Do HMOs have antimicrobial effects?

HMOs act as soluble decoy receptors that compete for pathogen binding against the gut mucosa. They assist in gut barrier function and thus improve host defense.

• HMOs especially fucosylated HMOs resemble glycans on the mucosal surface to which pathogens adhere, preventing the adherence of pathogens to the intestinal wall, thereby reducing the risk of infections
• HMOs can directly interact with the intestinal epithelial cells and modulate their glycan expression which acts an alternative mechanism to prevent pathogen adherence to the intestinal wall
• HMOs can directly modulate the immune system