Antibodies in human milk protect infants against infections, but currently no assay is described that is able to simultaneously measure all 9 antibody isotypes and subclasses immunoglobulins in human fluids, such as human milk. Our cohort "Protecting against Respiratory tract Infections through human Milk Analysis" (PRIMA) is focused on the relation between the occurrence of respiratory infections during the first year of life and concentration of maternal antibodies in breastfeeding. We developed and successfully validated a multiplex assay that is able to measure all nine antibody isotypes and subclasses in human plasma and milk (regardeless of the pathogen specificity), using a small sample volume.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreastfeeding provides important immunological benefits to the neonate, but how the different immunoactive components in breastmilk contribute to immunity remains poorly understood. Here, we characterized human breastmilk T cells using single-cell RNA-Seq and flow cytometry. Breastmilk contained predominantly memory T cells, with expression of immune signaling genes, high proliferation, and an effector Th1/cytotoxic profile with high cytokine production capacities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Many studies support the protective effect of breastfeeding on respiratory tract infections. Although infant formulas have been developed to provide adequate nutritional solutions, many components in human milk contributing to the protection of newborns and aiding immune development still need to be identified. In this paper we present the methodology of the "Protecting against Respiratory tract lnfections through human Milk Analysis" (PRIMA) cohort, which is an observational, prospective and multi-centre birth cohort aiming to identify novel functions of components in human milk that are protective against respiratory tract infections and allergic diseases early in life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections represent a major burden of disease in infants and are the second most prevalent cause of death worldwide. Human milk immunoglobulins provide protection against RSV. However, many infants depend on processed bovine milk-based nutrition, which lacks intact immunoglobulins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOne of the well-known features of human milk, is the capacity to protect against the risk and impact of neonatal infections, as well as to influence the onset of allergic and metabolic disease manifestations. The major objective of this review is to provide a detailed overview regarding the role of human milk, more specifically the diversity in human milk oligosaccharides (HMOS), on early life immune development. Novel insights in immune modulatory effects of HMOS obtained by as well as studies, adds to the understanding on how early life nutrition may impact immune development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute excessive alcohol consumption is associated with heart rhythm disorders like atrial fibrillation but also premature ventricular contractions, collectively known as the "holiday heart syndrome". More rarely but clinically significant are reports of atrioventricular (AV) conduction disturbances in binge drinkers with no underlying heart disease or chronic alcohol consumption. To obtain better insights into common denominators and the potential underlying mechanisms we collected and compared individual case reports of AV block following acute alcohol intoxication in otherwise healthy people.
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