Human milk oligosaccharide secretion dynamics during breastfeeding and its antimicrobial role: A systematic review

Table 3 Specific anti-microbial roles of some human milk oligosaccharides

HMO type	Key pathogens targeted	Mode of action
2'-FL	Campylobacter jejuni, EPEC, Norovirus, RSV, Rotavirus	Anti-adhesive activity, inhibition of pathogen attachment to epithelial cells, by acting as a decoy receptor
3-FL	EPEC, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, and Norovirus (pathogens commonly encountered later in infancy)	The prebiotic effect promotes beneficial bacteria and blocks pathogen adhesion
DFL	Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enterica, Helicobacter pylori	Anti-adhesive activity preventing pathogen attachment to epithelial cells; supports immune modulation and gut barrier function
LNT	Entamoeba histolytica, GB. streptococcus, Vibrio cholera toxin	Neutralization of bacterial toxins and prevention of protozoal adhesion
3'-SL	EPEC, Helicobacter pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholera toxin, RSV, Rotavirus	Blocking bacterial adhesion and neutralizing bacterial toxins
6'-SL	EPEC, Helicobacter pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Influenza virus, Rotavirus	Inhibition of bacterial and viral adherence, especially in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections

2'-FL: 2'-Fucosyllactose; 3-FL: 3-Fucosyllactose; 3'-SL: 3'-Sialyllactose; 6'-SL: 6'-Sialyllactose; EPEC: Enteropathogenic E. coli; GB. streptococcus: Group B streptococci; LNT: Lacto-N-Tetraose; RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus; HMO: Human milk oligosaccharide.