Binding of lactoferrin and free secretory component to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

The ability of two glycoproteins of human milk, lactoferrin and free secret ory component, to bind to Escherichia coli colonization factors (CFAs) was investigated using immunocytochemistry assays of enriched fimbrial extracts . The results revealed that lactoferrin binds to fimbrial CFA I adhesin but not to CFA II adhesin (CS1 and CS3), while free secretory component intera cts with both CFA I and CFA II adhesins. Our data indicate that lactoferrin and free secretory component, which are very abundant proteins of human mi lk, could play an important role against infant enteric disease by blocking bacterial adhesion. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiological Societ ies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.