Invivoantimicrobial and antiviral activity of components in bovine milk and colostrum involved in non-specific defence

Abstract

The in vivo evidence of the antimicrobial and antiviral activity of bovine milk and colostrum derived components are reviewed with special emphasis on lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase. Their mode of action and the rationale for their application in efficacy trials with rodents, farm animals, fish and humans, to give protection against infectious agents, are described. A distinction is made between efficacy obtained by oral and non-oral administration of these non-specific defence factors which can be commercially applied in large quantities due to major achievements in dairy technology. From the in vivo studies one can infer that lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase are very promising, naturally occurring antimicrobials for use in fish farming, husbandry, oral hygiene and functional foods. Other promising milk-derived compounds include lipids, from which anti-infective degradation products are generated during digestion, and antimicrobial peptides hidden in the casein molecules.

E. coliproteolytic activity in milk and casein breakdown

“…Bacterial growth in milk in vitro is different from growth in the udder quarter of a cow. In vivo milk contains a variety of antibacterial factors such as phagocytic cells, immunoglobulins, lactoperoxydase and lactoferrin, suggesting that bacterial growth in milk is inhibited [29].…”

Health Benefits of Whey: A Brief Review

“…Whey protein contains many of the same components found in human breast milk and for this reason, is a key ingredient in a wide variety of infant formulas, including those for premature infants (Keri, 2004 It is well accepted that nursing infants have a much richer gut flora than do bottle-fed infants, particularly with Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli (Walzem, 2002). Such flora is normally associated with an increased resistance to colonization of the digestive tract with pathogenic bacteria ( Van et al, 2000). In a study by Roberts et al (1992) it was determined that the addition of lactoferrin to a feeding formula increased levels of Bifidobacteria in bottlefed babies.…”

Broad Neutralizing Antibodies to HIV Env and Other Complex Viral Antigens from Vaccinated Cows

“…New born calves must feed on colostrum for continuing health and viability. Even human children can use cow or buffalo colostrum to attain health benefits [18,19]. Bovine colostrum contains 3 major groups of components: nutritional components [20], immune factors [21] and growth factors [22].…”

“…These components control the pathogens by destroying their cell membranes or blocking the binding sites on the intestinal wall [19,23]. The cows can be vaccinated against a specific disease pathogen, which results in the production of antigen-specific antibodies and secretion in colostrum and milk.…”