Isolation of bifidobacteria from breast milk and assessment of the bifidobacterial population by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative real-time PCR.

Title: Isolation of bifidobacteria from breast milk and assessment of the bifidobacterial population by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative real-time PCR.

The objective of this research was to elucidate if breast milk contains bifidobacteria and whether they can be transmitted to the infant gut through breastfeeding. Women and their infants provided samples of breast milk and faeces at days 4 to 7 after birth to investigate. In the samples, bifidobacterial DNA was detected, and thus concluding that breast milk seems to be a source of living bifidobacteria for the infant gut.

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