Open AccessAntimicrobial effects of human milk: Inhibitory activity on enteric pathogens
Author(s) -
BoesmanFinkelstein Mary,
Finkelstein Richard A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1985.tb00661.x
Subject(s) - lactoferrin , vibrio cholerae , microbiology and biotechnology , antimicrobial , lysozyme , antibody , chemistry , bacterial outer membrane , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , escherichia coli , immunology , genetics , gene
Commercial infant formulae have been shown to support the growth of three common species of enteropathogens very well whereas human milk is bacteriostatic or bactericidal. Apo‐lactoferrin alone effects only bacteriostasis. Bactericidal activity against Vibrio cholerae , however, results when purified sIgA from this milk pool or purified immunoglobulin from rabbit anti V. cholerae outer‐membrane component serum is assayed in the presence of apo‐lactoferrin. This inhibition is abolished by iron saturation in the presence of bicarbonate. Antibody alone has no effect and neither lysozyme nor complement appears to be involved. A convenient and reproducible micro‐assay is described for evaluation of anti‐microbial avtivity.