journals.asm.org
mSphere of Influence: The maternal gut–mammary axis and its role in shaping neonatal health | mSphere
In high school, I worked on a dairy farm, milking cows and caring for calves to save money for college. It was there that I first observed the critical link between milk quality and neonatal health. In dairy cows, maternal immunity, in the form of immunoglobulins, is fully transferred through colostrum—the mother’s first milk—during the first 24 to 48 hours of life (1). I witnessed how low immunoglobulin levels in colostrum compromised a calf’s ability to fight infectious diseases. These experiences sparked my curiosity about breast milk immunity and inspired me to pursue a career exploring the intersection of maternal health and infectious disease.