Ability of lactoferrin to promote the growth of Bifidobacterium spp. in vitro is independent of receptor binding capacity and iron saturation level.

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding protein which has been shown to inhibit the growth of various bacterial pathogens and promote the growth of anaerobic bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium in vitro. The present study was designed to investigate whether the bifidobacteria growth promotion activity of Lf is correlated with either the binding of Lf to bifidobacterial cells or the iron saturation of Lf. Bovine Lf (bLf) from mature milk increased the growth of B.

Evaluation of single-cell sources of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid: 3-month rat oral safety study with an in utero phase.

Owing to the presence of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) in human milk and their important biological function, several authorities recommend that they be added to infant formulas. This study assessed the safety of an algal oil rich in DHA and a fungal oil rich in ARA, blended to provide a DHA to ARA ratio similar to human milk. The oil blend was incorporated into diets and fed to rats such that they received 3, 11 and 22 times the anticipated infant exposure to DHA and ARA.

Evaluation of single cell sources of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid: a 4-week oral safety study in rats.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are secreted in human milk and consumed by the nursing neonate but are not present in infant formulas currently available in the US. Supplementation of formulas with DHA and ARA may be particularly important for premature infants, who have less accretion of these fatty acids in utero than term infants. Some experts suggest that DHA and ARA should be added to infant formulas.

Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to bactericidal properties of medium-chain monoglycerides and free fatty acids.

Previous studies have shown that various short- and medium-chain free fatty acids (FFAs) and their corresponding monoacylglycerol esters (MGs) have antibacterial activity in vitro against primarily gram-positive bacteria. More recent studies have also shown that the growth of Helicobacter spp. is inhibited by linoleic acid and arachidonic acid.

Reduction in virus-neutralizing activity of a bovine colostrum immunoglobulin concentrate by gastric acid and digestive enzymes.

Bovine milk immunoglobulin concentrates have been proposed for inducing passive immunity against various enteric pathogens. In vitro digestion studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of gastrointestinal secretions on the virus-neutralizing activity of a concentrate prepared from the colostrum of cows that were immunized with rotavirus. The proteolytic activity of human gastric and duodenal fluid specimens was used to design a two-stage in vitro digestion model with commercial enzymes for estimating the individual impact of pepsin, gastric acid, and select pancreatic enzymes on antirotavirus activity in bovine milk immunoglobulin concentrates.

Influence of orally administered epidermal growth factor on normal and damaged intestinal mucosa in rats.

The effect of orally administered epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the mucosal growth and hydrolase activity of normal and damaged small intestine was examined in rats. Adult rats fed EGF daily at 10 times the estimated daily intake of EGF from human milk showed increases in specific activity but not total activity of various brush-border hydrolases with unaffected mucosal protein content and villus-to-crypt ratios through day 9. Ingestion of EGF for 13 days resulted in significant decreases in mucosal protein content without changes in villus height or hydrolase activity.

Evaluation of two iron-fortified, milk-based formulas during infancy.

Objective: Compare milk-based, iron-fortified formulas containing 7.4 and 12.7 mg/L iron and breast-feeding during the first year of life.

Nonclinical testing of formulas containing hydrolyzed milk protein.

The allergenic potential of cow milk-based infant formula can be reduced by protein hydrolysis. Controlled clinical studies are necessary to demonstrate conclusively the biologic efficacy of these formulations in human beings. Nonclinical testing programs provide manufacturers with the opportunity to characterize various molecular and immunologic properties of these hydrolysates and their corresponding final product forms.

Effects of prolonged exposure to partially hydrolyzed milk protein.

Formulas containing proteins with reduced potential to sensitize might be effective in reducing the risk of atopic disease, but such products should be nutritionally adequate. We designed a randomized, double-blind study to evaluate nutritional adequacy and sensitization potential of a formula containing partially hydrolyzed whey-predominant milk proteins. Subjects were term infants enrolled at birth.

Food-processing approaches to altering allergenic potential of milk-based formula.

All the major cow milk proteins in their native states are potential allergens in infants with milk allergy. Heat treatment can reduce the antigenicity of whey proteins considerably, but it has virtually no effect on the antigenicity of casein. Infants allergic to milk still react to heat-denatured whey proteins.

Response of colostrum-deprived cynomolgus monkeys to intragastric challenge exposure with simian rotavirus strain SA11.

The infectivity and pathogenic potential of a cell culture-adapted simian rotavirus was evaluated in colostrum-deprived newborn and infant cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Intragastric challenge exposure with the simian rotavirus strain SA11 on postpartum day 2 induced diarrhea in 5 of 5 colostrum-deprived newborn monkeys. Compared with sham-inoculated controls, 3 of the 5 inoculated monkeys also manifested reduced body weight gain during the initial 5 days after challenge exposure.

Selenium in pediatric nutrition.

Se is an essential nutrient that provides antioxidant protection in concert with vitamin E. Several selenoproteins have been identified, but only one, SeGSHpx, has a known function, that of neutralizing toxic hydroperoxides. Plasma Se concentration, being responsive to changes in Se intake, is the most practical and widely used measure of nutritional Se status.

Response of bifidobacterium species to growth promoters in human and cow milk.

We used an in vitro assay to study and compare the growth-promotional activity of protein and nonprotein components in human milk (HM) and cow milk (CM) samples for infant strains of Bifidobacterium species. HM samples varied considerably in growth-promotion activity for Bifidobacterium bifidum var pennsylvanicus, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium breve. Pooled CM samples showed similar but less variable levels of activity when compared with HM samples.

Mixed lymphocyte reactivity against normal cells by splenic lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice : ii. Studies of autoimmune-like activity in completely syngeneic and semisyngeneic systems.

A possible consequence of an antilymphocytic autoimmune process would be serious impairment of an animal's ability to destroy tumor cells. One measure of autoimmune reactivity of this type would be the demonstration of cellular immune responsiveness by cells from tumor-bearing mice against syngeneic normal cells. These experiments demonstrate that spleen cells from mice bearing a lymphocytic leukemia of identical histocompatability type as the host mounted a vigorous immune response against normal syngeneic cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR).

Mixed lymphocyte reactivity against normal cells by splenic lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice : I. Studies of vigorous immune responsiveness induced in f(1) mice by parental strain tumor cells.

The establishment of an intimate connection between autoimmunity and neoplasia would require the demonstration of an experimentally induced, tumor-dependent autoimmune process. For this reason, we have studied cellular immune reactions of mice bearing a transplantable leukemia (L1210). Spleen cells from hybrid BDF(1) mice bearing the L1210 tumor (BDFt) reacted vigorously in mixed lymphocyte culture with mitomycin-treated, normal spleen cells from mice of the parental strain from which the L1210 tumor was derived (DBA/2).

Intracellular Loss of Potassium in Candida albicans After Exposure to Polyene Antifungal Antibiotics.

Eleven antifungal antibiotics, representing three broad macrolide classes, were studied in Candida albicans for their effect on growth and on the fate of intracellular K. Marked differences were observed among these antibiotics between their growth-inhibitory activities and their adverse effects on the integrity of the cellular membrane as evidenced by loss of K. Antibiotics most active in inhibiting growth of C.

REVERSAL OF d-CYCLOSERINE INHIBITION OF BACTERIAL GROWTH BY ALANINE.

Zygmunt, Walter A. (Mead Johnson & Co., Evansville, Ind.

Oxytetracycline Formation by Streptomyces rimosus in Chemically Defined Media.

Details in the fermentation of oxytetracycline in a synthetic medium with Streptomyces rimosus have been presented. In these studies, an organic nitrogen source was shown to be essential for the production of significant amounts of antibiotic activity. Of the amino acids tested, aspartic acid, proline, threonine, valine, and beta-alanine were utilized well for both growth and antibiotic production.