A team of researchers from Senegal’s Cheikh Anta Diop University has identified a previously unknown bacterial species isolated from human breast milk. The discovery could support the development of probiotic-based strategies to prevent and treat childhood malnutrition. Scientists say the finding also highlights the growing contribution of African research to global microbiology.
Researchers isolated the newly identified bacterium Neobacillus camarae from the breast milk microbiota of a healthy Senegalese mother, opening new avenues for probiotic research against childhood malnutrition.
A team of researchers from Senegal’s Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) has identified a previously unknown bacterial species, a scientific breakthrough that could contribute to new approaches for combating childhood malnutrition through probiotics.
The newly described bacterium, Neobacillus camarae, was isolated from the breast
milk microbiota of a healthy Senegalese mother during a study exploring the relationship between breast milk bacteria and child nutrition. The discovery was published in the peer-reviewed journal Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, confirming the organism as a distinct bacterial species through genomic and taxonomic analyses.
The research forms part of a broader project investigating the breast milk microbiome of mothers with healthy and malnourished children. Scientists hope that naturally occurring beneficial bacteria could eventually be developed into probiotic therapies capable of improving gut health, enhancing nutrient absorption and reducing the burden of malnutrition among young children.
The study was conducted through a collaboration between UCAD, the IHU Méditerranée Infection and Aix-Marseille University. Researchers used a taxonogenomic approach, combining traditional microbiological techniques with whole-genome sequencing, to demonstrate that the isolate represents a previously undescribed member of the Neobacillus genus.
The bacterium was named Neobacillus camarae in honor of Professor Makhtar Camara, a microbiologist at UCAD’s Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, in recognition of his longstanding contribution to microbiological research and scientific training in Senegal.
Although the discovery does not immediately translate into a medical treatment, researchers say it represents an important step toward developing locally adapted probiotic interventions. Probiotics; live microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts, are increasingly being investigated as affordable tools to support infant nutrition, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where undernutrition remains a major public health challenge.
university’s commitment to research that addresses pressing public health issues while strengthening Africa’s scientific visibility. UCAD Rector Professor Alioune Badara Kandji congratulated Professor Camara and the research team, describing the achievement as one that honors both the university and Senegal while showcasing the growing influence of African science on the international stage.
The findings come at a time when childhood malnutrition continues to affect millions of children worldwide. By expanding knowledge of the human breast milk microbiome, scientists hope to unlock new preventive and therapeutic solutions that could improve infant health and survival, particularly in regions where malnutrition remains a persistent challenge.
