Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

A Method for Targeted 16S Sequencing of Human Milk Samples
09:09

A Method for Targeted 16S Sequencing of Human Milk Samples

Published on: March 23, 2018

9.5K

The impact of breastfeeding on nasopharyngeal microbial communities in infants

Giske Biesbroek1, Astrid A T M Bosch, Xinhui Wang

  • 11 Department of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|June 13, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding significantly shapes infant nasopharyngeal microbiota, increasing beneficial bacteria like Dolosigranulum and Corynebacterium. These changes may explain breastfeeding

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Breastfeeding offers crucial protection against infant respiratory infections.
  • Microbiota modulation is a potential mechanism behind breastfeeding's protective effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between breastfeeding and nasopharyngeal microbial communities in infants.
  • To analyze both cultivable and non-cultivable bacteria in the nasopharynx.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study comparing exclusively breastfed (n=101) and formula-fed (n=101) infants.
  • Analysis of nasopharyngeal microbiota at 6 weeks and 6 months using 16S-based GS-FLX-titanium-pyrosequencing.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in bacterial community composition were observed at 6 weeks.
  • Breastfed infants showed higher Dolosigranulum and Corynebacterium, and lower Staphylococcus and anaerobic bacteria.
  • Dolosigranulum abundance correlated with fewer respiratory infections and wheezing symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding strongly influences the upper respiratory tract's microbial community in early infancy.
  • These microbiota alterations likely contribute to breastfeeding's protective role against respiratory issues.
Abstract

Keywords:
breastfeedinginfantsmicrobial communitiesmicrobiotarespiratory tract

More Related Videos

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage10:36

Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

Published on: January 27, 2019

21.0K
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

9.6K

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
65
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development 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...
61
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more...
55
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity,...
199
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
65.1K
The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
90