Development of New Strategy for Non-Antibiotic Therapy: Bovine Lactoferrin Has a Potent Antimicrobial and Immunomodulator Effects

Abstract

The antibiotic therapy has many problems, such as antibiotics resistance, hypersensitivity, direct toxicity, antibioticinduced immunosuppresion and super-infections. This is highlighting the need for a new strategy for non-antibiotic therapy through the use of novel immunomodulators as naturally released ones (Lactoferrin). The present study investigates the potential of bovine lactoferrin (bLf), isolated from bovine milk whey, to prevent Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aerogenosa) growth and then evaluates its immunomodulator effect. First, bLf isolation was attempted from bovine milk whey using a cation exchange chromatography by SP-Sepharose. Second, the antimicrobial activity assays were trailed to study the antimicrobial activity of bLf. Finally, the immune effect of bLf was studied by lymphocyte transformation test. It was found that bLf was separated around molecular weight of 80 kDa and showed significant inhibitory effect against E. coli followed by P. aeruginosa, S. agalactiae and S. aureus. bLf increased lymphocyte transformations mean values in a dose dependant manner. The highest transformations mean value was determined at 50 µg/mL. In conclusion, these results suggest that bLf is a potent natural antimicrobials and immunomodulator agent.

Control of Bovine Mastitis: Old and Recent Therapeutic Approaches

“…Hafez et al also isolated lactoferrin from bovine milk whey and tested its antimicrobial potential against S. aureus, E. coli, S. agalactiae, and P. aeruginosa. Lactoferrin showed a significant inhibitory effect against all isolates tested being more effective against E. coli and less effective against S. aureus [22]. In general, their results are in accordance with the work of Kutila et al [26] and also suggest the possible use of lactoferrin as antimicrobial and immunomodulator agent.…”

Bovine mastitis: risk factors, therapeutic strategies, and alternative treatments — A review

“…On the contrary, immunomodulators naturally produced by mammals, such as lactoferrin, were preferred as potential non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents for treatment and prevention of bovine mastitis [1]. Lactoferrin is a multi-functional, iron-chelating glycoprotein found in milk, colostrum, and other exocrine secretions such as saliva and tears [105]. As an immunomodulator, it plays an important role in the innate immune system involving opsonization of microorganism for phagocytosis [46].…”

“…agalactiae , and Staph. aureus , attributable especially to its iron-chelating ability, which can inhibit biofilm production through iron sequestration [ 105 ].…”

The Role of Streptococcus spp. in Bovine Mastitis

“…Animal-derived antimicrobials are mostly immunomodulatory proteins produced by mammals. Lactoferrin and β-Lactoglobulin are two antimicrobial proteins present in milk, which showed significant inhibitory effect against S. agalactiae and S. uberis in vitro [85,86]. Lysozyme is an animal protein contained in milk, saliva, serum, and eggs, which has a hydrolyzing effect on the peptidoglycan part of bacterial cell wall.…”