Summary
The antimicrobial spectrum of lactoferrin (Lf) includes statsis, cidal, cationic, phagocytic, and colonization/decolonization effects on susceptible microorganisms. The selective interaction of Lf with microbial surface seems to play an essential role in regulating many of these events. Lf bound to specific outer membrane (OM) pore-forming proteins (porins) of various enteric bacteria. The magnitude of Lf-microbe interaction showed a direct relationship with the bacterial susceptibility to Lf. Although most bacteria expressed porins, certain strains showed resistance to Lf effects and did not demonstrate specific Lf binding. This Lf “resistance” was attributed to the shielding of porin accessibility by the carbohydrate O-antigenic chains of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mutants with progressive deletions in O-side-chain and core polysaccharide demonstrated increased Lf binding and progressive susceptibility to Lf effects. Lf interaction with bacterial surface affected the porin channels in the OM and potentiated the diffusion of antibiotics. Lf also affected the intestinal colonization of Escherichia coli. Lf inhibited the expression of various bacterial fimbriae and also blocked bacterial interaction with host subepithelial matrix components, such as fibronectin, fibrinogen, various collagens, and laminin. Our studies suggested that specific interaction with cell target involved the anion-binding ligands of Lf, followed by coordinate binding and oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ on bacterial surface. This metal transition in the presence of suitable oxygen species seems to fulfill the necessary components of Haber-Weiss reaction and promote a targeted radical generation, with iron (Fe) serving as the Lf prosthetic group on the bacterial surface.
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Naidu, A.S., Arnold, R.R. (1997). Influence of Lactoferrin on Host-Microbe Interactions. In: Hutchens, T.W., Lönnerdal, B. (eds) Lactoferrin. Experimental Biology and Medicine, vol 28. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3956-7_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3956-7_17
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