5 replies to this topic

[Matt]

Effect of Lactoferrin in Combination with Penicillin on the Morphology and the Physiology of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Bovine Mastitis
M. S. Diarra 1, D. Petitclerc 1, and P. Lacasse 1

1 Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lennoxville, QC, Canada

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of bovine lactoferrin or lactoferricin in combination with penicillin G against Staphylococcus aureus. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of lactoferrin, lactoferricin, penicillin, and combinations of lactoferrin or lactoferricin with penicillin were determined for 15 S. aureus strains including several strains resistant to ß-lactam antibiotics. The fractional inhibitory concentration index indicated a synergistic effect between lactoferrin and penicillin. Combination of lactoferrin with penicillin increased the inhibitory activity of penicillin by two- to fourfold and reduced the growth rate in S. aureus strains tested, whereas the increase in the inhibitory activity of lactoferrin by penicillin was 16- to 64-fold. The addition of iron to the medium containing a combination of penicillin and lactoferrin had no effect on growth inhibition. Electron microscopy revealed that concentration below the minimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin induced important ultrastructure alterations, which were further enhanced by the presence of lactoferrin. When S. aureuscells were grown in the presence of a combination of penicillin and lactoferrin, changes in the protein profile of the bacteria, including the disappearance of several protein bands due to the presence of lactoferrin, were observed. These data suggest that bovine lactoferrin or lactoferricin in combination with ß-lactam antibiotics can increase the antibacterial activity of these antibiotics against S. aureus resistant to antibiotics.

Synergistic effect of lactoferricin/amoxicillin associations against ``two canine'' amoxicillin-resistant Staphylococcus intermedius strains

Abstract number: 1733_200

Butty P., Manco B., Florent L.

Objectives: The bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of lactoferricin/amoxicillin combinations against two S. intermedius strains (00-A519 and 00–5191) isolated from a dog infected by pyoderma and resistant to amoxicillin were compared to the effect of lactoferrin/amoxicillin combinations. The synergistic, addition or antagonistic activity was determined by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. The FIC-index value related to synergism must be 0.5 or less when the concentration for each antimicrobial and for the most favourable point is at least 4 times below the MIC obtained for each antimicrobial used alone.

Methods: Checkerboard array technique in liquid medium was used to assess the bacteriostatic activity of these combinations. The bactericidal activity was tested by sub-cultures on agar free-drug medium from the combination inhibitory concentrations. The concentrations tested for each antimicrobial were ranged from five dilutions below the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to twice the MIC for amoxicillin and to the maximum possible concentration for lactoferricin and lactoferrin depending of their respective solubility.

Results: The tested strains showed a lactoferricin MIC of 1,280 mg/mL, a lactoferrin MIC equal to 51,200 mg/mL and an amoxicillin MIC ranging from 64–512 mg/mL. Lactoferricin/amoxicillin combinations showed synergic effect with FIC-index between 0.16 and 0.27 and amoxicillin MIC was reduced to 8 mg/mL. Concerning the lactoferrin/amoxicillin combinations, the synergistic effect was observed with FIC-index equal to 0.25. The respective concentrations of the lactoferricin/amoxicillin and lactoferrin/amoxicillin combinations showing the bacteriostatic effect correspond also to a bactericidal effect.

Conclusion: Considering that lactoferricin represents the purified active fraction of the lactoferrin in our approach, lactoferricin could be a good alternative to maximise the antibacterial activity of amoxicillin against emerging antibioresistant strains of canine S. intermedius.

[shamus]

Who would've thought.


This thread should come with the obvious disclaimer; don't take probiotics & antibiotics within 2 hours of each other.

[Matt]

Well the thread isn't about probiotics... and many people probably don't know this either. I have never seen it used in combination in clinical practice...


LEF have a good report on Lactoferrin, worth a look!
http://www.lef.org/m...port_lacto.html

Edited by Matt, 27 March 2008 - 07:47 AM.

[tpower]

I'm confused about something. Since lactoferrin is a protein, shouldn't it get digested by the enzymes in our mouth, stomach, and duodenum? If so, how come there are still people selling lactoferrin and touting its immunostimulating effects? That's kind of unethical, if you ask me. The only effect I can see happening is if the lactoferrin somehow survives the flood of bodily enzymes, releases its iron (not necessary for apolactoferrin), then binds some kind of metal that's not conducive to our health (heavy metals maybe?). I'm kind of pissed off cuz I just bought 3 apolactoferrins from LEF, and they're probably not gonna have any immunomodulating effects. Darn.

[sentrysnipe]

What about Lactoferrin alone?

http://www.sciencedi...68c8901dbf88fd6

So according to this study lactoferrin is good enough sans penicillin?

[Lufega]

Seems like it has some effect against Epstein barr virus infection.

This study was posted by cnorwood in another thread. Which got me thinking about EBV.

Antiviral activities of lactoferrin.

van der Strate BW, Beljaars L, Molema G, Harmsen MC, Meijer DK.
Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Delivery, Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE), A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. b.w.a.van.der.strate@path.azg.nl
Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron binding glycoprotein that is present in several mucosal secretions. Many biological functions have been ascribed to LF. One of the functions of LF is the transport of metals, but LF is also an important component of the non-specific immune system, since LF has antimicrobial properties against bacteria, fungi and several viruses. This review gives an overview of the present knowledge about the antiviral activities and, when possible, the antiviral modes of action of this protein. Lactoferrin displays antiviral activity against both DNA- and RNA-viruses, including rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, herpes viruses and HIV. The antiviral effect of LF lies in the early phase of infection. Lactoferrin prevents entry of virus in the host cell, either by blocking cellular receptors, or by direct binding to the virus particles.

I searched Lactoferrin and EBv and found this.

Causes for massive bacterial colonization on mucosal membranes during infectious mononucleosis: implications for acute otitis media.

Stenfors LE, Bye HM, Räisänen S.
Department of Otolaryngology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, N-9037, Tromso, Norway. larseric@fagmed.uit.no
OBJECTIVE: A common complication of virus-induced upper respiratory tract infections is acute otitis media caused by bacterial pathogens. Simultaneously, increased bacterial colonization in the nasopharynx occurs. Our intention in this study was to identify the causes of this increased colonization of bacteria by evaluating their coating with the antibacterial substances lysozyme, lactoferrin and immunoglobulins IgG, S-IgA and IgM and their ability to penetrate epithelial cells during infectious mononucleosis (IM) caused by Epstein-Barr virus. METHODS: Cellular samples were collected from the oropharynx of 21 patients (16 males, five females; age range 10-21 years) with current IM. An immunocytochemical assay using gold-labelled antiserum to human lysozyme, lactoferrin, IgG, S-IgA and IgM followed by gold particle and epithelial cell tracing in the transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: A significant reduction in bacterial coating with IgG (P<0.05) and S-IgA (P<0.01) was noted, whereas there was a significant increase in coating with lactoferrin (P<0.01) and IgM (P<0.01). No significant change in lysozyme coating of the bacteria was noted, compared with healthy controls. Bacterial penetration into epithelial cells was seen particularly in patients culture-positive for beta-haemolytic streptococci. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced bacterial coating with IgG and S-IgA immunoglobulins, combined with bacterial penetration into epithelial cells, may exacerbate the bacterial colonization on oropharyngeal mucosal membranes observed during IM.