📣New paper out in @mSystemsJ, coauthored w/ the fabulous @LiatShenhav!
In this review, we apply our (very!) different skillsets to propose a new strategy for studying #humanmilk as a biological system, using methods developed for #microbiome research.
🧵
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/ms…
In this review, we apply our (very!) different skillsets to propose a new strategy for studying #humanmilk as a biological system, using methods developed for #microbiome research.
🧵
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/ms…
👩🏻💻Liat is a computational scientist who develops bioinformatics methods to analyze microbiome data.
👩🏻🔬I am a human milk scientist who wants to study ALL THE THINGS in milk and figure out how they all work together.
👩🏻🔬I am a human milk scientist who wants to study ALL THE THINGS in milk and figure out how they all work together.
Inspired by this @AJCNutrition review from @ParulChristian, @DrEmilyRSmith & others from @NIH & @gatesfoundation, Liat & I teamed up to brainstorm... 🧠
academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/1…
academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/1…
We focused on 3 major barriers to understanding #breastmilk:
1⃣ Milk contains 1000's of components, yet most studies analyze just one or a few
2⃣ Milk changes over time, yet longitudinal studies are rare
3⃣ We lack computational tools & methods to study milk as a complex SYSTEM
1⃣ Milk contains 1000's of components, yet most studies analyze just one or a few
2⃣ Milk changes over time, yet longitudinal studies are rare
3⃣ We lack computational tools & methods to study milk as a complex SYSTEM
We realized that #humanmilk & the #microbiome have a lot in common.
- Both are COMPLEX biological SYSTEMS (many parts working together)
- Both are ADAPTIVE (adapt to the environment)
- Both are DYNAMIC (change over time)
So… perhaps we can apply microbiome methods to milk? 🤔
- Both are COMPLEX biological SYSTEMS (many parts working together)
- Both are ADAPTIVE (adapt to the environment)
- Both are DYNAMIC (change over time)
So… perhaps we can apply microbiome methods to milk? 🤔
We propose that many microbiome concepts can be applied to human milk science, including:
- Richness
- Diversity
- Co-occurrence networks
- Community state types
- Keystone groups
- Interactions
- Guilds
- Resilience
- Succession
- Emergent Properties
- Richness
- Diversity
- Co-occurrence networks
- Community state types
- Keystone groups
- Interactions
- Guilds
- Resilience
- Succession
- Emergent Properties
Also, we need to think beyond the milk itself.
Milk is a central component of the mother-milk-infant triad. It affects (and is affected by) both the infant and mother – and this entire ‘system within a system’ is affected by the external environment.
Milk is a central component of the mother-milk-infant triad. It affects (and is affected by) both the infant and mother – and this entire ‘system within a system’ is affected by the external environment.
Here’s what our dream #humanmilk study would (will 🤞🏻) look like.
We’re excited to apply this multi-layered approach to #humanmilk research, and hope our paper will inspire others to do the same 👩🏻💻👩🏻🔬
Thank you @gilbertjacka for the invitation to share our ideas in your special issue!
#transdisciplinary #teamscience #breastmilk #microbiome
Thank you @gilbertjacka for the invitation to share our ideas in your special issue!
#transdisciplinary #teamscience #breastmilk #microbiome
WATCH our video summary:
READ the full paper: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/ms…
👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻
cc @ISRHML @um_research @RockefellerUniv @CHRIManitoba @CIFAR_News @IMPACTT_Canada @DrNShenker @MOMI_CORE @uwa_hlrg @CIHR_IHDCYH @CNS_SCN @nutritionorg @CRC_CRC
cc @ISRHML @um_research @RockefellerUniv @CHRIManitoba @CIFAR_News @IMPACTT_Canada @DrNShenker @MOMI_CORE @uwa_hlrg @CIHR_IHDCYH @CNS_SCN @nutritionorg @CRC_CRC
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