Fig. 3
From: Determinants of microbial colonization in the premature gut
Entero-mammary pathway
Dendritic cells send dendrites out of the epithelium through tight junctions. Dendritic cells carrying bacteria migrate to the mesenteric lymph nodes, lactate mammary glands, and ultimately into milk. Through this entero-mammary pathway, the maternal gut microbiota (GM) finally reaches the gut of preterm infants (PTIs)