Metal complexes of lactoferrin and their effect on the intracellular multiplication of Legionella pneumophila

The action of bovine lactoferrin saturated with iron, zinc and manganese on the intracellular multiplication of Legionella pneumophila in HeLa cells h as been tested. The results obtained showed that lactoferrin did not influe nce the invasive efficiency of Legionella. The intracellular multiplication of the bacterium was inhibited by apo-lactoferrin and by lactoferrin satur ated with manganese and zinc, whereas lactoferrin saturated with iron enhan ced the intracellular growth. Experiments in parallel were performed with i ron, manganese and zinc citrate to test the effect due to the metal ions al one. Even in this condition the addition of an iron chelate enhanced the mu ltiplication of Legionella while the manganese chelate produced a certain i nhibition.