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Influence of lactoferrin feeding and injection against systemic staphylococcal infections in mice
Author(s) -
Bhimani R. S.,
Vendrov Y.,
Furmanski P.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00644.x
Subject(s) - lactoferrin , staphylococcus aureus , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology , hydrolysate , in vitro , antibacterial activity , staphylococcus , micrococcaceae , chemistry , kidney , biology , bacteria , antibacterial agent , pharmacology , antibiotics , biochemistry , endocrinology , genetics , hydrolysis
Human and bovine lactoferrins (Lfs) and bovine lactoferrin hydrolysate (LH) were assessed in vitro and in vivo for their antibacterial effects on Staphylococcus aureus . Lactoferrins showed weak in vitro antibacterial activity while Fe‐saturated Lfs and LH showed no activity. Lactoferrin‐treated mice (1 mg, i.v.) when injected i.v. with 10 6 staphylococci, showed 30–50% reduction in kidney infections, and viable bacterial counts in the kidneys decreased 5–12‐fold. The inhibitory effect was dose‐dependent up to 1 mg Lf. Lactoferrins were effective when given 1 day prior to the bacterial challenge, after which there was no significant effect even at doses up to 5 mg. Apo‐ and Fe‐saturated forms of human and bovine Lfs were all equally effective, while LH was not protective. Human and bovine Lfs with different degrees of iron saturation (9–97%) were found to be equipotent. Feeding mice with 2% bLf in drinking water also reduced the kidney infections by 40–60%, and viable bacterial counts, 5–12‐fold. The results suggest a potential for the use of Lfs as natural antibacterial proteins for preventing bacterial infections.