Antibodies in human milk help protect infants from pathogens and may be particularly crucial for preterm infants.
A new study finds that antibodies in a mother’s own milk survive digestion in the infant gut better than antibodies from donor breast milk, potentially increasing their effectiveness against pathogens.
Human milk antibodies are more stable in preterm infants than in term infants, with preterm infant guts partially degrading IgA but not IgG and IgM.
Antibody survival also depends on the specificity of the antibody against different pathogens.
Antibodies in human milk help protect infants from pathogens and may be particularly crucial for preterm infants.
A new study finds that antibodies in a mother’s own milk survive digestion in the infant gut better than antibodies from donor breast milk, potentially increasing their effectiveness against pathogens.
Human milk antibodies are more stable in preterm infants than in term infants, with preterm infant guts partially degrading IgA but not IgG and IgM.
Antibody survival also depends on the specificity of the antibody against different pathogens.