title: Bovine natural antibodies in antibody-dependent bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium and risk of mastitis.
abstract: Natural antibodies (NAbs) are mostly IgM antibodies produced without antigenic stimulation and serve as a first line of defence of the immune system. As both natural and specific antibodies are present in animals, NAbs are studied by determining the IgM response to naïve antigens like keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). In this study, we selected cows based on high and low anti-KLH IgM titers, reflecting high and low NAb titers, and determined if the anti-KLH IgM titers were indicative for the recognition of common microbial structures (lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid and peptidoglycan) and intact bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium). Sera with high NAbs titers showed more IgM and IgG binding to common microbial structures and S. Typhimurium bacteria than sera with low NAbs titers. The same association was observed for IgM binding to E. coli, but not for IgG binding to E. coli. Antibody-mediated complement killing of E. coli and S. Typhimurium in a newly developed bactericidal test was equal between high and low NAb cows. However, relating the outcome of the bactericidal test to the development of mastitis within one and even four years after sampling showed a significant negative correlation implying cows that were less potent in bacterial killing had a higher chance on developing mastitis. In conclusion, sera with high NAbs titers had more antibodies binding to common microbial structures and intact bacteria. Furthermore, the bactericidal test might provide a useful prognostic tool for the development of mastitis.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, Wageningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: christine.vanaltena@wur.nl.
authors.forename: S E C
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: van Altena
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Peen
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: van der Linden
authors.affiliation: Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Parmentier
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: H F J
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Savelkoul
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Tijhaar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D002417:Cattle; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000276:immunology*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C009900:lipoteichoic acid; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin
keywords: Antibody-mediated complement killing; Dairy cattle; Natural antibodies