A bactericidal effect for human lactoferrin.
Streptococcus mutans and Vibrio cholerae, but not Escherichia coli, were killed by incubation with purified human apolactoferrin. Concentrations of lactoferrin below that necessary for total inhibition resulted in a marked reduction in viable colony-forming units. This bactericidal effect was contingent upon the metal-chelating properties of the lactoferrin molecule.
D001059:Apoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000187:drug effects*
D001059:Apoproteins; D002614:Chelating Agents; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D007501:Iron; D007781:Lactoferrin