Use of Immunoglobulin Enriched Bovine Colostrum against Oral Challenge with Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Mice

Abstract

An immunoglobulin enriched bovine colostrum preparation, IMMULAC™ (New Zealand Dairy Group, Cambridge, New Zealand), contains antibodies against various bacterial antigens. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of a commercial bovine colostrum preparation against infections with enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 in a murine model. Balb/c mice were given drinking water containing streptomycin for 3 days before and following oral challenge with streptomycin‐resistant EHEC O157:H7 strain (O157‐SMR). In mice pretreated with streptomycin, EHEC O157:H7 maintained stable levels of bacterial colonization in the intestines for the 3‐week experimental time period. Oral administration of colostrum resulted in rapid decrease in the bacteria numbers compared with administration of skim‐milk. Colostrum showed no direct in vitro bactericidal properties against either EHEC O157:H7. When sections prepared from cecum walls of streptomycin‐pretreated mice were incubated in vitro with EHEC O157:H7, the colostrum significantly prevented the attachment of the organisms to the sections when compared with skim‐milk. These results indicate that oral administration of bovine colostrum effectively protects mice against food‐borne infections by inhibiting bacterial attachment to the intestinal mucous membrane, colonization and growth in the intestinal tract.

Bacterial Ghosts as an Oral Vaccine: a Single Dose of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Bacterial Ghosts Protects Mice against Lethal Challenge

“…Bacterial ghosts provide all surface antigens in their natural conformations (12,20), and because of the induced immune response after immunization with EHEC O157:H7 ghosts, it can be assumed that the adherence of the challenge bacteria to the target cells (16,29,31) has been hampered by the induction of antibodies against surface antigens. Antibodies against surface antigens, like intimin, EspA, EspB, Tir, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were previously detected in humans after EHEC infections (6,29).…”

“…The inclusion of an EHEC vaccine into a combination with other diarrheal vaccines for humans would be of great benefit to counter bioterrorism and to help prevent the spread of the disease in children and the elderly. Presently, several candidate vaccines against EHEC are under development (7,52) and have been tested in mouse models (16,23,28,44). It is believed that a vaccine that inhibits the organism from colonizing the intestinal tracts of both cattle and humans reflects the most promising way to prevent the infection (16,29,31).…”

“…Presently, several candidate vaccines against EHEC are under development (7,52) and have been tested in mouse models (16,23,28,44). It is believed that a vaccine that inhibits the organism from colonizing the intestinal tracts of both cattle and humans reflects the most promising way to prevent the infection (16,29,31). To inhibit the adherence of the pathogen to the mucosa, a vaccine that includes all important antigenic cell surface factors is needed (6,29).…”

Neutralizing activity of bovine colostral antibody against verotoxin derived from enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in mice

“…Funatogawa et al 27 reported that immunoglobulinenriched bovine colostrum exhibited efficacy against E. coli O157:H7 by inhibiting attachment to the intestinal mucous membrane. VT levels in sera and in feces were not estimated in this study, and nor were the mechanisms by which this antibody reduces VT toxicity.…”

Ellagitannin from Quercus infectoria eradicates intestinal colonization and prevents renal injuries in mice infected with Escherichia coli O157 : H7

“…In addition, the overuse of antibiotics has already given rise to antibiotic-resistant strains during the past decades (Wilkerson et al, 2004;Fincher et al, 2009). Hence, there is growing interest in developing new alternatives to control STEC O157 : H7 infections (Isogai et al, 1998;Sugita-Konishi et al, 1999;Funatogawa et al, 2002;Gagnon et al, 2006;Babiuk et al, 2008;Wu et al, 2009).…”