Title: Shaping mucosal and systemic immunity by non-digestible oligosaccharides and postbiotics
| Authors: | Veronica Ayechu Muruzabal |
| Published: | 2023 |
Proper development in the first 3 years of an infant’s life is crucial to promote the maturation of the immune system and support protection against infections or allergy. Human milk is considered the optimal nutrition for all infants and provides the best level of protection.
Human milk contains many (bioactive) components such as Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOS). HMOS structures present in human milk are diverse with multiple functions. Specific HMOS structures can interact with intestinal epithelial cells and immune cells modulating mucosal immune development early in life, helping reduce the occurrence of infections, GIT disorders, obesity, diabetes and allergy development.
The mechanisms by which human milk provides protection and supports the maturation and development of infants continues to be a topic that requires new insights.
The PhD Thesis entitled: “Shaping mucosal and systemic immunity by non-digestible oligosaccharides and postbiotics: GROWING ROOTS WITH FOOD” by Veronica Ayechu Muruzabal aims to identify specific effects of HMOS, non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDO) and postbiotics in the intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and innate and adaptive immune cells, to understand how bioactive components can promote the maturation and development of the mucosal immune system.
Results show that non-digestible oligosaccharides such as 2’FL, as well as postbiotics, GOS/FOS and 3’GL are important for shaping mucosal and systemic immunity.
The PhD Thesis entitled: “Shaping mucosal and systemic immunity by non-digestible oligosaccharides and postbiotics: GROWING ROOTS WITH FOOD” by Veronica Ayechu Muruzabal is part of the long-lasting collaboration between the Pharmacology division of Utrecht University and Danone Nutricia Research. With specific focus on understanding the role of human milk oligosaccharides, non-digestible oligosaccharides and postbiotics on mucosal immune development.