title: Growth of Haemophilus influenzae in human milk: synthesis, distribution, and activity of IgA protease as determined by study of iga+ and mutant iga- cells.
abstract: The nonencapsulated, IgA protease-positive Haemophilus influenzae strain Rd and serogroup b clinical isolates were found to proliferate in human milk. Growth did not require supplemental X and V factors. In milk, strain Rd synthesized IgA protease, but it was completely inhibited by antibody, so secretory IgA in milk cultures remained intact. Inhibition was largely attributable to IgA1 antibodies. Rd cells also aggregated during growth in milk and showed colony size variation, whereas a protease-negative mutant of Rd (Rd225DK) aggregated less and had uniform colony size. Like differences in protease inhibition, these differences in growth pattern were mediated by secretory IgA1. Thus, milk antibody not only inhibited the extracellular protease but also interacted directly with the enzyme precursor or related antigens on growing bacterial cells. This self-protective property of milk secretory IgA may be an important immunologic attribute for the upper respiratory mucosa of the infant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New England Medical Center Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Plaut
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grundy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009154:Mutation; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C021433:IgA-specific serine endopeptidase