Research Collaboration on the Power of Breast Milk in Fighting Infections

Long recognized as the gold standard in infant nutrition, breast milk may also be the key to preventing and even treating serious infections beyond infancy.

From birth, breastfed infants benefit from a lower risk of infections—a fact that has long fascinated scientists. The secret lies in the complex mixture of bioactive molecules in human milk: sugars such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), specific glycoproteins, glycopeptides, and glycosaminoglycans—all of which help shape the infant’s immune system and ward off harmful pathogens.

Now, researchers are taking it a step further—they are reproducing bioactive components of breast milk in the lab and testing their potential for disease prevention—as part of a project with a total budget of 1.3 million euros.

The Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy, and Climate Protection (SWMA) is funding this promising project with funds from the Free State of Saxony and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund, ERDF). Dirk Panter, Saxon State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy, and Climate Protection, explains: “Primogene is an outstanding example of the innovative strength of Saxon biotechnology. Together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Leipzig, the company is tackling a global health issue—with a next-generation nutritional approach to prevent severe infections. The project demonstrates the excellent collaboration between a top-tier research institution and a highly innovative Saxon biotechnology startup.”

A central focus of the project is the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)—the most common cause of hospitalizations among infants worldwide. In Europe (including Germany) as well, RSV is considered one of the leading causes of pediatric hospitalizations during a child’s first year of life, particularly during the RSV season in the fall and winter. Although no broadly effective treatment currently exists, breastfed children show significantly higher resistance to RSV. By replicating molecules unique to breast milk using its proprietary HuReCa® platform, Primogene provides bioactive ingredients that are tested at Fraunhofer IZI in cell-based and preclinical studies.

However, the researchers believe that the impact could extend much further. One of the most pressing challenges in public health today is sepsis—a life-threatening response of the body to infections. In Germany, one person dies of sepsis every six minutes. If the disease is detected early and treated properly, it can usually be prevented. Unfortunately, sepsis often remains underdiagnosed and is still insufficiently researched.

“Some of the worst bacterial infections stem from resistant strains such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae,” explains Dr. Thomas Grunwald of Fraunhofer IZI. “We are investigating whether components of human breast milk can neutralize these bacteria and thus prevent the progression to sepsis.” Dr. Nadja Uhlig, head of the Preclinical Validation working group at Fraunhofer IZI, adds: “We have known for years that breast milk protects infants. What excites us now is the opportunity to understand exactly how—and to apply these mechanisms in new ways to combat infections across the entire population.”

The project’s ambition is grand: to demonstrate that breast milk is not exclusively reserved for infants, but represents a well-researched source of functional ingredients—with benefits for people of all ages. “Breast milk is a uniquely developed mixture of nutrients and functional compounds, finely tuned over millions of years to support and protect human life from the very beginning,” says Dr. Reza Mahour, CEO of Primogene. “It is time to think beyond infancy and harness its potential to promote health throughout the entire lifespan.”

About the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI)

The Fraunhofer IZI is a research institute focused on the development of diagnostics and therapies for infectious and immune-related diseases. It possesses extensive expertise in the preclinical testing of active substances against viral, bacterial, and other pathogenic infections.

About Primogene GmbH

Primogene is an innovative biotechnology company based in Leipzig that specializes in the development of biotechnological manufacturing processes for bioactive ingredients. The focus is on compounds that occur exclusively in human breast milk and have the potential to promote health throughout all stages of life.