Chemical characterization of oligosaccharides in the milk of six species of New and Old world monkeys

Human and great ape milks contain a diverse array of milk oligosaccharides, but little is known about the milk oligosaccharides of other primates, and how they differ among taxa. Neutral and acidic oligosaccharides were isolated from the milk of three species of Old World or catarrhine monkeys (Cercopithecidae: rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), toque macaque (Macaca sinica) and Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas)) and three of New World or platyrrhine monkeys (Cebidae: tufted capuchin (Cebus apella) and Bolivian squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis); Atelidae: mantled howler (Alouatta palliata)). The milks of these species contained 6–8% total sugar, most of which was lactose: the estimated ratio of oligosaccharides to lactose in Old World monkeys (1:4 to 1:6) was greater than in New World monkeys (1:12 to 1:23). The chemical structures of the oligosaccharides were determined mainly by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Oligosaccharides containing the type II unit (Gal(β1-4)GlcNAc) were found in the milk of the rhesus macaque, toque macaque, Hamadryas baboon and tufted capuchin, but oligosaccharides containing the type I unit (Gal(β1-3)GlcNAc), which have been found in human and many great ape milks, were absent from the milk of all species studied. Oligosaccharides containing Lewis x (Gal(β1-4)[Fuc(α1-3)]GlcNAc) and 3-fucosyl lactose (3-FL, Gal(β1-4)[Fuc(α1-3)]Glc) were found in the milk of the three cercopithecid monkey species, while 2-fucosyl lactose (5'-FL, Fuc(α1-2)Gal(β1-4)Glc) was absent from all species studied. All of these milks contained acidic oligosaccharides that had N-acetylneuraminic acid as part of their structures, but did not contain oligosaccharides that had N-glycolylneuraminic acid, in contrast to the milk or colostrum of great apes which contain both types of acidic oligosaccharides. Two GalNAc-containing oligosaccharides, lactose 3′-O-sulfate and lacto-N-novopentaose I (Gal(β1-3)[Gal(β1-4)GlcNAc(β1-6)]Gal(β1-4)Glc) were found only in the milk of rhesus macaque, hamadryas baboon and tufted capuchin, respectively. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which the milk oligosaccharide patterns observed among these taxa represent wider phylogenetic trends among primates and how much variation occurs among individuals or species

Priority effects shape the structure of infant-type Bifidobacterium communities on human milk oligosaccharides

母乳栄養児の腸内におけるビフィズス菌コミュニティー形成には先住効果が大きな影響を及ぼす --ヒトミルクオリゴ糖利用能力の低いビフィズス菌B. breveが優勢となる仕組み--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-07-27.Bifidobacteria are among the first colonizers of the infant gut, and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breastmilk are instrumental for the formation of a bifidobacteria-rich microbiota. However, little is known about the assembly of bifidobacterial communities. Here, by applying assembly theory to a community of four representative infant-gut associated Bifidobacterium species that employ varied strategies for HMO consumption, we show that arrival order and sugar consumption phenotypes significantly affected community formation. Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, two avid HMO consumers, dominate through inhibitory priority effects. On the other hand, Bifidobacterium breve, a species with limited HMO-utilization ability, can benefit from facilitative priority effects and dominates by utilizing fucose, an HMO degradant not utilized by the other bifidobacterial species. Analysis of publicly available breastfed infant faecal metagenome data showed that the observed trends for B. breve were consistent with our in vitro data, suggesting that priority effects may have contributed to its dominance. Our study highlights the importance and history dependency of initial community assembly and its implications for the maturation trajectory of the infant gut microbiota

Exploring Potential Bioactive Peptides in Fermented Bactrian Camel’s Milk and Mare’s Milk Made by Mongolian Nomads

To date, bioactive proteins and peptides from minor livestock milks and their fermented products have been scarcely reported. In Mongolia, nomads are commonly rearing five livestock animal species (i.e., cow, camel, goat, horse, and sheep) for milking and other purposes. In this study, we analyzed the peptide composition in fermented milks of Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) and horses, produced by Mongolian nomads for self-consumption. Peptides from skimmed fermented milks were separated by ultrafiltration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Then, their amino acid sequences were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Consequently, eleven peptides were identified in the fermented camel’s milk including four from β-casein (β-CN), three from αs1-CN, and two from both κ-CN and lactophorin. On the other hand, twenty-four peptides were identified in the fermented mare’s milk including nineteen from β-CN, three from αs1-CN, and one from both κ-CN and αs2-CN. According to previous reports on the bioactivities of milk-derived peptides, antibacterial and antihypertensive activities were promising in both the fermented camel’s milk and mare’s milk. In addition, potential antioxidant activity was conjectured in the fermented camel’s milk. Further investigations are currently needed to clarify the potential role of immunomodulatory peptides in the two fermented milks

Change in body weight of mothers and neonates and in milk composition during denning period in captive Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus)

Japanese black bears, Ursus thibetanus japonicus, have been classified as a vulnerable species so that data on reproduction are needed to maintain and/or extend their population. They are known to have a peculiar style of reproduction, giving birth to their neonates and raising them during denning, a period of complete fasting. In this study, we investigated the metabolic rate and milk composition of mother bears raising neonates, and the changes in body weight of the neonates under captive conditions. Seven female bears kept in dens were weighed once a month, and the amount of energy they used was calculated. From birth, cubs were also weighed and their growth rate was determined. In addition, the milk composition was analyzed to investigate its characteristics. As a result, it was found that mother bears used 34% more energy than did solitary females. There was no significant difference in the energy used for nursing whether they had single or twin cubs. On the other hand, the body weight gain of single cubs was significantly higher than that of twin cubs, suggesting that the growth of the cubs was highly affected by the suppression of mother's energy consumption during the fasting period. The milk had high fat and low sugar concentrations. This indicates that mother bears used the fat accumulated prior to denning for their main energy source when raising cubs. Considering all results together, Japanese black bears showed remarkable efficiency in the use of energy for reproduction during the fasting period