Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
10:17
Analysis of Fucosylated Human Milk Trisaccharides in Biotechnological Context Using Genetically Encoded Biosensors
Published on: April 13, 2019
Human milk oligosaccharides: evolution, structures and bioselectivity as substrates for intestinal bacteria
J Bruce German1, Samara L Freeman, Carlito B Lebrilla
1Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series. Paediatric Programme
|July 16, 2008
Summary
Human milk oligosaccharides are diverse and indigestible by infants, acting as prebiotics. Only Bifidobacteria longum biovar infantis extensively utilizes these complex carbohydrates, suggesting co-evolution.
Area of Science:
- Human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) research
- Microbiome and infant nutrition
- Glycobiology and host-microbe interactions
Background:
- Human milk is rich in diverse soluble oligosaccharides (HMOs), with up to 200 unique structures identified.
- HMOs are indigestible by human infants, posing a paradox regarding their function.
- HMOs are hypothesized to act as prebiotics, selectively feeding beneficial gut bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional role of HMOs in infant nutrition.
- To determine which gut bacteria can utilize HMOs as a sole nutrient source.
- To explore the co-evolutionary relationship between HMOs and infant gut microbiota.
Main Methods:
- Liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry were used to identify and characterize HMO structures.
- Purified HMOs were provided as the sole carbon source to various intestinal bacteria in vitro.
- Genomic sequencing of bacterial strains was performed to identify relevant metabolic genes.
Main Results:
- A complex mixture of HMOs from human milk samples demonstrated remarkable selectivity in bacterial fermentation.
- Among tested Bifidobacteria, only Bifidobacteria longum biovar infantis extensively utilized HMOs.
- Genomic analysis revealed unique genes in B. longum biovar infantis, including co-regulated glycosidases, suggesting adaptation to HMO utilization.
Conclusions:
- HMOs function as selective prebiotics, supporting the growth of specific beneficial gut bacteria like B. longum biovar infantis.
- The findings suggest a co-evolutionary relationship between HMO structures and the genetic capabilities of certain gut microbes.
- Further research aims to elucidate the specific functions of these complex oligosaccharide-bacteria-host interactions.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Oligosaccharide Assembly
Protein glycosylation starts in the ER lumen and continues in the Golgi apparatus. Glycosyltransferases catalyze the addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins. Usually, these enzymes add sugars to the hydroxyl groups of selected serine or threonine residues to form O-linked glycans or the amino groups of asparagine residues to form N-linked glycans. Different positions on the same polypeptide chain can contain differently linked glycans.
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:25Production of Organic Acids
Lactic acid, an important organic acid extensively applied in food, pharmaceutical, and biodegradable polymer industries, is primarily produced via microbial fermentation. This method is favored over chemical synthesis due to its environmental sustainability and capacity for enantiomerically pure product formation. Among various microbial processes, the fermentation of starch-based substrates stands out due to the abundance and renewability of raw materials like corn and potatoes.Hydrolysis of...
01:50What is Monogastric Digestion?
The human body contains a monogastric digestive system. In a monogastric digestive system, the stomach only contains one chamber in which it digests food. Several other animal species also have monogastric digestive systems, including pigs, horses, dogs, and birds. This chapter, however, focuses on the human digestive system.
01:29Biosynthesis of Lipids
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, which...