| Abstract: | To investigate a potential new treatment forgastric Helicobacter pylori infection, we have examinedthe use of the natural antibiotic lactoferrin, found inbovine milk, for activity against Helicobacter species both in vitro and in vivo. Lactoferrinwas bacteriostatic to H. pylori when cultured atconcentrations  0.5 mg/ml. Growth of H. pylori wasnot inhibited by another milk constituent, lysozyme, or by a metabolite of lactoferrin, lactoferricinB, but growth was inhibited by the iron chelatordeferoxamine mesylate. Lactoferrin inhibition of growthcould be reversed by addition of excess iron to the medium. Lactoferrin in retail dairy milk wasfound to be more stable intragastrically thanunbuffered, purified lactoferrin. Treatment of H.felis-infected mice with lactoferrin partially reversedmucosal disease manifestations. It is concluded thatbovine lactoferrin has significant antimicrobialactivity against Helicobacter species in vitro and invivo. Bovine lactoferrin should be further investigated for possible use in H. pylori infections inman. |
