From the moment we're born, our body develops a delicate protective coating made entirely of microbes. Knowing which bacteria, viruses, and yeast to keep, and which to reject, is a complex process that can make the difference between a healthy immune system and life-long allergies and auto immune disorders.
Just how we manage this system isn't entirely clear. As best as scientists can work out, mechanisms that protect our bodies from our mother's body continue to serve a role in the diplomatic relations with microbes in our first weeks outside the womb. A recent study by researchers from the University of Birmingham in the UK has now provided new insights into the process, finding that mother's milk promotes the growth of important immune cells that help manage inflammation.