Researchers have genetically modified a close relative of the tobacco plant to produce nutrients that are typically found in human breast milk. This development could significantly enhance infant formula, making it more similar to natural breast milk, and providing numerous health benefits for babies.
The study, headed by Dr Patrick Shih and his team at the University of California, Berkeley, focuses on producing human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) using a genetically altered plant, Nicotiana benthamiana. This plant-based method promises a more efficient and potentially cost-effective way to produce HMOs, which are currently difficult to manufacture.
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex sugars found in breast milk, known for their role in promoting healthy gut bacteria and supporting the immune system in infants. These sugars are the third most abundant solid component in breast milk and are essential for nurturing beneficial gut microbes that protect against infections and contribute to overall health.
Dr Patrick Shih, a leading figure in this research, emphasised the significance of this breakthrough. He noted, “Imagine being able to make all the human milk oligosaccharides in a single plant. Then you could just grind up that plant, extract all the oligosaccharides simultaneously, and add that directly into infant formula. There would be a lot of challenges in implementation and commercialisation, but this is the big goal that we’re trying to move toward.”
Breast milk contains about 200 different HMOs. These sugars are indigestible by the infant but serve as a crucial food for beneficial gut bacteria. By building the growth of healthy bacteria, HMOs help reduce the risk of viral and bacterial infections and provide other health benefits that formula-fed infants typically miss out on.
Most infant formulas currently available either lack HMOs or include only a limited variety. The few that do contain HMOs are produced using engineered E. coli bacteria, a method that is not only expensive but also limited in the variety of HMOs that can be produced. This new plant-based method aims to overcome these limitations by offering a broader range of HMOs in a more sustainable and scalable way.
The study describes how the research team reprogrammed the sugar-making machinery of Nicotiana benthamiana. They inserted genes that produce specific enzymes necessary for assembling simple sugars into the complex branched chains characteristic of HMOs. As a result, the modified plants produced 11 different HMOs, including the hidden LNFP1, which has been linked to fewer infections in infants but is difficult to produce in large quantities using traditional microbial fermentation methods.
This holds significant promise for the future of infant nutrition. Integrating HMOs into infant formula could bring formula-fed babies closer to receiving the full spectrum of health benefits that come with breastfeeding. This method has the potential to reduce the cost of formula production, making it more accessible to a broader population.
(Inputs from agencies)
The study, headed by Dr Patrick Shih and his team at the University of California, Berkeley, focuses on producing human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) using a genetically altered plant, Nicotiana benthamiana. This plant-based method promises a more efficient and potentially cost-effective way to produce HMOs, which are currently difficult to manufacture.
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex sugars found in breast milk, known for their role in promoting healthy gut bacteria and supporting the immune system in infants. These sugars are the third most abundant solid component in breast milk and are essential for nurturing beneficial gut microbes that protect against infections and contribute to overall health.
Dr Patrick Shih, a leading figure in this research, emphasised the significance of this breakthrough. He noted, “Imagine being able to make all the human milk oligosaccharides in a single plant. Then you could just grind up that plant, extract all the oligosaccharides simultaneously, and add that directly into infant formula. There would be a lot of challenges in implementation and commercialisation, but this is the big goal that we’re trying to move toward.”
Breast milk contains about 200 different HMOs. These sugars are indigestible by the infant but serve as a crucial food for beneficial gut bacteria. By building the growth of healthy bacteria, HMOs help reduce the risk of viral and bacterial infections and provide other health benefits that formula-fed infants typically miss out on.
Most infant formulas currently available either lack HMOs or include only a limited variety. The few that do contain HMOs are produced using engineered E. coli bacteria, a method that is not only expensive but also limited in the variety of HMOs that can be produced. This new plant-based method aims to overcome these limitations by offering a broader range of HMOs in a more sustainable and scalable way.
The study describes how the research team reprogrammed the sugar-making machinery of Nicotiana benthamiana. They inserted genes that produce specific enzymes necessary for assembling simple sugars into the complex branched chains characteristic of HMOs. As a result, the modified plants produced 11 different HMOs, including the hidden LNFP1, which has been linked to fewer infections in infants but is difficult to produce in large quantities using traditional microbial fermentation methods.
This holds significant promise for the future of infant nutrition. Integrating HMOs into infant formula could bring formula-fed babies closer to receiving the full spectrum of health benefits that come with breastfeeding. This method has the potential to reduce the cost of formula production, making it more accessible to a broader population.
(Inputs from agencies)
