Functional sugars Photo
Functional sugars Photo © : Jennewein Biotechnologie Human milk oligosaccharides for health Dr. Bettina Gutiérrez Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are functional sugars who have some important health benefits. The German company Jennewein Biotechnologie is producing these complex sugars in an industrial scale. Already at the end of the 19 th century, the Austrian paediatrician Theodor Escherich recognised that breastfed children had a 7 times higher chance of survival than non-breastfed children. When researching the causes of this, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) were discovered in the breast milk. This means that it was discovered that these functional sugars, which are the third most significant components of breast milk after fats and lactose, are responsible for the well-being of infants. Later, in the '50s, '60s and '70s, scientists researched the characterisation of these HMOs, which are structurally diverse. There are around 200 types. In the '90s, their biologi cal and nutritional properties were researched. Scientific studies discovered that they have health benefits for both infants and adults. As an example, they protect against infections, are prebiotic, stabilise the immune system, prevent allergies and promote a healthy microbiome and the neuronal development. However, until recently, it was not possible to produce these HMOs in industrial scale to make them available to all. Jennewein Biotechnologie, a German company, took on this task: With the help of a self-developed fermentation process, they have succeeded in producing these sugar molecules on such a scale. This process is based on the bacteria strain E.coli BL21, which is genetically modified by the biotechnologists so that these bacteria produce the enzymes necessary to form HMOs. Since 2016 the most common oligosaccharide 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) has been supplied as a nutritional supplement to well-known baby food manufacturers in the USA, and since 2017 in Europe. For mothers who cannot breastfeed, this is a relief as their babies can now also benefit from the positive effects of breast milk. 2'-fucosyllactose is, like the other biotechnological produced HMOs chemically identical to its natural models in breast milk. It occurs in almost 80 % of all milk samples at a concentration of 3 g/l and has mainly the characteristics to ward off pathogens and promote a healthy gut microbiome. The product portfolio of the company includes, in addition to 2'-FL, amongst others the HMOs 3-fucosyllactose, lacto-N-tetraose, 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose and the monosaccharides L-fucose and sialic acid (NANA). In addition to the specific benefits of these polysaccharides, they have an anti-adhesive effect in infants and adults, which means that they can prevent pathogens from entering the body cells of infants and adults. Most HMOs resemble the structure on the intestinal cells to which the pathogens bind. Due to this similarity, they can act as deceptive receptors by binding them to themselves, which prevents them from binding to the host cell, eliminating the pathogens from the intestine. This means they can inhibit an infection with viral and bacterial pathogens. As an example, 2'-fucosyllactose and 3-fucosyllactose protect against norovirus and rotavirus infections. Researchers from the company participated recently in a study entitled “Biotechnologically produced fucosylated oligosaccharides inhibit the binding of human noroviruses to their natural receptors” published in the well-known Journal of Biotechnology, 10 No. 3 November/December 2020
Functional sugars which is dedicated to this protective effect of HMOs. “Complex oligosaccharides such as HMOs can mimic the structure of the virus’ natural receptor on human cells, coating the virus and preventing it from interacting with targets. We demonstrated this ability for 2’-FL and 3-FL in our previous study in 2016. But the development of more complex oligosaccharides, which mimic the virus receptors even more closely, allows us to significantly improve this protective effect” states Dr. Katja Parschat, Co-Head of R&D at Jennewein Biotechnologie.”In this new study we included additional HMOs such as lacto- N-fucopentaose I and even more complex oligosaccharides” she adds. The company now wants to launch a new product generation with a 5'-HMO mix which comes even closer to the model of natural breast milk and consists of the five most common HMOs in natural concentrations: 2'-fucosyllactose, 3-fucosyllactose, lacto-Ntetraose, 3'-sialyllactose and 6'-sialyllactose. It is the first product to contain both neutral and acidic HMOs. In order to test whether this mix is well tolerated by infants and can guarantee the necessary safety requirements for approval in the EU, Jennewein Biotechnologie launched a clinical study in December 2018. This study was carried out in hospitals in Spain, Italy and Germany. 324 babies divided into three groups were tested. The first interim results point to good tolerability of HMOs; the final results are expected at the end of this year. In addition to this mix, there are also other matters that point to a successful future and new market opportunities. In the future, further research on metabolic engineering and the microbiome will take place at the company’s new R&D centre in Bonn. The research work on the microbiome targets the development of products in the “healthy microbiomes” sector in baby and infant food. And in September of this year, the company was acquired by the Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, based in Hoersholm in Denmark. Chr. Hansen is a leading bioscience company that develops natural ingredients solutions for the food, nutritional, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. The company produces cultures, enzymes, probiotics and natural colours for a variety of foods, confectionery, beverages, dietary supplements, animal feed and plant protection and has a profound experience in the fermentation technology. This means, that the strengths of Jennewein Biotechnologie and Chr. Hansen in the pre- and synbio tic market will be combined. And, that they will join their forces in a more and more growing global human milk oligosaccharides market. For more information, please contact Dr. Bettina Gutiérrez, press and public relations, Jennewein Biotechnologie, Part of Chr. Hansen Group bettina.gutierrez@jennewein-biotech.de
