Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a family of structurally diverse unconjugated glycans that are highly abundant in and unique to human milk. Originally, HMOs were discovered as a prebiotic "bifidus factor" that serves as a metabolic substrate for desired bacteria and shapes an intestinal microbiota composition with health benefits for the breast-fed neonate. Today, HMOs are known to be more than just "food for bugs". An accumulating body of evidence suggests that HMOs are antiadhesive antimicrobials that serve as soluble decoy receptors, prevent pathogen attachment to infant mucosal surfaces and lower the risk for viral, bacterial and protozoan parasite infections. In addition, HMOs may modulate epithelial and immune cell responses, reduce excessive mucosal leukocyte infiltration and activation, lower the risk for necrotizing enterocolitis and provide the infant with sialic acid as a potentially essential nutrient for brain development and cognition. Most data, however, stem from in vitro, ex vivo or animal studies and occasionally from association studies in mother-infant cohorts. Powered, randomized and controlled intervention studies will be needed to confirm relevance for human neonates. The first part of this review introduces the pioneers in HMO research, outlines HMO structural diversity and describes what is known about HMO biosynthesis in the mother's mammary gland and their metabolism in the breast-fed infant. The second part highlights the postulated beneficial effects of HMO for the breast-fed neonate, compares HMOs with oligosaccharides in the milk of other mammals and in infant formula and summarizes the current roadblocks and future opportunities for HMO research.

Human milk oligosaccharides: Every baby needs a sugar mama

Whey and whey proteins-From 'gutter-to-gold'

Invited review: production and digestion of supplemented dairy cows on pasture.

Colostrum management is the single most important management factor in determining calf health and survival. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of North American dairy calves suffer from failure of passive transfer of antibodies from colostrum, contributing to excessively high preweaning mortality rates and other short- and long-term losses associated with animal health, welfare, and productivity. A successful colostrum management program requires producers to consistently provide calves with a sufficient volume of clean, high-quality colostrum within the first few hours of life. This article reviews the process of colostrogenesis and discusses important components of colostrum. The key components of delivering and monitoring a successful colostrum management program are discussed.

/pdf/colostrum-management-for-dairy-calves-4kw8j533qa.pdf

Colostrum Management for Dairy Calves

β-Lactoglobulin and WPI aggregates: Formation, structure and applications

Milk immunoglobulins for health promotion

Heat-induced denaturation/aggregation of β-lactoglobulin A and B: kinetics of the first intermediates formed

https://ucanr.edu/sites/superfund/files/178316.pdf

Neutral and acidic oligosaccharides in Holstein-Friesian colostrum during the first 3 days of lactation measured by high performance liquid chromatography on a microfluidic chip and time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01569504/document

Raj Mehra

Papers

Milk immunoglobulins for health promotion

Heat-induced denaturation/aggregation of β-lactoglobulin A and B: kinetics of the first intermediates formed

Neutral and acidic oligosaccharides in Holstein-Friesian colostrum during the first 3 days of lactation measured by high performance liquid chromatography on a microfluidic chip and time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Stable monomeric intermediate with exposed Cys-119 is formed during heat denaturation of β-lactoglobulin

The food glycome: a source of protection against pathogen colonization in the gastrointestinal tract