tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441491750914005356.post4044596617942895908..comments2023-06-16T12:27:49.821+01:00Comments on Microbes Rule the Waves - 2013: Changes in the gut microbiota of Australian Fur Seals in response to age and dietUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441491750914005356.post-39974874472075156522014-04-06T19:31:25.819+01:002014-04-06T19:31:25.819+01:00That is exactly what I thought of when I read your...That is exactly what I thought of when I read your summary. Yes, breast milk is obviously very important to the pups to provide them with enough fat and energy to ensure they survival and to provide the resource for their blubber. But I think there could also be a very important probiotic aspect of this breast milk that potentially introduces the autochthonous and beneficial bacteria into the gut microbiota of the pups. Like you said, there is a lot of evidence that this is the case for humans, and it has been proven that natural breast milk has a positive effect on the development of the immune system. It would make a lot of sense if this was also the case for other mammals such as seals. I will keep an eye out for upcoming research on this matter, I really think it should be investigated, also in order to understand the link between the change diet and resulting change in microbiota in more depth. Malin Tietjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13381694594300204380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441491750914005356.post-45278215274815546692014-04-05T15:43:04.165+01:002014-04-05T15:43:04.165+01:00It is interesting to think of breast milk as an in...It is interesting to think of breast milk as an inoculation of advantageous bacteria for immune and digestive function for the pups, nature's probiotic. Unfortunately I cannot find any studies on the bacterial composition of breast milk in seals (or any animals other than humans). Though the authors do state that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in human milk, promote the growth of lactic acid bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, and that fur seal milk has a high lipid content containing many PUFAs. Examining how the microbiota of the milk and the pup's gut overlap would show which ones have been selected for by the GI tract conditions, hinting at possible advantageous functions.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09200030439728561332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441491750914005356.post-74800552205067967352014-04-04T11:28:49.960+01:002014-04-04T11:28:49.960+01:00Hi Dave, this is an interesting paper investigatin...Hi Dave, this is an interesting paper investigating the microbiota of seals and their change throughout their lives. Have the authors also analysed the milk from the mother directly? It would be interesting to see what kind of bacteria would be present in the breast milk which is the primary food source for pups in the first months of their lives. Comparisons of the actual bacterial composition of the breast milk with the gut microbiota of the pup could help understanding which of these bacteria can become the initial colonisers of the gut since diet has been proven to be one main factor influencing the gut microbiota. I would imagine that the breast milk contains quite a large amount of LABs, and perhaps in general many beneficial bacteria that support the development of a healthy immune system. I think it would be important to investigate the microbial composition of the breast milk in order to understand the change of the gut microbiota better from pups to adult seals...although it might be difficult to get the samples from the mothers while they are feeding I reckon. Malin Tietjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13381694594300204380noreply@blogger.com