title: Lactoferrin as a natural regimen for selective decontamination of the digestive tract: recombinant porcine lactoferrin expressed in the milk of transgenic mice protects neonates from pathogenic challenge in the gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nosocomial infection with antibiotic-resistant strains is a major threat to critical care medicine. Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) is one of the strategies used to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis in critically ill patients. In the present study, we performed pathogenic challenges of the digestive tract in a transgenic milk-fed animal model to test whether porcine lactoferrin (pLF) is an effective SDD regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transgenic mice expressing recombinant pLF in their milk at a mean+/-SD concentration of 120+/-13.6 mg/L during the lactation stage fed normal CD-1 mice pups for 4 weeks. The pups were subsequently challenged with pathogenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control groups fed wild-type (normal) milk, the groups fed pLF-enriched milk demonstrated statistically significant improvements in weight gain; lower bacterial numbers in intestinal fluid, blood, and liver; healthier microvilli in the small intestine; and alveoli in the lungs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that oral administration of pLF-enriched milk to mice led to broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in the digestive tract and protected the mucosa of the small intestine from injury, implying that pLF can be used as an effective SDD regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Chien-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kowit-Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Tung-Chou
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chih-Jie
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ming-Fong
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chun-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Hsiao-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chuan-Mu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001835:Body Weight; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007774:Lactation; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007781:Lactoferrin