Bovine milk microbiota: Key players, origins, and potential contributions to early-life gut development

Wenli Guo; Shuai Liu; Muhammad Z Khan; Jingjun Wang; Tianyu Chen; Gibson M Alugongo; Shengli Li; Zhijun Cao

doi:10.1016/j.jare.2023.06.016

Bovine milk microbiota: Key players, origins, and potential contributions to early-life gut development

J Adv Res. 2023 Jul 7:S2090-1232(23)00179-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.06.016. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Wenli Guo¹, Shuai Liu¹, Muhammad Z Khan², Jingjun Wang¹, Tianyu Chen¹, Gibson M Alugongo¹, Shengli Li¹, Zhijun Cao³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
² Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, The University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan 29220, Pakistan.
³ State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: caozhijun@cau.edu.cn.

PMID: 37423549
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.06.016

Abstract

Background: Bovine milk is a significant substitute for human breast milk and holds great importance in infant nutrition and health. Apart from essential nutrients, bovine milk also contains bioactive compounds, including a microbiota derived from milk itself rather than external sources of contamination.

Aim of review: Recognizing the profound impact of bovine milk microorganisms on future generations, our review focuses on exploring their composition, origins, functions, and applications.

Key scientific concepts of review: Some of the primary microorganisms found in bovine milk are also present in human milk. These microorganisms are likely transferred to the mammary gland through two pathways: the entero-mammary pathway and the rumen-mammary pathway. We also elucidated potential mechanisms by which milk microbiota contribute to infant intestinal development. The mechanisms include the enhancing of the intestinal microecological niche, promoting the maturation of immune system, strengthening the intestinal epithelial barrier function, and interacting with milk components (e.g., oligosaccharides) via cross-feeding effect. However, given the limited understanding of bovine milk microbiota, further studies are necessary to validate hypotheses regarding their origins and to explore their functions and potential applications in early intestinal development.

Keywords: Bovine milk; Gut development; Key players; Microbiota origin.

Publication types

Review