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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings

Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings

Published on: February 7, 2025

Human Milk Bacteria: Seeding the Infant Gut?

Moira K Differding¹, Noel T Mueller¹

¹Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2024 E. Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe

|August 14, 2020

Summary

Human milk contains bacteria that can transfer to the infant gut. Breastfeeding practices influence this microbial transfer, impacting infant gut microbiota development.

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Human Microbiome
Infant Health

Background:

Human milk possesses a unique microbiota.
The transmission of milk microbes to the infant gut and its modification by breastfeeding are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the co-occurrence of bacteria between breast milk and infant stool.
To determine the impact of breastfeeding practices on the milk-gut microbial connection.

Main Methods:

Sequencing of breast milk and infant stool samples.
Analysis of mother-infant dyads.

Main Results:

Identified shared bacteria between breast milk and infant gut microbiota.
Demonstrated a correlation between specific breastfeeding practices and microbial composition.

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Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings

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Published on: February 7, 2025

A Method for Targeted 16S Sequencing of Human Milk Samples

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Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

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Published on: February 15, 2018

Conclusions:

Human milk microbiota can indeed colonize the infant gut.
Breastfeeding practices play a significant role in shaping the infant gut microbiome composition.