Investigating the antimicrobial potential of bovine lactoferrin against the neonatal pathogen, Staphylococcus capitis

Abstract

Lactoferrin is an antimicrobial glycoprotein that demonstrates a broad-spectrum of activity against a wide variety of clinical pathogens. This study investigated the potential of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) against multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus capitis (S. capitis) strains. Growth curve analysis and time-kill curves demonstrated that at 750 µg ml−1 lactoferrin significantly inhibited (50.6%, p < 0.05) the growth of most isolates tested (90%), and this effect was based on a bacteriostatic mechanism. At the same concentration bLf also significantly inhibited (30%, p < 0.05) biofilm formation in 40% of strains tested. Combinations of bLf with selected antibiotics were assessed for enhanced antimicrobial activity using growth curves. BLf combined with β-lactam antibiotics reduced the growth of S. capitis strains, however, the effects were not significant. BLf displays antimicrobial effects against multi-drug resistant S. capitis isolates, but with strain-specific effects.