Capillary Electrophoresis Analysis of Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides Permits an Assessment of the Influence of Diet and the Discovery of Nine Abundant Sulfated Analogues

Genetic and environmental factors shaping goat milk oligosaccharide composition

Oligosaccharides (OS) in milk have been suggested to influence the health and development of the newborn by promoting growth of beneficial gut bacteria, stimulating brain development, and enhancing immune functions. Goat milk is a natural source of specific OS, which could be a potential beneficial ingredient for infant formula. In this study, goat milk oligosaccharide (gMOS) content from approximately 1,000 dairy goats across 18 commercial farms was studied. A genomic relationship matrix was used to unravel genetic and environmental factors shaping gMOS content. The most abundant gMOS identified was 3'-NGL, with a concentration of 32.05 mg/kg, while 3-FL exhibited the lowest concentration at 1.85 mg/kg. Acidic OS had a notably higher content (81.67 mg/kg) than neutral OS (24.88 mg/kg). High variability in gMOS content was observed among individual goats, which could for a large extent be attributed to genetic differences. Heritability estimates ranged from 31% for 3'-GL to 85% for 3-FL. High positive genetic correlations (>0.57) were estimated between 3'-SL and 6'-SL, and between 6'-GL and 3'-GL. The contribution of differences between farms to variation in milk OS content varied from 3% for 3'-NGL to 45% for 6'-SL. While gMOS like 3'-GL, 6'-GL, and 6'-NGL, were significantly influenced by systematic environmental factors such as the lactation stage, the impact of these factors was relatively minor compared with the importance of genetic and farm effects. This research, which stands out due to its relatively large sample size, underscores the pivotal role of genetics, and to a smaller extent farm practices like feed ration, in determining gMOS composition.

Structural Characterization and Abundance of Sialylated Milk Oligosaccharides in Holstein Cows during Early Lactation

Among other bioactive molecules, milk contains high amounts of sialylated milk oligosaccharides (MOs) that influence numerous processes in the offspring. For instance, sialylated MOs inhibit the invasion of pathogens and positively influence the gut microbiome to support the optimal development of the offspring. For these reasons, sialylated MOs are also used in infant formula as well as food supplements and are potential therapeutic substances for humans and animals. Because of the high interest in sialylated bovine MOs (bMOs), we used several analytical approaches, such as gas and liquid chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry, to investigate in detail the profile of sialylated bMOs in the milk of Holstein Friesian cows during early lactation. Most of the 40 MOs identified in this study were sialylated, and a rapid decrease in all detected sialylated bMOs took place during the first day of lactation. Remarkably, we observed a high variance within the sialylation level during the first two days after calving. Therefore, our results suggest that the content of sialylated MOs might be an additional quality marker for the bioactivity of colostrum and transitional milk to ensure its optimized application for the production of milk replacer and food supplements.

Research of saccharides and related biocomplexes: A review with recent techniques and applications

Saccharides and biocompounds as saccharide (sugar) complexes have various roles and biological functions in living organisms due to modifications via nucleophilic substitution, polymerization, and complex formation reactions. Mostly, mono-, di-, oligo-, and polysaccharides are stabilized to inactive glycosides, which are formed in metabolic pathways. Natural saccharides are important in food and environmental monitoring. Glycosides with various functionalities are significant in clinical and medical research. Saccharides are often studied with the chromatographic methods of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and anion exchange chromatograpy, but also with capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry with their on-line coupling systems. Sample preparation is important in the identification of saccharide compounds. The cases discussed here focus on bioscience, clinical, and food applications.

Vitamins, Vegetables and Metal Elements Are Positively Associated with Breast Milk Oligosaccharide Composition among Mothers in Tianjin, China

BACKGROUND

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a group of breast milk carbohydrates exerting pivotal benefits for breastfed infants. Whether maternal diet is associated with breastmilk HMO composition has not been well-characterized.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the associations between dietary nutrient intake and HMO concentrations in a general pregnant and postpartum population.

METHODS

A total of 383 breast milk samples and the corresponding food frequency questionnaires during 0-400 postpartum days from 277 mothers were collected. Six different HMOs were detected in mothers' milk. The correlation between nutrients and HMOs were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model.

RESULTS

We found plant nutrients, vitamin A, vitamin C and vegetables as positive predictors of 3-fucosyllactose; vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 were positive predictors for 2'-fucosyllactose level and the sum of 2'-fucosyllactose and 3-fucosyllactose; tocopherol and metal elements were positive predictors for 3'-sialyllactose; and metal elements were positively associated with the sum of all the six HMOs; the milk and lactose intake was a positive predictor of lacto-N-tetraose levels and the sum of lacto-N-tetraose and lacto-N-neotetraose.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that vegetables, vitamins and metal elements are dietary components positively associated with HMO concentrations.

The primary familial brain calcification-associated protein MYORG is an α-galactosidase with restricted substrate specificity

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is characterised by abnormal deposits of calcium phosphate within various regions of the brain that are associated with severe cognitive impairments, psychiatric conditions, and movement disorders. Recent studies in diverse populations have shown a link between mutations in myogenesis-regulating glycosidase (MYORG) and the development of this disease. MYORG is a member of glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 31 (GH31) and, like the other mammalian GH31 enzyme α-glucosidase II, this enzyme is found in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Though presumed to act as an α-glucosidase due to its localization and sequence relatedness to α-glucosidase II, MYORG has never been shown to exhibit catalytic activity. Here, we show that MYORG is an α-galactosidase and present the high-resolution crystal structure of MYORG in complex with substrate and inhibitor. Using these structures, we map detrimental mutations that are associated with MYORG-associated brain calcification and define how these mutations may drive disease progression through loss of enzymatic activity. Finally, we also detail the thermal stabilisation of MYORG afforded by a clinically approved small molecule ligand, opening the possibility of using pharmacological chaperones to enhance the activity of mutant forms of MYORG.

MYORG is an enzyme genetically linked to primary familial brain calcification that has historically been presumed to act as an α-glucosidase. This study describes the crystal structure of dimeric MYORG and, surprisingly, reveals it to be an α-galactosidase with restricted specificity.

Dietary Fiber to Starch Ratio Affects Bovine Milk Oligosaccharide Profiles

Background

Bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMOs) have several demonstrated and hypothesized benefits including roles in cognitive development and antipathogenic activities, making them promising ingredients for infant formulas and nutraceutical applications. BMO extraction from bovine milk is challenged by low concentrations relative to nonbioactive simple sugars like lactose. BMO abundances are known to vary with a cow's lactation stage, breed, and parity, but these characteristics are difficult to modify in existing dairy herds. In contrast, diet modification is an accessible target, and is already known to influence milk yield, lipid content, protein levels, and monosaccharide compositions.

Objectives

To determine the impact of a low starch high fiber versus a high starch low fiber diet on overall BMO profiles and individual BMO abundances in Holstein dairy cattle.

Methods

Milk samples were collected from 59 midlactation Holsteins in a crossover study featuring dietary modification with either a low starch high fiber or high starch low fiber feed. BMO profiles were evaluated by nano-LC quadrupole time-of-flight tandem MS, and differences in BMO abundances between diets were evaluated using linear mixed effects modeling.

Results

A total of 19 BMOs were identified across the sample set, including 4 large fucosylated compounds. Seven BMOs were found to have significantly more positive percent changes in yield-adjusted abundance from the pre-experiment baseline period for milk samples collected during feeding with the low starch high fiber diet compared with the high starch low fiber diet.

Conclusions

Consuming the low starch high fiber diet promoted greater overall BMO production than the high starch low fiber diet in a population of midlactation Holsteins. Additionally, this study afforded the opportunity to investigate the impact of other factors potentially influencing BMO abundances, furthering understanding of how dairy herd management practices can positively impact milk composition and support the potential use of BMOs as functional ingredients.

Effects of colostrum management on transfer of passive immunity and the potential role of colostral bioactive components on neonatal calf development and metabolism

Neonatal dairy and beef calves are required to ingest adequate volumes of high-quality colostrum during their first hours of life to acquire transfer of passive immunity (TPI). As such, immunoglobulin G (IgG) has largely been the focus of colostrum research over recent decades. Yet, little is known about the additional bioactive compounds in colostrum that potentially influence newborn calf development and metabolism. The purpose of this narrative review is to synthesize research regarding the effects of colostrum management practices on TPI, as well as to address the potential role of additional colostral bioactive molecules, including oligosaccharides, fatty acids, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-I, in promoting calf development and metabolism. Due to the importance of IgG in ensuring calf immunity and health, we review past research describing the process of colostrogenesis and dam factors influencing the concentrations of IgG in an effort to maximize TPI. We also address the transfer of additional bioactive compounds in colostrum and prepartum management and dam factors that influence their concentrations. Finally, we highlight key areas of future research for the scientific community to pursue to ultimately improve the health and welfare of neonatal dairy calves.

Analysis of the biosynthetic flux in bovine milk oligosaccharides reveals competition between sulfated and sialylated species and the existence of glucuronic acid-containing analogues

We previously observed that sialylated bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMOs) decline in both absolute and relative abundances over the initial stages of bovine lactation, with initial evidence suggesting that this decline occurred due to increased concentrations of unique sulfated BMOs. Since both sulfated and sialylated BMOs have distinct bioactivites, a follow up study was launched in order to more clearly define relative changes in these classes of BMOs over the first week of lactation in dairy cattle. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) and several liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods, including a novel multiplexed tandem MS method, were used to profile the BMOs extracted from milk collected from the same 20 Holstein cows at milkings 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 14 post-partum. In addition to clearly validating that sulfated and sialylated BMOs exist in direct biosynthetic completion, our study has identified over 170 unique BMOs including 14 unique glucuronic acid-containing trisaccharides.

Recent approaches for the quantitative analysis of functional oligosaccharides used in the food industry: A review

Functional oligosaccharides (OS) are diverse groups of carbohydrates that confer several health benefits stemming from their prebiotic activity. Commonly used oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides, are used in a wide range of applications from food ingredients to mimic the prebiotic activity of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in infant formula to sugar and fat replacers in dairy and bakery products. However, while consumption of these compounds is associated with several positive health effects, increased consumption can cause intestinal discomfort and aggravation of intestinal bowel syndrome symptoms. Hence, it is essential to develop rapid and reliable techniques to quantify OS for quality control and proper assessment of their functionality in food and food products. The present review will focus on recent analytical techniques used to quantify OS in different matrices such as food and beverage products.

Host responses to Clostridium perfringens challenge in a chicken model of chronic stress

Background

This study utilized a chicken model of chronic physiological stress mediated by corticosterone (CORT) administration to ascertain how various host metrics are altered upon challenge with Clostridium perfringens. Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a disease of the small intestine of chickens incited by C. perfringens, which can result in elevated morbidity and mortality. The objective of the current study was to investigate how physiological stress alters host responses and predisposes birds to subclinical NE.

Results

Birds administered CORT exhibited higher densities of C. perfringens in their intestine, and this corresponded to altered production of intestinal mucus. Characterization of mucus showed that C. perfringens treatment altered the relative abundance of five glycans. Birds inoculated with C. perfringens did not exhibit evidence of acute morbidity. However, histopathologic changes were observed in the small intestine of infected birds. Birds administered CORT showed altered gene expression of tight junction proteins (i.e. CLDN3 and CLDN5) and toll-like receptors (i.e. TLR2 and TLR15) in the small intestine. Moreover, birds administered CORT exhibited increased expression of IL2 and G-CSF in the spleen, and IL1β, IL2, IL18, IFNγ, and IL6 in the thymus. Body weight gain was impaired only in birds that were administered CORT and challenged with C. perfringens.

Conclusion

CORT administration modulated a number of host functions, which corresponded to increased densities of C. perfringens in the small intestine and weight gain impairment in chickens. Importantly, results implicate physiological stress as an important predisposing factor to NE, which emphasizes the importance of managing stress to optimize chicken health.

Symposium review: Dairy-derived oligosaccharides-Their influence on host-microbe interactions in the gastrointestinal tract of infants

Oligosaccharides are the third most abundant component in human milk. It is widely accepted that they play several important protective, physiological, and biological roles, including selective growth stimulation of beneficial gut microbiota, inhibition of pathogen adhesion, and immune modulation. However, until recently, very few commercial products on the market have capitalized on these functions. This is mainly because the quantities of human milk oligosaccharides required for clinical trials have been unavailable. Recently, clinical studies have tested the potential beneficial effects of feeding infants formula containing 2'-fucosyllactose, which is the most abundant oligosaccharide in human milk. These studies have opened this field for further well-designed studies, which are required to fully understand the role of human milk oligosaccharides. However, one of the most striking features of human milk is its diversity of oligosaccharides, with over 200 identified to date. It may be that a mixture of oligosaccharides is even more beneficial to infants than a single structure. For this reason, the milk of domestic animals has become a focal point in recent years as an alternative source of complex oligosaccharides with associated biological activity. This review will focus specifically on free oligosaccharides found in bovine and caprine milk and the biological roles associated with such structures. These dairy streams are ideal sources of oligosaccharides, given their wide availability and use in so many regularly consumed dairy products. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of research into the functional role of bovine and caprine milk oligosaccharides in host-microbial interactions in the gut and provide current knowledge related to the isolation of oligosaccharides as ingredients for incorporation in functional or medical foods.

Oligosaccharide concentrations in colostrum, transition milk, and mature milk of primi- and multiparous Holstein cows during the first week of lactation

The objective of this study was to characterize the oligosaccharide (OS) profile of colostrum and transition milk from primiparous (Pp, n = 10) and multiparous (Mp, n = 10) Holstein cows. The experiment was conducted on a commercial dairy farm, where cows were assigned to the study at calving. Colostrum (milking 1) was collected at 5.3 ± 0.7 h after parturition, followed by collection of milkings 2 through 6, milkings 8, 10, 12, and 14 at 0500 and 1600 h each day. Samples were analyzed for OS concentrations using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and for IgG and milk components. Concentration of IgG was highest in colostrum and milking 2. Colostral IgG concentration was less in Pp cows than in Mp cows (82.1 ± 3.1 vs. 106.1 ± 16.2 mg/mL). Colostrum and milkings 2 and 3 had 3'-sialyllactose and 6'-sialyllactose concentrations greater than those of mature milk (milkings 8+). For colostrum and milking 2, 6'-sialyllactosamine concentrations were higher than all other milkings, while disialyllactose was only higher in colostrum. In addition, 3'-sialyllactose was the most abundant OS in colostrum and milkings 2 and 3 compared with all other OS. A parity difference was observed for 6'-sialyllactosamine, with Mp having a higher concentration over the first 7 d in milk than Pp (46.4 ± 8.7 vs. 16.9 ± 3.2 μg/mL). Similar results were observed between milkings for OS yields. Parity differences were detected for 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, and 6'-sialyllactosamine yield, with Mp yield being greater than Pp over the first 7 d in milk. These findings demonstrate that colostrum and transition milk contain elevated concentrations of certain OS compared with mature milk and suggest further research should be conducted regarding the potential benefits of OS in colostrum and transition milk when fed to newborn calves.

Influence of sulfonated and diet-derived human milk oligosaccharides on the infant microbiome and immune markers

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) promote the development of the neonatal intestinal, immune, and nervous systems and has recently received considerable attention. Here we investigated how the maternal diet affects HMO biosynthesis and how any diet-induced HMO alterations influence the infant gut microbiome and immunity. Using capillary electrophoresis and MS-based analyses, we extracted and measured HMOs from breast milk samples and then correlated their levels with results from validated 24-h diet recall surveys and breast milk fatty acids. We found that fruit intake and unsaturated fatty acids in breast milk were positively correlated with an increased absolute abundance of numerous HMOs, including 16 sulfonated HMOs we identified here in humans for the first time. The diet-derived monosaccharide 5-N-glycolyl-neuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) was unambiguously detected in all samples. To gain insights into the potential impact of Neu5Gc on the infant microbiome, we used a constrained ordination approach and identified correlations between Neu5Gc levels and Bacteroides spp. in infant stool. However, Neu5Gc was not associated with marked changes in infant immune markers, in contrast with sulfonated HMOs, whose expression correlated with suppression of two major Th2 cytokines, IL-10 and IL-13. The findings of our work highlight the importance of maternal diet for HMO biosynthesis and provide as yet unexplored targets for future studies investigating interactions between HMOs and the intestinal microbiome and immunity in infants.

Degradation studies of dimethachlor in soils and water by UHPLC-HRMS: putative elucidation of unknown metabolites

Degradation of dimethachlor was evaluated in soils and water, detecting metabolites in incurred samples. Putative elucidation was performed using HRMS and software tools, detecting new possible metabolites of dimethachlor.

Dissipation studies of famoxadone in vegetables under greenhouse conditions using liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry: putative elucidation of a new metabolite

BACKGROUND

Famoxadone is a pesticide that is used to control fungal diseases and its dissipation in vegetables should be monitored. For that purpose, liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry has been used.

RESULTS

The dissipation of famoxadone has been monitored in cucumber, cherry tomato and courgette under greenhouse conditions at different doses (single and double), using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bremen, Germany). The concentration of famoxadone increased slightly just after the application of the commercial product and then decreased. The half-lives (DT₅₀ ) of famoxadone are different for each matrix, ranging from 2 days (courgette single dose) to 10 days (cucumber double dose). The main metabolites, 4-phenoxybenzoic acid and 1-acetyl-2-phenylhydrazine, were not detected in vegetable samples. Other metabolites described by the European Food and Safety Authority, such as IN-JS940 [(2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-phenoxyphenyl)propanoic acid], IN-KF015 [(5RS)-5-methyl-5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione] and IN-MN467 [(5RS)-5-methyl-3-[(2-nitrophenyl)amino]-5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione], were detected in the three matrices. Untargeted analysis allowed for the putative elucidation of a new metabolite of famoxadone in cucumber (up to 290 μg kg^-1 ) and cherry tomato (up to 900 μg kg^-1 ) samples.

CONCLUSION

The dissipation of famoxadone has been investigated in three vegetables: tomato, cucumber and courgette. The persistence of famoxadone was low in the three matrices (DT₅₀ less than 10 days). Metabolites of famoxadone were monitored, detecting IN-JS940, IN-MN467 and IN-KF015, and the putative elucidation of a new metabolite of famoxadone was performed by applying software tools. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.