Immunoglobulins in Milk from Cows Immunized with Oral Strains of Actinomyces, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Fusobacterium

Abstract

Immunization of pregnant cows with bacteria leads to the presence of high concentrations of specific antibodies in colostrum and milk. A total of 14 cows was immunized with single strains of heat-killed oral bacteria or pools of strains of Actinomyces, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium. Two cows were treated with adjuvant alone. The mean percentages of IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA in all of the milks were 83.8, 3.8, 9.3, and 3.1, respectively. ELISA and whole cell agglutination assays demonstrated high titers in the milks from the cows immunized with either individual strains or the bacterial pools. The highest titers determined by ELISA belonged to the IgG1 isotype and in several milks were 64-fold greater than titers in milk from cows treated with adjuvant alone. The concentrations of all antibodies and the titers determined by ELISA and whole cell agglutination assays markedly decreased from the first to the sixth milkings. The functional specificity of the antibodies was demonstrated by agglutination tests against a wide range of bacteria including members of Actinomyces, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Streptococcus, Eubacterium, Propionibacterium, Peptostreptococcus, Bacteroides, Actinobacillus, Haemophilus, Capnocytophaga, and Wolinella. Minimal cross-reactions with bacteria in other genera were observed with all of the milks. High-titer milk preparations have been obtained from immunized cows, and the capacity of the bovine antibodies to agglutinate target bacteria indicates their potential usefulness in oral passive immunization studies.

Milk immunoglobulins and complement factors

“…E. coli, Salmonella enteriditis, S. typhimurium and Shigella flexneri (Losso et al 1993). Further, natural antibodies to a colonisation factor antigen (CFA-1) of human enterotoxigenic E. coli have been found in normal colostrum and milk (Facon et al 1995).The specific antibodies in the colostrum of cows immunised with human pathogens have also been found to exert a synergistic effect on the activity of nonspecific antimicrobial factors such as lactoferrin and lysozyme (Takahashi et al 1992) as well as lactoperoxidase (Loimaranta et al 1998b).…”

Taxonomy, biology, and periodontal aspects of Fusobacterium nucleatum.

“…Immunization of pregnant cows with F. nucleatum leads to the presence of high concentrations of specific antibodies in milk (280). High-titer milk preparations have been obtained from immunized cows, and the ability of the bovine antibodies to agglutinate target bacteria has been proposed for use in oral passive immunization studies.…”

Bovine Coronavirus Immune Milk Against COVID-19

“…Hyperimmune cow’s milk has been used against human infections for a long time ( 37 , 38 ). Raw and pasteurized milk can contain specific antibodies against different human pathogens ( 39 ), exerting a synergistic effect on the activity of nonspecific antimicrobial factors ( 40 , 41 ). Bovine IgG is functionally active throughout the gastrointestinal tract and can prevent digestive and respiratory tract infections in humans ( 42 ).…”