Infection and Immunity

As well as a nutritional powerhouse, milk is known to contain several bioactive substances that guard against harmful bacteria, enhance immune function and help develop the gut and its barrier functions.

Increased incidences of infectious disease and inflammation have been correlated with changes in lifestyle, diet and demographics.  In Ireland alone, it is estimated that over three million cases of acute gastroenteritis occur every year.  The majority of cells required for effective immune function are connected to the gastrointestinal tract, and without proper digestive function, basic metabolic processes  may  break down, leading to various disease states.

When an infection happens, the immune system responds at many levels to protect the host against specific invading microorganisms.  Inflammation is a process by which the body's white blood cells and chemicals respond to infection, but some diseases can arise as a result of an inappropriate inflammatory response.  Therefore, nutritional products aimed at suppressing the inflammatory response could help reduce the risk of developing these inflammatory conditions.

At FHI, Professor Colin Hill is leading researchers at University College Cork, University College Dublin  and Teagasc Moorepark to test specifically for milk  bioactives that suppress harmful food-related pathogens, enhance immunity and control inflammatory disease.  Knowing how these compounds act at cellular and molecular levels is central to the development of high value functional ingredients targeted at improved health and wellness.