Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common cause of newborn blood infections, meningitis, and death. While antibiotics treat or prevent GBS, rising bacterial resistance weakens their effectiveness.
Now, U.S. scientists report that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)—short sugar chains abundant in breast milk—can help prevent GBS infections in human cells, tissues, and mice, potentially replacing antibiotics for newborns. The findings were presented at the American Chemical Society Fall Meeting.
U.S. CDC data shows ~2,000 infants get GBS yearly, with 4%–6% dying from it. GBS often transfers from mother to baby during delivery; antibiotics are given intravenously to GBS-positive pregnant women to prevent early-onset infections (first week after birth).
However, formula-fed infants have higher late-onset infections (1 week to 3 months) than breastfed ones, suggesting breast milk components fight GBS.
“We previously showed HMO mixtures from donor milk have anti-GBS and anti-biofilm activity. Now we wanted to go further,” said lead researcher Rebecca Moore of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Tests on placental immune cells (macrophages) and fetal membranes showed HMOs fully inhibited bacterial growth. In pregnant mice, HMOs significantly reduced GBS in five genital tract sites.
HMOs work likely by blocking pathogen adhesion and biofilm formation, and by supporting “good” bacteria as prebiotics. They could offer an antibiotic alternative for newborn GBS infections.
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