Colostral proteins from cows immunised with Streptococcus mutans/S. sobrinus support the phagocytosis and killing of mutans streptococci by human leucocytes

Abstract

Passive immunisation, based on bovine colostral preparations, is an area of active research. Specific bovine antibodies inhibit the virulence factors of target pathogens but the interactions between whey preparations and human immune defence cells are not well known. Bovine colostrum inhibits the phagocytic activity of bovine leucocytes and this may reflect the biological activity of immunoglobulins in it. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of bovine whey protein preparations from the colostrum of Streptococcus mutuns/S. sobrinus-immunised and sham-immunised cows on binding, ingestion and killing of these bacteria by human leucocytes. Binding and ingestion of FITC-labelled bacteria were estimated by flow cytometry and leukocyte activation was measured as chemiluminescence. Killing rate was estimated by plate counting and by measuring bioluminescence from S. mutans-containing the insect luciferase gene. Colostral whey protein preparation from hyperimmunised cows activated human leucocytes by opsonising specific bacteria. Neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes weakly phagocytosed non-opsonised bacteria and bacteria opsonised with control product. On the contrary, binding and ingestion were efficient in the presence of the preparation from immunised cows. Thus, these results show that bovine colostral whey proteins are able to support the activation of human phagocytes against pathogenic microbes and that this property is related to specific antibodies in whey preparations. These whey proteins may also be clinically useful, especially in preventing the colonisation of newly erupted teeth by mutans streptococci.

Potential use of probiotic- and triherbal extract-enriched diets to control Aeromonas hydrophila infection in carp

“…It has been shown that certain probiotic bacteria and triherbal extracts are able to stimulate phagocytic activity (Arunachalam et al 2000, Schiffrin et al 1997, Harikrishnan et al 2009) as well as complement receptor expression (Pelto et al 1998). Respiratory burst activity correlates well with phagocytosis of bacteria in fish (Hardie et al 1996, Neumann et al 2001 as well as in humans (Loimaranta et al 1999). The chemiluminescence-based respiratory burst assay is, therefore, a rapid method for analysing phagocytic activity (Lilius & Waris 1984).…”

Passive Immunity in Helicobacter -Challenged Neonatal Mice Conferred by Immunized Dams Lasts until Weaning

“…Since H. felis does not adhere to murine gastric cells, it is likely that antibodies interfere with motility and/or adhesion to mucus (4). Alternatively, colostral phagocytes might facilitate the clearance of H. felis by internalizing and degrading secretory IgA-opsonized bacteria as reported for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in infected newborns (13). Whether milk phagocytes express the recently discovered Fc ␣/ receptor (17) and whether such a mechanism plays a role in the clearance of Helicobacter in mouse pups remain to be documented.…”

Dietary administration of Zooshikella sp. enhance the innate immune response and disease resistance of Paralichthys olivaceus against Sreptococcus iniae

“…In humans certain probiotic bacteria are able to stimulate phagocytic activity [45] and complement receptor expression [46]. The respiratory activity correlates well with phagocytosis of bacteria in fish [47e49] as well as in humans [49]. In our experiments a high enriched Zooshikella in the diet was able to significantly enhance the phagocytic activity of leukocytes in infected olive flounder only after 4th week.…”