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The human milk microbiome: a potential influence on mammary health and bacterial colonization of the infant gut
Author(s) -
Hunt Katherine Mary,
Foster James A,
Forney Larry J,
Schütte Ursel M.E,
Beck Daniel L,
Williams Janet E,
Collier Natalie N,
McGuire Michelle K,
McGuire Mark A
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.206.5
Subject(s) - microbiome , colonization , phylotype , biology , corynebacterium , pyrosequencing , species richness , human microbiome , lactobacillus , streptococcus , 16s ribosomal rna , physiology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , ecology , bioinformatics , genetics , gene
Our study investigated the microbiome of healthy human milk collected aseptically from 16 women over a 5‐wk period. Bar‐coded 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes produced an average of 4,000 reads per sample, with Streptococcus , Staphylococcus , and Corynebacterium identified as the dominant phylotypes at the genus level when evaluated using the Ribosomal Database Project classifier. The ACE richness metric estimated from 180 to 1,700 distinct phylotypes (97% similarity) in each sample. The community composition of milk collected from each woman was relatively consistent over time; nonetheless, although profiles from each woman tended to cluster together, random shifts occurred at some time points causing drastic changes in microbial community composition. Data reveal that complexity of the milk bacterial communities is comparable to that found on skin or in the mouth, but less complex than that in the gut. In summary, human milk harbors a wide variety of bacteria that appear to change in composition at times perhaps due to environmental characteristics in the mammary gland related to diet, milk composition, or immune factors. These bacterial communities may play pivotal roles in mammary health and colonization of the infant gut. Supported by NIH‐NRRI grants P20 RR15587 and P20 RR16448, and the United Dairymen of Idaho. Grant Funding Source : NIH‐NRRI grants P20 RR15587 and P20 RR16448, andthe United Dairymen of Idaho.