Salk immunologists discovered that specialized immune cells called T cells increase in mammary glands during late pregnancy and breastfeeding, and that some of the T cells relocate from the gut—suggesting a connection between the gut microbiome and breastfeeding. The findings may help explain the advantages of breastfeeding, prompt solutions for mothers unable to breastfeed, help design better formulas, and inform dietary decisions that enhance breast milk production and quality.

Many soil microbes play a vital role in ecosystems, as they help plants access nutrients and water and assist in stress tolerance such as during drought and to defend against pathogens. One such group of soil microbes are arbuscular mycorrhizal, aka AM, fungi, which are associated with the roots of approximately 70% of plant species on land.  new Dartmouth-led study reports on how global climate conditions affect AM fungal spore traits and the species biogeographic patterns. The results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.