title: Role of human milk oligosaccharides in Group B Streptococcus colonisation.
abstract: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. The major risk factor for GBS disease is maternal and subsequent infant colonisation. It is unknown whether human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) protect against GBS colonisation. HMO production is genetically determined and linked to the Lewis antigen system. We aimed to investigate the association between HMOs and infant GBS colonisation between birth and postnatal day 90. Rectovaginal swabs were collected at delivery, as well as colostrum/breast milk, infant nasopharyngeal and rectal swabs at birth, 6 days and days 60-89 postpartum from 183 Gambian mother/infant pairs. GBS colonisation and serotypes were determined using culture and PCR. (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to characterise the mother's Lewis status and HMO profile in breast milk. Mothers who were Lewis-positive were significantly less likely to be colonised by GBS (X (2)=12.50, P<0.001). Infants of Lewis-positive mothers were less likely GBS colonised at birth (X (2)=4.88 P=0.03) and more likely to clear colonisation between birth and days 60-89 than infants born to Lewis-negative women (P=0.05). There was no association between Secretor status and GBS colonisation. In vitro work revealed that lacto-N-difucohexaose I (LNDFHI) correlated with a reduction in the growth of GBS. Our results suggest that HMO such as LNDFHI may be a useful adjunct in reducing maternal and infant colonisation and hence invasive GBS disease. Secretor status offers utility as a stratification variable in GBS clinical trials.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Centre for International Child Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK; Department of Medicine, Section of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: Nicholas J
authors: 0000-0002-7224-0420
authors: NJ
authors: Andreas
authors: The Centre for Digestive and Gut Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; Section of Computational and Systems Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: Asmaa
authors: A
authors: Al-Khalidi
authors: MRC Unit-The Gambia, Vaccines and Immunity Theme , Fajara, The Gambia.
authors: Mustapha
authors: M
authors: Jaiteh
authors: MRC Unit-The Gambia, Vaccines and Immunity Theme , Fajara, The Gambia.
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Clarke
authors: Department of Medicine, Section of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London , London, UK.
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Hyde
authors: Department of Medicine, Section of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London , London, UK.
authors: Neena
authors: N
authors: Modi
authors: The Centre for Digestive and Gut Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; Section of Computational and Systems Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: Elaine
authors: E
authors: Holmes
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Centre for International Child Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Hospital , London, UK.
authors: Beate
authors: B
authors: Kampmann
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Centre for International Child Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK; Wellcome Trust Centre for Global Health Research, London, UK.
authors: Kirsty
authors: K
authors: Mehring Le Doare