Author:
Arnold R R,Russell J E,Champion W J,Gauthier J J
Abstract
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that is bactericidal against Streptococcus mutans and several other microorganisms. In this study, the influence of several physical conditions as well as the metabolic state of S. mutans on lactoferrin susceptibility were investigated. After exposure to lactoferrin, a 15-min lag period occurred before the initiation of killing, indicating that a two-step process is involved in lactoferrin killing. Cultures harvested during the early exponential phase were very sensitive to lactoferrin, whereas cultures harvested in the early stationary phase were markedly more resistant. The rate of killing was dependent on temperature; there was no loss of viability at 2 degrees C. Killing occurred at pH 5.0 to 6.0 in water and 20 mM glycine, but did not occur at any pH in 50 mM sodium phosphate or N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer. Addition of exogenous ferrous or ferric ions did not reverse or prevent lactoferrin killing, nor did addition of 1 mM magnesium chloride.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Immunology,Microbiology,Parasitology
Reference13 articles.
1. Bactericidal activity of human lactoferrin: sensitivity of a variety of microorganisms;Arnold R. R.;Infect. Immun.,1980
2. A bactericidal effect for human lactoferrin;Arnold R. R.;Science,1977
3. Arnold R. R. J. Russell W. J. Champion M. Brewer and J. J. Gauthier. 1981. Bactericidal activity of human lactoferrin: differentiation from the stasis due to iron deprivation. Infect. Immun. in press.
4. Crystallographic data for human lactoferrin;Baker E. N.;J. Mol. Biol.,1977
5. The role of lactoferrin in the bactericidal function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes;Bullen J. J.;Immunology,1979
Cited by
124 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献