MOOve Over Mommy!

Breast is best! That is the mantra that many mothers preach the world over. There is sound logic that backs this reasoning as well. Babies that breastfeed have a lower risk for developing obesity later on in life and generate more antibodies from routine vaccinations. Breastfed babies are also at a lower risk of developing infections and have higher levels of immunity due to the antibodies that are excreted in their mother's breastmilk. These inherited antibodies are a part of the innate immune system. They are non-specific and target numerous pathogens which enables them to protect infants from numerous infections and diseases. Thus the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous. But what happens when a mother is not able to breastfeed? The only other option is to purchase formula which while it is a good choice it is not as complete as breast milk. However, thanks to research being done in China (as strange as it may sound) mothers may soon have another option...Ol' Betsy.

According to research conducted by Bin Yang of the State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology at the China Agricultural University in Beijing, genetically engineered cattle are now able to produce breastmilk more similar to that of a human. The study accomplished this by genetically altering calf embryos to increase the amount of the protein lysozyme produced during lactation. Lysozyme is naturally found in large amounts in human breastmilk while usually only in trace amounts with cows' milk. According to Yang's research this protein is significant because, "It increases the levels of beneficial intestinal microflora and strengthens disease resistance in infants. These effects are believed to occur through the lysis of certain potentially damaging Gram-positive bacteria and a few Gram-negative bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of breast-fed babies." So lysozyme is essential for breastmilk's ability to provide immunity and prevent infection in infants.

The study followed 4 out of 17 transgenic cattle while they underwent natural lactation. The recombinant lysozyme produced by these cattle was genetically identical to that of the lysozyme found in human breastmilk. The other components of cows' milk remained virtually unchanged (i.e. total fat and protein). The scientist then went even further by purifying recombinant lysozyme. Yang's study"established a simple two-step method for the purification of the recombinant protein from milk. This purification scheme provides a new, cost-effective method for the extraction of recombinant lysozyme from transgenic milk". This discovery could pave the way for large-scale production of human lysozyme. This process could one day in the near future allow for an equivalent alternative to breastmilk when it comes to providing protection for babies from illness and disease.

The discovery of the possibility that we may be able to use bovine milk in place of human milk could have a resounding effect on infant nutrition all over the world. Mothers that find themselves unable to breastfeed, whether it be due to pathophysiology or lack of desire, may soon have an option that will provide their babies with the same type of immunological protection as their own breastmilk.



Sources:

1) Parry, w. (2011, April 04). Cows produce version of human breast milk. Live Science, Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/13546-breast-milk-dairy-lysozyme.html

2) Yang B, Wang J, Tang B, Liu Y, Guo C, et al. 2011 Characterization of Bioactive Recombinant Human Lysozyme Expressed in Milk of Cloned Transgenic Cattle. PLoS ONE 6(3): e17593. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017593

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