Thread by @DrNShenker, Some Tuesday evening #science! In several countries, human milk is being trialled [...]

Dr Natalie Shenker

DrNShenker

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧵" title="Thread" aria-label="Emoji: Thread"> Some Tuesday evening #science! In several countries, human milk is being trialled as a preventative or therapeutic approach against #covid19.

This is because of the antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 produced by some mothers in response. But that& #39;s only part of the story...

1/

Human milk contains so many more antiviral components. Milk evolved to help the newborn navigate a world of infectious diseases, including viruses. It makes sense therefore that antibodies, while really important, are not a one-trick pony.

2/

So here& #39;s a list of human milk components with antiviral properties (+ some refs). Ping me if you know more!

Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin G
Human milk oligosaccharides (200+)
Lactoferrin
Lactadherin
Tenascin A
Extracellular vesicles
Bacteriophages

http://Bit.ly/34PxAjG

3/">https://Bit.ly/34PxAjG&q...

Human Milk Oligosaccharides as Promising Antivirals - PubMed

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are diverse unconjugated carbohydrates that are highly abundant in human breast milk. These glycans are investigated in the context of exhibiting multiple functions...

http://Bit.ly/34PxAjG

Cytokines (lots)
Glycosaminoglycans
Mucins
SLPI
sTLR2
Lewis X
Monolaurin
Vitamin A

http://Bit.ly/311gaQd

4/">https://Bit.ly/311gaQd&q...

Milk Matters: Soluble Toll-Like Receptor 2 (sTLR2) in Breast Milk Significantly Inhibits HIV-1...

The majority of infants who breastfeed from their HIV-positive mothers remain uninfected despite constant and repeated exposure to virus over weeks to years. This phenomenon is not fully understood...

http://Bit.ly/311gaQd

Gangliosides
- GM1
- GM2
- GM3
Chondroitin sulphate
Oxysterols

http://Bit.ly/3nGUBhz

5/">https://Bit.ly/3nGUBhz&q...

Effect of compounds with antibacterial activities in human milk on respiratory syncytial virus and...

The effect of some antibacterial compounds present in human milk were tested for antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus, Semliki Forest virus and cytomegalovirus. These included the...

http://Bit.ly/3nGUBhz

One oxysterol, a cholesterol metabolite called 27-hydroxycholesterol, may inhibit the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2.

http://Bit.ly/3dm48Wv

5">https://Bit.ly/3dm48Wv&q...

The cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and is markedly decreased in...

There is an urgent need to identify antivirals against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in the current COVID-19 pandemic and to contain future similar emergencies early on. Specific side-chain cholesterol...

http://Bit.ly/3dm48Wv

How these components behave throughout lactation are largely not known, but some have been shown to increase as a baby grows into a toddler - giving them more immune protection as they explore and meet more people/ animals/ surfaces.

Human milk is much more than nutrition.

End/

You can follow @DrNShenker.

Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: