to assess the microbial composition and activity modulated by BMOS alone, B. lactis grown on BMOS or dextrose alone, or their combinations on different three-month-old infant microbiota.

RESULTS

BMOS alone significantly induced acetate and lactate production (leading to pH decrease) and stimulated bifidobacterial growth in 10 donors. A further in-depth study on two different donors proved B. lactis ability to colonize the infant microbiota, regardless of the competitiveness of the environment. BMOS further enhanced this engraftment, suggesting a strong synbiotic effect. This was also observed at the microbiota activity level, especially in a donor containing low initial levels of bifidobacteria. In this donor, preculturing B. lactis with BMOS strengthened further the early modulation of microbiota activity observed after 6 h.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the strong synbiotic effect of BMOS and B. lactis on the infant gut microbiota, and suggests a strategy to improve its effectiveness in an otherwise low-Bifidobacterium microbiota.

Structure and Function of Bovine Whey Derived Oligosaccharides Showing Synbiotic Epithelial Barrier Protective Properties

Commensal gut microbiota and probiotics have numerous effects on the host’s metabolic and protective systems, which occur primarily through the intestinal epithelial cell interface. Prebiotics, like galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are widely used to modulate their function and abundance. However, important structure–function relations may exist, requiring a detailed structural characterization. Here, we detailed the structural characterization of bovine whey derived oligosaccharide preparations enriched with GOS or not, dubbed GOS-enriched milk oligosaccharides (GMOS) or MOS, respectively. We explore GMOS’s and MOS’s potential to improve intestinal epithelial barrier function, assessed in a model based on barrier disruptive effects of the Clostridioides difficile toxin A. GMOS and MOS contain mainly GOS species composed of β1-6- and β1-3-linked galactoses, and 3′- and 6′-sialyllactose. Both GMOS and MOS, combined with lactobacilli, like Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LPR, NCC4007), gave synergistic epithelial barrier protection, while no such effect was observed with Bifidobacterium longum (BL NCC3001), Escherichia coli (Nissle) or fructo-oligosaccharides. Mechanistically, for barrier protection with MOS, (i) viable LPR was required, (ii) acidification of growth medium was not enough, (iii) LPR did not directly neutralize toxin A, and (iv) physical proximity of LPR with the intestinal epithelial cells was necessary. This is the first study, highlighting the importance of structure–function specificity and the necessity of the simultaneous presence of prebiotic, probiotic and host cell interactions required for a biological effect.

Prebiotics metabolism by gut-isolated probiotics

There are numerous species of bacteria resides in the lumen of human colon. The word 'colon', resembles colony or the colonization of microbiota of which plays an important role in the fermentation of prebiotics. The standpoint of prebiotic nowadays is well reported for attenuating gut dysbiosis in many clinical studies tested on animals and human. However, because of the huge amount of gut microbiome, the attempt to connect the dots between bacterial population and the host are not plainly discernible. Thus, a need to analyse recent research on the pathways of prebiotic metabolism adopted by commonly studied probiotics i.e. Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. Several different substrate-dependent gene expressions are induced to break down oligosaccharide molecules shown by those probiotics. The hydrolysis can occur either by membrane bound (extracellular) or cytoplasmic (intracellular) enzyme of the enteric bacteria. Therefore, this review narrates several prebiotic metabolisms occur during gut fermentation, and metabolite production i.e. organic acids conversion.

Influence of Colostrum and Vitamins A, D3, and E on Early Intestinal Colonization of Neonatal Holstein Calves Infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

Exposure of neonates to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) via infected dams is the primary mode of transmission of Johne’s disease. Little is known about the impacts of feeding colostrum and supplemental vitamins on the gut microbiome in calves exposed to MAP. In the present study, calves were assigned at birth to one of six treatment groups: (1) Colostrum deprived (CD), no vitamins; (2) colostrum replacer (CR), no vitamins; (3) CR, vitamin A; (4) CR, vitamin D₃; (5) CR, vitamin E; (6) CR, vitamins A, D₃, E, with five calves per treatment in a 14-day study. All calves were orally inoculated with MAP on days 1 and 3 of the study. Differences due to vitamin supplementation were not significant but treatment groups CR-A, CR-E, and CR-ADE had higher numbers of MAP-positive tissues overall. Shannon diversity indices demonstrated regional differences in microbial communities, primarily Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, between the ileum, cecum, and spiral colon of all calves. CD calves exhibited increased richness compared with CR calves in the cecum and spiral colon and harbored increased Proteobacteria and decreased Bacteroidetes in the mucosa compared with the lumen for all three tissues. Overall, supplementation with vitamins did not appear to influence gut microbiome or impact MAP infection. Feeding of colostrum influenced gut microbiome and resulted in fewer incidences of dysbiosis.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry characterization of ubiquitous minor lipids and oligosaccharides in milk of the camel (Camelus dromedarius) and their inhibition of oxidative stress in human plasma

The aim of this study was to characterize minor lipids in methanol fraction extracted from raw camel milk after loading it on a water-preconditioned short C18 open column and fractionating with a gradient of methanol/water. The C18 column showed high fractionation efficiency of minor lipids, such as glycosphingolipids, lipopolysaccharides, or oligosaccharides, when compared with other constituents, in particular polysaccharides, proteins, and free fatty acids. Liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in negative ion mode was used to identify 21 new glycosphingolipids, lipopolysaccharides, and oligosaccharides. Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was qualified to provide relevant data for recognizing the molecular mass, glycosylation sequences, and structure of saccharide moieties for the revealed compounds. The sequence of combinations of one selected lipopolysaccharide, which was considered the backbone of the remaining lipopolysaccharides, was confirmed in a density functional theory study. The obtained results showed that the tested fraction is a rich source of glycosphingolipids, lipopolysaccharides, and oligosaccharides with antioxidant activity.

Milk Glycans and Their Interaction with the Infant-Gut Microbiota

Human milk is a unique and complex fluid that provides infant nutrition and delivers an array of bioactive molecules that serve various functions. Glycans, abundant in milk, can be found as free oligosaccharides or as glycoconjugates. Milk glycans are increasingly linked to beneficial outcomes in neonates through protection from pathogens and modulation of the immune system. Indeed, these glycans influence the development of the infant and the infant-gut microbiota. Bifidobacterium species commonly are enriched in breastfed infants and are among a limited group of bacteria that readily consume human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and milk glycoconjugates. Given the importance of bifidobacteria in infant health, numerous studies have examined the molecular mechanisms they employ to consume HMOs and milk glycans, thus providing insight into this unique enrichment and shedding light on a range of translational opportunities to benefit at-risk infants.

Lactose and Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides Synergistically Stimulate B. longum subsp. longum Growth in a Simplified Model of the Infant Gut Microbiome

Increasing awareness of the importance of a healthy Bifidobacterium-rich microbiome has led to a need for more knowledge on how different prebiotic carbohydrates specifically impact the infant microbiome, especially as a community instead of single bacterial targets. In this study, we combined proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) metabolomics and molecular biology methods for quantification of bacteria to compare the prebiotic effect of bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO) and synthetic galacto oligosaccharides (GOS) using mono- and cocultures of eight major bacteria related to a healthy infant microbiome. The results revealed that BMO treatments supported growth of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum and Parabacteroides distasonis, while at the same time growth of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli was inhibited. In addition, there was a synergistic effect of combining lactose and BMO in regards to reducing C. perfringens, maintaining stable numbers of P. distasonis and simultaneously increasing numbers of the beneficial B. longum subsp. longum. These results indicate that the oligosaccharide composition plays a vital role in shaping the developing microbiota.

Chemical Composition of Commercial Cow's Milk

Bovine milk is a nutritionally rich, chemically complex biofluid consisting of hundreds of different components. While the chemical composition of cow's milk has been studied for decades, much of this information is fragmentary and very dated. In an effort to consolidate and update this information, we have applied modern, quantitative metabolomics techniques along with computer-aided literature mining to obtain the most comprehensive and up-to-date characterization of the chemical constituents in commercial cow's milk. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we were able to identify and quantify 296 bovine milk metabolites or metabolite species (corresponding to 1447 unique structures) from a variety of commercial milk samples. Through our literature analysis, we also found another 676 metabolites or metabolite species (corresponding to 908 unique structures). Detailed information regarding all 2355 of the identified chemicals in bovine milk have been made freely available through a Web-accessible database called the Milk Composition Database or MCDB ( http://www.mcdb.ca/ ).

Milk Oligosaccharides From Different Cattle Breeds Influence Growth-Related Characteristics of Intestinal Cells

Oligosaccharides are present in human milk (HMO) in large amounts and in a high variety: Among other functions they are considered to influence the gut microbiota and gut maturation in infants. Due to the large volume of milk available bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO) may be an alternative source of functional ingredients to potentially mimic HMO functions. Thus, we investigated direct effects of bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO) from different cattle breeds on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in transformed (HT-29 and Caco-2) and non-transformed human intestinal cells (HIE cells). We observed a profound growth-inhibition effect induced by all BMO isolates in HT-29, Caco-2, and HIE cells in a dose-dependent manner. The effects varied not only between cell lines, i.e., HT-29 and Caco-2 cells were more sensitive than HIE cells, but also between the cattle breeds. Regarding the induction of differentiation, BMO induced differentiation only in HIE cells without affecting apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis via flow cytometry showed that growth inhibition was associated with a G2/M arrest in all cell lines. Expression levels detected by quantitative real-time RT-PCR revealed that this G2/M arrest was associated with changes in mRNA expression levels of cyclin A and B. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21^cip1 and p27^kip1 and the tumor suppressor p53 were only enhanced in HIE cells necessary for arresting cells in the G2/M phase and induction of differentiation. In HT-29 and Caco-2 cells, a loss of p53 expression failed to induce G2/M associated induction of differentiation. The HIE cell specific differentiation induced by BMO was a result of influencing the phosphorylation states of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and MAP kinase, i.e., ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2), p38-α, and Akt2 phosphorylation. These results suggest that BMO inhibited intestinal cell proliferation and altered cell cycle dynamics by affecting corresponding regulator genes and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. As the development and maturation of digestive and absorptive processes depends on gut differentiation processes, our in vitro experiments show that breed-specific BMO are natural substances influencing various parameter which may be important in vivo in gastrointestinal development. This, however, needs to be proven in future studies.