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A Method for Targeted 16S Sequencing of Human Milk Samples
Published on: March 23, 2018
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Phage diversity in human breast milk: a systematic review
Yanping Guo1, Ying Liu1, Songzhou Xu1
1Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, No.1120 Lianhua Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|May 10, 2025
Summary
Human milk contains abundant bacteriophages that shape infant gut microbes. These viruses are transmitted from mother to infant, influencing early development.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Infant Health
Background:
- Human milk is a rich source of diverse microbes, including bacteriophages, essential for establishing the infant gut microbiome.
- Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, playing a key role in regulating bacterial populations within the host.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current knowledge on bacteriophages in human milk.
- To understand the composition and transmission of milk bacteriophages and their impact on infant gut microbiota.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted using databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE.
- Inclusion criteria were applied to 635 records, resulting in the selection of 5 studies involving 182 women and 251 samples.
- A checklist was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies.
Main Results:
- Seven families of bacteriophages (Herelleviridae, Myoviridae, Podoviridae, Siphoviridae, Caudoviridales, Microviridae, Inoviridae) were identified in human milk.
- Bacteriophage abundance varies across lactation stages and is vertically transmitted from mother to infant via breastfeeding.
- Maternal and infant factors influencing bacteriophage abundance could not be determined due to limited studies and methodological variations.
Conclusions:
- Human milk harbors abundant bacteriophages that bind to specific bacterial hosts, contributing to the vertical transmission and shaping of the infant gut microbiome.
- Further longitudinal studies on mother-infant pairs are needed to elucidate the precise composition and functional impact of milk bacteriophages on infant development.
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