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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Intranasal Immunization and Milk Collection in Studies of Maternal Immunization in New Zealand White Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus

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Timing matters: maternal milk IgG sets weaning threshold.

Ziad Al Nabhani¹

¹Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Maurice Müller Laboratories, Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Trends in Molecular Medicine

|October 8, 2025

Summary

Maternal milk immunoglobulin G (IgG) programs neonatal immunity by forming complexes with gut microbes. This early-life interaction calibrates T cell responses, establishing long-term immune tolerance in mice.

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Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

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Area of Science:

Immunology
Microbiology
Developmental Biology

Background:

Neonatal immunity is crucial for lifelong health.
The role of maternal factors in shaping infant immunity is an active area of research.
Gut microbiota plays a significant role in immune system development.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of maternal milk immunoglobulin G (IgG) in programming neonatal immunity.
To understand how early-life microbial interactions influence immune development.
To identify critical windows for immune system calibration.

Main Methods:

The study utilized a mouse model.
Researchers analyzed the interaction between maternal milk IgG and gut microbes during the early postnatal period.
Immune responses, particularly T cell responses, were assessed at weaning and later stages.

Main Results:

Maternal milk IgG forms complexes with gut microbes during the first postnatal week.
These IgG-microbe complexes calibrate T cell responses at the time of weaning.
This early-life programming establishes long-term immune tolerance.

Conclusions:

Maternal milk IgG is a key factor in programming neonatal immunity.
The first postnatal week represents a critical window for establishing lifelong immune function and tolerance.
Early-life interactions between maternal IgG and gut microbiota are essential for immune homeostasis.