Inhibitory effect of lactoferrin on in vitro growth of Babesia caballi.
Lactoferrin (LF) is an important biologic molecule with many functions, one of which is antimicrobial defense. We evaluated the growth-inhibiting effects of four types of LF (native LF, Fe(+3)-bound [holo] LF, Fe(+3)-free [apo] LF, and LF hydrolyzate) on the in vitro growth of Babesia caballi and B. equi. The growth of B. caballi was significantly suppressed in media containing apo LF, but was not inhibited in media containing native LF, holo LF, or LF hydrolyzate. The growth of B. equi was not inhibited by media containing native LF, holo LF, or apo LF. These data indicate that apo LF had the strongest inhibitory effect on B. caballi. This may have been caused by inactivation or inhibition of a growth factor in the culture medium.
Ikadai
Hiromi
H
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan. ikadai@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp
Tanaka
Tetsuya
T
Shibahara
Nona
N
Tanaka
Hiroko
H
Matsuu
Aya
A
Kudo
Noboru
N
Shimazaki
Kei-ichi
K
Igarashi
Ikuo
I
Oyamada
Takashi
T
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D006736:Horses / Q000469:parasitology; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007781:Lactoferrin