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  • Basic Science Article
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High hydrostatic pressure is similar to Holder pasteurization in preserving donor milk antimicrobial activity

Pediatric Research volume 95, pages 1749–1753 (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

The microbiological safety of donor milk (DM) is commonly ensured by Holder pasteurization (HoP, 62.5 °C for 30 min) in human milk banks despite its detrimental effects on bioactive factors. We compared the antimicrobial properties of DM after Holder pasteurization treatment or High Hydrostatic Pressure processing (HHP, 350 MPa at 38 °C), a non-thermal substitute for DM sterilization.

Methods

We assessed lactoferrin and lysozyme concentrations in raw, HHP- and HoP-treated pools of DM (n = 8). The impact of both treatments was evaluated on the growth of Escherichia coli and Group B Streptococcus in comparison with control media (n = 4). We also addressed the effect of storage of HHP treated DM over a 6-month period (n = 15).

Results

HHP milk demonstrated similar concentrations of lactoferrin compared with raw milk, while it was significantly decreased by HoP. Lysozyme concentrations remained stable regardless of the condition. Although a bacteriostatic effect was observed against Escherichia coli at early timepoints, a sharp bactericidal effect was observed against Group B Streptococcus. Unlike HoP, these results were significant for HHP compared to controls. Stored DM was well and safely preserved by HHP.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that this alternative sterilization method shows promise for use with DM in human milk banks.

Impact

  • Antimicrobial activity of donor milk after High Hydrostatic Pressure treatment has not been clearly evaluated.

  • Donor milk lactoferrin is better preserved by High Hydrostatic Pressure than conventional Holder pasteurization, while lysozyme concentration is not affected by either treatment.

  • As with Holder pasteurization, High Hydrostatic Pressure preserves donor milk bacteriostatic activity against E. coli in addition to bactericidal activity against Group B Streptococcus.

  • Donor milk treated by High Hydrostatic Pressure can be stored safely for 6 months.

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Fig. 1: Lactoferrin and Lysozyme concentrations after donor milk treatments.
Fig. 2: Bacterial growths after donor milk treatments.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Dr John Puntis for his careful proofreading of the manuscript. This work belongs to the “HHP-humanmilk” project funded by the French national research program AAPG ANR 2018.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Léa Chantal Tran, Lucie Marousez.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 - INFINITE - Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, F-59000, Lille, France

    Léa Chantal Tran, Lucie Marousez, Edwina Micours, Frédéric Gottrand, Delphine Ley, Jean Lesage & Marie Titécat

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Paediatrics, Jeanne de Flandre Children’s Hospital, CHU Lille, F-59000, Lille, France

    Léa Chantal Tran, Frédéric Gottrand & Delphine Ley

  3. GEPEA, UMR CNRS 6144, ONIRIS CS82225, F-44322, Nantes, France

    Marie De Lamballerie

  4. Laboratory of Bacteriology, Institute of Microbiology, CHU Lille, Lille, France

    Lou Thys & Marie Titécat

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Contributions

L.T., L.M., E.M., L.Th., J.L., D.L. and M.T. did substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data. L.M., L.T., M.D.L., M.T. and F.G. drafted the article or revised it critically for important intellectual content. All authors approved of the final version to be published.

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Correspondence to Léa Chantal Tran.

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Tran, L.C., Marousez, L., Micours, E. et al. High hydrostatic pressure is similar to Holder pasteurization in preserving donor milk antimicrobial activity. Pediatr Res 95, 1749–1753 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03022-9

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