Just In
- 18 min ago Belgian Man Cleared Of Drunk Driving Because His Body Produces Alcohol Due To A Rare Condition
- 1 hr ago Amitabh Bachchan's Youthful Avatar In Kalki 2898 AD Is Impressive, Check Actors Who Sported Digital De-Aging!
- 1 hr ago Full Moon In Scorpio In April 2024: How It Will Affect 12 Zodiac Signs
- 1 hr ago Why You Should Soak Mangoes In Water Before Consuming Them, This Small Step Comes With Big Rewards!
Don't Miss
- News Rahul Gandhi Drags Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Name Again To Corner BJP
- Automobiles India's Motorcycle Market 2023-24: Hero Splendor Leads Amidst Diverse Preferences
- Finance New Safety Check System for Cooking Gas Connections Rolled Out Amidst Delivery Boy Grievances; Reports
- Education Kerala SSLC Results 2024: How and Where to Check the Results
- Movies MET Gala 2024: WHO Will Host The Exclusive Fashion Event THIS Year?
- Technology Here’s a List of Smartphones That Are Most Likely to Feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
- Sports IPL 2024: No Place For Sanju Samson in Irfan Pathan's 15-Member Indian T20 World Cup Squad
- Travel Fly in Luxury: 10 Ways to Get Free Flight Upgrades
Mother's Milk May Work As Well As Vaccination For Newborns
Mother's milk may boost the immunity of a newborn in such a way that it may work against certain diseases like tuberculosis (TB) just as vaccination does, suggests new research.
Mother's milk may boost the immunity of a newborn in such a way that it may work against certain diseases like tuberculosis (TB) just as vaccination does, suggests new research.
"Some vaccines are not safe to give a newborn baby and others just don't work very well in newborns," said lead researcher Ameae Walker, Professor at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine in the US.
"If we can instead vaccinate mom or boost her vaccination shortly before she becomes pregnant, transferred immune cells during breastfeeding will ensure that the baby is protected early on," Walker explained.
Scientists have long understood that mother's milk provides immune protection against some infectious agents through the transfer of antibodies, a process referred to as "passive immunity."
The new research, published in the Journal of Immunology, showed that mother's milk also contributes to the development of the baby's own immune system by a process the team calls "maternal educational immunity."
Specific maternal immune cells in the milk cross the wall of the baby's intestine to enter an immune organ called the thymus. Once there, they "educate" developing cells to attack the same infectious organisms to which the mother has been exposed.
"While our work has used mouse models because we can study the process in detail this way, we do know that milk cells cross into human babies as well," Walker pointed out.
The researchers showed that you can vaccinate the mother and this results in vaccination of the baby through this process.
One of the infectious agents the research team studied was the organism that causes tuberculosis. Generally, babies directly vaccinated against TB do not have a very good response.
"We hope that by vaccinating the mother, who will eventually nurse the baby, we will improve infant immunity against TB," Walker said.
"It's like vaccinating the baby without actually vaccinating the baby. In some instances, our work has shown that immunity against TB is far more effective if acquired through the milk than if acquired through direct vaccination of the baby," Walker noted.
"Of course, clinical trials will need to be conducted to test whether this is the case in humans," Walker said.
-Inputs By IANS
- fashionHoli 2024 Dress Ideas For Girls & Boys, Style Tips To Let Little Ones Shine Bright
- fashionRepublic Day 2024: Kids Will Dress To Impress With These Amazing Fashion Tips
- pregnancy parentingChristmas 2023: How To Raise Kids Who Are On Santa's Nice And Naughty List This Holiday Season
- pregnancy parentingIncreasing Reports Of STIs In Children: Tips for Parents on Educating Kids about STI Prevention
- pregnancy parentingAre You The Second Favourite Parent To Your Kid? Signs To Watch Out For
- pregnancy parentingWorld Toilet Day: 5 Ways To Teach Healthy Bathroom Habits In Kids
- pregnancy parentingChildren's Day 2023: A Glimpse Into Education Abroad: Perspectives From Indian Parents In Canada, Australia..
- pregnancy parentingChildren's Day 2023: Best Gifts Ideas For Children, Kids That Will Help Them Grow Beautifully
- pregnancy parentingWorld Savings Day: How To Start Saving Habits At A Young Age? 5 Fool-proof Parenting Tips!
- pregnancy parentingSpook-tacular Sugar-Free Halloween Snacks: Quick Snacks For Diabetic Kids
- pregnancy parentingWhat To Do When Your Kid Hates Haircuts? Parenting Tips To Get ‘em To The Salon!
- pregnancy parentingAre Agarbattis Safe For Kids? Watch Out For These Ingredients