The Immunology of Infant Feeding

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

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2. The Secretory Immune System

   • John Bienenstock

   Pages 1-11

3. The Handling of Ingested Antigens

   • E. T. Swarbrick

   Pages 13-22

4. Handling of Food Antigens and Their Complexes by Normal and Allergic Individuals

   • R. J. Levinsky, R. Paganelli, D. M. Robertson, D. J. Atherton

   Pages 23-30

5. Bacteriostatic Systems in Human Milk

   • J. J. Bullen

   Pages 31-39

6. Infant Feeding and the Faecal Flora

   • C. L. Bullen

   Pages 41-53

7. Breast Feeding and Virus Infections

   • David Tyrrell

   Pages 55-62

8. Factors Predisposing to Food Allergy

   • J. F. Soothill

   Pages 63-69

9. Regulation of IgE Antibody Responsiveness by Ingestion of Antigen and by Maternal Influence

   • Ellen E. E. Jarrett

   Pages 71-81

10. Effects of Malnutrition on Specific Cell-Mediated Immune Responses

    • R. K. Chandra

    Pages 83-96

11. Antibody Affinity: Its Relationship to Immune Complex Disease and the Effect of Malnutrition

    • M. W. Steward, Madeleine E. Devey, M. C. Reinhardt

    Pages 97-106

12. Immunological Implications of Alternatives to Mother’s Milk I Infant Formulas

    • Brian Wharton

    Pages 107-122

13. Immunological Implications of Alternatives to Mother’s Milk II Donor Milk

    • Brian Wharton

    Pages 123-135

14. Implications for Immunisation: The Milk IgA Antibody Response to Live and Inactivated Polio Virus Vaccines

    • L. Å. Hanson, B. Carlsson, F. Jalil, B. S. Lindblad, A-M. Svennerholm

    Pages 137-144

15. Back Matter

    Pages 145-151

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Though much thought is given to nutritional aspects of infant feeding, the complex immunological aspects have not been considered adequately, not only in the acceptance of the change to artificial feeding during this century, but also in developing feeds for total or supplementary feeding which will do minimal immunological damage. Besides food, mother's milk gives an orchestra of complex interacting bacteriostatic, bactericidal and anti-viral substances which contribute to the establishment of the normal intestinal flora. These mechanisms probably explain the many reports that breast fed babies get fewer infections than those fed artificially; deprivation from this effect of artificial feeding can be devastating in developing countries, with limited hygienic facilities, bad water supplies and sanitation. Infection is also more frequent in artificially fed infants in developed countries. Ingesting antigens is an important step in initiating the immune response, but the reSponse to such antigens is a controlled one, and besides antibody and cell mediated responses, partial tolerance, and immune exclusion (reduction of subsequent entry of antigen) occur. It is likely that food allergy, grossly neglected until recently, arises from disturbance of such mechanisms in the genetically vulnerable (immunodeficient) child.

• antibody
• antigen
• immune response
• immunology
• infection
• infections

• Institute of Child Health, University of London, London, England

  A. W. Wilkinson

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