title: Inhibitory effect of lactoferrin on in vitro growth of Babesia caballi.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan. ikadai@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikadai
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Nona
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shibahara
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuu
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Kei-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimazaki
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oyamada
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007781:Lactoferrin