Antimicrobial properties of milk: dependence on presence of xanthine oxidase and nitrite.
Human and bovine milk inhibited the metabolic activity of Escherichia coli, as shown by luminescence monitoring of constructs expressing the luxCDABE genes. Inhibition was dependent on both xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and on the presence of nitrite, implying that XO-generated nitric oxide functions as an antibacterial agent.
Hancock
John T
JT
Centre for Research in Biomedicine, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom. john.hancock@uwe.ac.uk
Salisbury
Vyv
V
Ovejero-Boglione
Maria Cristina
MC
Cherry
Robert
R
Hoare
Catherine
C
Eisenthal
Robert
R
Harrison
Roger
R
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase