Human Milk Oligosaccharides Mediate the Host–Microbe Interface in a Model Vaginal Community
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic bacterium that can cause severe infection during gestation, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes and neonatal disease. As current treatments only decrease chances of early onset neonatal disease without impacting the risk of chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, or late-onset disease, novel therapeutics are needed. Here, we demonstrate that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) positively modulate cocultures of GBS and Lactobacillus spp., common inhabitants of a healthy vaginal microbiome, across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experiments. HMOs shift the total cell population in vitro to favor Lactobacillus, which was qualitatively visualized via scanning electron microscopy. Lactobacillus adherence to EpiVaginal tissues was also increased with HMOs during coinoculation with GBS. Using an in vivo mouse model of reproductive GBS infection, Lactobacillus crispatus and HMOs prevented ascending infection, reducing bacterial burden in both the placenta and fetus. L. crispatus alone reduced the burden in all reproductive tissues tested except the vagina. Together, these results highlight the benefit of pre- and probiotic treatment to potentially reduce GBS colonization during gestation.
Source: ACS Infectious Diseases
Language: English
Topic: Infant Nutrition and Health
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Funders: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Vanderbilt University, National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: Acquisition of a Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope with cryo-stage, G3964786795, Vanderbilt Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center, G4320917349, Determining the contribution of zinc deficiency to perinatal Group B Streptococcus infections, G5853943267, G7220527126, The Role of macrophages in chorioamnionitis and group B streptococcal infections, G9000002043, G9000106052, Utility of human milk oligosaccharides against the perinatal pathogen, Group B Streptococcus, Molecular and Cellular Basis for Digestive Diseases, Cancer Center Support Grant, Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center, Core Grant in Vision Research
OpenAlex ID: W4410992971