Breastfeeding has always been known as a way to keep babies healthy and protected from diseases. But did you know that there are certain sugars in breastmilk that can also prevent infections even before a baby is born? Scientists have discovered that these sugars can stop a common infection that can harm pregnancies.

One of the most common bacteria that can affect pregnant women is called Group B streptococcus (GBS). If not treated, GBS infections can cause problems like pneumonia in newborns or premature birth. Current treatments rely on antibiotics, but these can lead to bacteria becoming resistant to them. However, human breast milk already contains compounds, like human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), that can kill bacteria.

In previous research, scientists found that HMOs could stop the growth of GBS. But before they can use these sugars to help existing antibiotics or create new treatments, they need to see how they work in many different tissues and in the body.

The researchers first tested the protective effects of HMOs on human tissues infected with GBS. They found that when they added a mixture of HMOs that resemble the sugars in breast milk, the bacteria couldn’t stick to the tissues and grow. They then tested the same mixture on pregnant mice infected with GBS.

The treated mice had less inflammation, fewer bacteria in their reproductive tissues, and didn’t give birth prematurely or have any complications. These results show that HMOs can kill bacteria without the need for additional antibiotics. This research could lead to using these sugars as a new way to treat GBS infections and prevent problems during pregnancy.