title: Host defense mechanisms of human milk and their relations to enteric infections and necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: Human milk contains components that can mediate protection against symptomatic infection by means of classical and novel mechanisms. It has been demonstrated to protect infants against symptomatic infection by a variety of enteric pathogens. To date, mechanisms involving pathogen-specific sIgA are the best documented; however, roles for nonimmunoglobulin glycoconjugate and anti-inflammatory components may also exist. Based on both laboratory and clinical studies, human milk feeding appears to have protective effects against development of necrotizing enterocolitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of The Kings' Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Buescher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007136:Immunoglobulins