In the ever-evolving world of nutritional science, understanding the complex composition of mammalian milks, particularly their oligosaccharides, is key to unlocking their health benefits. Enter MilkOligoDB, a groundbreaking database that consolidates research on the diverse oligosaccharides found in mammalian milk. Created through a collaboration between Barile Lab at UC Davis, IC-FOODS, and Lemay Lab at the USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center, this database is a valuable resource for researchers and nutrition experts alike.
What is MilkOligoDB?
MilkOligoDB is a relational database designed to catalog and analyze the structure of oligosaccharides present in the milk of various mammals. Oligosaccharides are complex carbohydrates that play a vital role in promoting gut health, supporting the immune system, and facilitating proper nutrient absorption, especially in infants.
The data for this database was meticulously collected from peer-reviewed academic journals, allowing users to explore the composition of mammalian milks in great detail. MilkOligoDB is built to be user-friendly, with downloadable data available in a variety of formats for easy access and analysis.
Key Features of MilkOligoDB
- Comprehensive Data: MilkOligoDB includes oligosaccharide data from a wide range of mammalian species, revealing the diversity and complexity of these compounds across species.
- Relational Database Design: The database operates as a normalized relational database within an open-source PostgreSQL relational database management system, providing seamless data organization and retrieval.
- Downloadable Data: For users looking for quick access, the data is available in a single file format (MilkOligoDB.csv), making it easy to import into spreadsheet software or other analysis tools.
- Scripts and Queries: Researchers can access scripts that create foundational tables and views, enhancing the database’s functionality for advanced data manipulation.
Why MilkOligosaccharides Matter
Oligosaccharides are essential for more than just nutrition—they support the development of a healthy microbiome in infants by acting as prebiotics. Human milk, for instance, contains over 200 types of oligosaccharides, which are crucial in protecting infants from pathogens and promoting good bacteria growth in the gut.
Understanding these structures across different mammalian species can open doors to better infant formulas, probiotics, and even therapeutic agents for gut-related health issues. MilkOligoDB enables researchers to compare the oligosaccharide profiles across species, providing insights into evolutionary biology and nutrition science.
How to Access and Use MilkOligoDB
Accessing MilkOligoDB is straightforward. Researchers can download the data, either in its raw form or as a PostgreSQL-friendly schema, from the designated folders. These include:
- Scripts folder: Contains scripts to set up the database and foundational views (queries).
- Data for ingest folder: Offers the data for populating the tables within the database.
- CSV file: A quick and easy format for users to download all the data in one go.
For those conducting large-scale research, MilkOligoDB is an invaluable tool, enabling cross-species comparisons and the discovery of common structural motifs in milk oligosaccharides.
Citing MilkOligoDB
If you use the data from this database in your research, be sure to cite the foundational paper published in Nature Scientific Reports and other paper related to Milk Oligosacchardies as required.
Durham, S.D., Wei, Z., Lemay, D.G., Lange, M.C., Barile, D. (2023). Creation of a milk oligosaccharide database, MilkOligoDB, reveals common structural motifs and extensive diversity across mammals. Sci Rep 13, 10345. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36866-y
Chauhan DDAP, Deepak D, Chauhan S. Cow Milk Oligosaccharides and Their Relevance to Infant Nutrition. Biology and Life Sciences Forum. 2023; 29(1):19. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECN2023-15973
FAQs
1. Who can benefit from using MilkOligoDB?
MilkOligoDB is designed for researchers in nutrition science, microbiology, biochemistry, and related fields who are studying the composition and function of oligosaccharides in mammalian milk.
2. How is the data structured in MilkOligoDB?
MilkOligoDB is a relational database, meaning it organizes data into tables that can be easily queried and analyzed. Scripts for setting up the database and foundational queries are available to users.
3. Can I download the data in formats other than PostgreSQL?
Yes, MilkOligoDB provides a CSV file that contains all the data in a single file for those who prefer using spreadsheet software or other analysis tools.
4. Why are oligosaccharides important?
Oligosaccharides in milk serve as prebiotics, which help nurture beneficial gut bacteria, protect against pathogens, and support the overall health and development of infants.
5. What is the scientific impact of MilkOligoDB?
MilkOligoDB enables the study of oligosaccharides across species, helping researchers understand their evolutionary significance and potential health applications.
Conclusion
MilkOligoDB is a valuable resource for anyone studying the complex world of oligosaccharides in mammalian milk. Its extensive database offers insights into the diversity of milk compositions and opens the door to innovative research in nutrition, microbiology, and beyond. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or new to the field, MilkOligoDB provides the tools and data you need to advance your studies.