Colostrum Research Articles

The Effect of Using Bovine Colostrum and Probiotics on Performance, Egg Traits, Blood Biochemical and Antioxidant Status of Laying Japanese Quails.

The present paper aims to evaluate the effect of different levels of bovine colostrum and probiotic dietary supplementation on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails. For the trial, 240 laying quails, aged between 24 weeks and 30 weeks, were involved in a 3 × 2 factorial experimental design, with 3 levels of bovine fresh colostrum (0, 2, and 4 percent of the total ratio) and 2 levels of probiotics (0 and 0.01 percent of the total ratio) administration. The colostrum supplementation improved the egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status (p < 0.01). Probiotics used without colostrum did not affect the investigated traits of laying Japanese quails (p > 0.05), but a synergistic effect was observed when combined with colostrum. The overall results recommended that using 4% of bovine colostrum in laying Japanese quails, with the addition of 0.01% of probiotic feed additive results in positive effects on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails in the late laying period.

Bovine colostrum to supplement the first feeding of very preterm infants: The PreColos randomized controlled trial

Gut immaturity leads to feeding difficulties in very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation at birth). Maternal milk (MM) is the optimal diet but often absent or insufficient. We hypothesized that bovine colostrum (BC), rich in protein and bioactive components, improves enteral feeding progression, relative to preterm formula (PF), when supplemented to MM. Aim of the study is to determine whether BC supplementation to MM during the first 14 days of life shortens the time to full enteral feeding (120mL/kg/d, TFF120). This was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial at seven hospitals in South China without access to human donor milk and with slow feeding progression. Infants were randomly assigned to receive BC or PF when MM was insufficient. Volume of BC was restricted by recommended protein intake (4-4.5g/kg/d). Primary outcome was TFF120. Feeding intolerance, growth, morbidities and blood parameters were recorded to assess safety. A total of 350 infants were recruited. BC supplementation had no effect on TFF120 in intention-to-treat analysis [n (BC)=171, n (PF)=179; adjusted hazard ratio, aHR: 0.82 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.06); P=0.13]. Body growth and morbidities did not differ, but more cases of periventricular leukomalacia were detected in the infants fed BC (5/155 vs. 0/181, P=0.06). Blood chemistry and hematology data were similar between the intervention groups. BC supplementation during the first two weeks of life did not reduce TFF120 and had only marginal effects on clinical variables. Clinical effects of BC supplementation on very preterm infants in the first weeks of life may depend on feeding regimen and remaining milk diet. http://www. gov: NCT03085277.

Bovine Colostrum: An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic against Diarrhoeal Infections: A Review

Diarrhoea is one of the top five causes of death among paediatric and geriatric population in India. Bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens contaminating the food and water, or even opportunistic commensal microbes can lead to diarrhoeal infections. A number of anti- infective and antiparasitic agents are available for treating these infections. However, they come along with their distinct side effects. Alternative systems of medicine suggest treatments that come from natural sources like plants, minerals and animals. Bovine colostrum is one such animal-derived product recommended by Ayurveda to boost immunity and treat infections in human beings. is a rich source of immunoglobulins such as IgG1, IgG2, IgA and IgM. These antibodies along with other immune factors such as lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, lysozymes, lactalbumins, oligosaccharides present in colostrum provide an excellent passive protection against infections of bacterial, viral and protozoal origin. A long track record of safe use and several in vitro, preclinical and clinical studies have established bovine colostrum as a safe and effective remedy in the prevention and treatment of diarrhoea. We present a mechanistic review of application of bovine colostrum against primary and secondary diarrhoeal infections.

Selected Nutrition and Management Strategies in Suckling Pigs to Improve Post-Weaning Outcomes.

Weaning is a critical period in a pig's life. Piglets are confronted with abrupt changes to their physical and social environment, as well as management and nutritional changes. Weaning has always been associated with a growth check and is frequently accompanied by post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets. However, rapid increases in litter size in the last decade have increased within-litter piglet weight variation, with piglets now generally lighter at weaning, making the challenges associated with weaning even greater. Many interventions can be employed during the suckling period to ease the weaning transition for piglets. Pre-weaning strategies such as supervised farrowing (assistance with suckling and oxytocin provision), the provision of pain relief to sows around farrowing, split-suckling, early oral supplementation with glucose, bovine colostrum, faecal microbiota transplantation, feed additives and solid and liquid creep feeding (milk and liquid feed) have all been investigated. The objective of these strategies is to stimulate earlier maturation of the digestive tract, improve immunity, reduce latency to the first feed post-weaning and increase early post-weaning feed intake and growth. This review focuses in particular on: (1) pain relief provision to sows around farrowing, (2)split-suckling of piglets, (3) pre-weaning provision of supplementary milk and/or liquid feed, (4) other strategies to stimulate earlier enzyme production (e.g., enzyme supplementation), (5) other nutritional strategies to promote improved gut structure and function (e.g., L-glutamine supplementation), and (6) other strategies to modulate gut microbiota (e.g., probiotics and prebiotics). Correctly implementing these strategies can, not only increase post-weaning growth and reduce mortality, but also maximise lifetime growth in pigs.

Analysis of Antibiotic-Resistant and Virulence Genes of Enterococcus Detected in Calf Colostrum-One Health Perspective.

Enterococci are considered among the most prevalent global multidrug-resistant microorganisms globally. Their dissemination is a global concern, particularly by food-producing animals for both animals and humans. The aim of this study was to identify the species and investigate the antibiotic resistance and virulence profile of Enterococcus in bovine colostrum. Out of 88 presumptive Enterococcus isolates, species identification and susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials were tested using the disk diffusion method. An analysis of the antibiotic resistance and virulence genes was performed on the most prevalent species, using specific PCR assays. Enterococcus faecalis (54.5%), E. faecium (14.8%) and E. gallinarum (6.8%) were the identified species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of E. gallinarum in bovine colostrum. The majority of the isolates showed resistance to quinupristin-dalfopristin (95.9%), erythromycin (80.7%), tetracycline (80.7%) and streptomycin (58%). Ninety-two percent of isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant. The most frequently detected resistance genes were tet(K) (61.1%), tet(M) (75.9%), tet(L) (90.7%), erm(B) (55.6%) and ant(6)-Ia (46.3%). The most prevalent virulence factors were cpd, esp, agg and cylLL. Enterococcus faecium showed a higher probability of carrying the erm(C), tet(M), ace and gel(E) genes (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that colostrum can constitute an important reservoir and vehicle for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes to the three niches included in a One Health perspective (humans, animals and the environment), highlighting the importance of hygiene sanitary measures to mitigate colostrum microbial contamination.

Characterization of lyophilized equine colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk secretion at birth and is indispensable for the equine newborn. In addition to being the only natural source of immunoglobulins (Igs) available, it has excellent nutritional importance in helping the gastrointestinal system's maturation. Thus, foals need to ingest maternal colostrum in the first hours of life to acquire immunity so that failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPTI) does not occur. The quality of the colostrum supplied to the animals must be evaluated, and innovation in its storage methods would greatly benefit management. Lyophilization is a differentiated process of dehydration that retains a large concentration of colostrum immunoglobulins. The only lyophilized colostrum for foals is based on bovine colostrum) This study aimed to compare the IgG concentration and the physicochemical characteristics of frozen equine colostrum after the lyophilization process. Thirty-one pregnant mares were used. Colostrum samples were collected manually from both mammary glands immediately after delivery. The udder was cleaned with 70% alcohol solution to avoid sample contamination. About 20 mL of colostrum were collected, and the first two jets were discarded. The IgG concentration of frozen and lyophilized colostrum was determined by the Simple Radial Immunodiffusion method (IDRS) and also, indirectly, by Brix refractometry. The samples' physical-chemical composition (pH, total protein (TP),fat, lactose, salts, total solids (TS), and density) was evaluated,and the lyophilized colostrum reconstitution test was performed. The ways of preserving colostrum were compared using a t-test at 5% probability. Pearson correlations were utilized between variables with Sisvar®, version 5.7 statistical software. No significant differences were seen in the measurements of IgG, fat, lactose, salts, TS, density, and pH before and after lyophilization. No difference was seen in the IgG concentration measured by IDRS (frozen 30.5 g/L vs lyophilized 28.5 g/L). A strong positive correlation was observed between colostrum density and IgG concentration by IDRS (r = 0.76) and between Brix and IgG concentration by IDRS (r= 0.77). In the reconstitution test, lyophilized colostrum was efficiently rehydrated in water, with total dilution, and remained stable. The results suggest that lyophilization can be an alternative for conservation of colostrum from mares, because it is a very efficient process for the retention of the physicochemical characteristics of the product, with no significant loss of IgG concentration. In addition, it is easy to reconstitute, can be preserved for a long period without the need for refrigeration and easily transported. This research should be expanded to make an innovative equine product available. This will facilitate the management of newborn foals and help to reduce the rates of failure of passive immunity transfer.

Effect of Ca-octanoate supplementation on concentrations of ghrelin and ghrelin-related hormones in plasma and milk of beef cattle

We aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary calcium (Ca)-octanoate supplementation on concentrations of ghrelin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and insulin in plasma and milk of beef cattle during late gestation and early postpartum. Twelve Japanese Black cattle were offered concentrate without (CON, n = 6) or with Ca-octanoate supplementation at 1.5% of dietary dry matter (OCT, n = 6). Blood samples were collected at −60, −30, and −7 d relative to the expected parturition date and daily from d 0 to 3 after parturition. Milk samples were collected daily postpartum. Compared to the CON group, concentrations of acylated ghrelin increased in plasma as parturition approached in the OCT group (P = 0.02). However, concentrations of GH, IGF-1, and insulin in plasma and milk were not affected by treatment groups throughout the study. Additionally, we showed for the first time that bovine colostrum and transition milk contain acylated ghrelin at a significantly higher concentration than plasma (P = 0.01). Interestingly, concentrations of acylated ghrelin in milk were negatively correlated with those in plasma postpartum (r = −0.50, P < 0.01). Feeding Ca-octanoate increased concentrations of total cholesterol (T-cho) in plasma and milk (P < 0.05), tended to increase those of glucose in plasma at postpartum and milk (P < 0.1). We conclude that feeding Ca-octanoate in late gestation and early postpartum may contribute to increased concentrations of glucose and T-cho in plasma and milk without affecting concentrations of ghrelin, GH, IGF-1, and insulin in plasma and milk.

Antihyperglycemic activity of colostrum peptides

Peptides of plant and animal origin have good anti-diabetic prospects. The research objective was to use bovine colostrum peptides to reduce hyperglycemia in diabetic rats.&#x0D; Bovine colostrum peptides were obtained by trypsin hydrolysis of colostrum proteins with preliminary extraction of triglycerides. The study involved four groups of Wistar rats with seven animals per group. Group 1 served as control; group 2 received 300 mg/kg of trypsin hydrolysate of bovine colostrum as part of their daily diet for 30 days. Groups 3 and 4 had diabetes mellitus caused by intraperitoneal injections of 110 mg/kg of nicotinamide and 65 mg/kg of streptozotocin. Group 4 also received 300 mg/kg trypsin hydrolysate of bovine colostrum intragastrically five times a week for 30 days.&#x0D; Three peptides were isolated from the trypsin hydrolysate of bovine colostrum and tested for the sequence of amino acids and molecular weight. Their identification involved the Protein NCBI database, followed by 2D and 3D modeling, which revealed their chemical profile, pharmacological properties, and antioxidant activity. The diabetic rats treated with colostrum peptides had lower glucose, glycated hemoglobin, malondialdehyde, and catalase activity but a higher content of glutathione in the blood. Their leukocytes and erythrocytes also demonstrated less deviation from the standard. The antioxidant effect of colostrum protein hydrolysate depended on a peptide with the amino acid sequence of SQKKKNCPNGTRIRVPGPGP and a mass of 8.4 kDa.&#x0D; Colostrum peptides reduced hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. The research revealed good prospects for isolating individual colostrum peptides to be tested for antidiabetic properties.

Compositional and functional analysis of freeze-dried bovine skim colostrum powders

Compositional and functional analysis of freeze-dried bovine skim colostrum powders

68 Characterization of Bovine Extracellular Vesicles Isolated from Colostrum

Abstract Bovine colostrum is composed of a variety of biologically active compounds including microRNAs (miRNA), which are found within extracellular vesicles (EVs). Newborn calves are agammaglobulinemic. Hence, the ability of the bovine neonate to fight off pathogens is therefore almost entirely dependent upon colostrum ingestion. Extracellular vesicle-derived miRNAs may have a crucial role in the regulation of the immune response. Thus, we aimed to characterize the EVs morphology from bovine colostrum using stimulated emission depletion (STED) super resolution microscopy. Bovine colostrum samples (approx. 3-4 h after parturition) were collected from primiparous Holstein dairy cows (n = 10) at a commercial dairy farm. Colostrum samples (15 mL) were subjected to a series of centrifugation steps to achieve defatted supernatant and to label EV pellets with EV specific markers. The EV pellets were resuspended in 100µL of 1 x PBS for EV staining methods or resuspended in 1 mL of trizol reagent for further miRNA isolation. The EVs suspensions were incubated with a primary polyclonal antibody anti-CD63 and with a secondary antibody (Alexa Fluor 594) for approximately 90 minutes each. Labeled EV-antibody complex were analyzed using confocal and STED microscopy. Based on the confocal and super resolution STED imaging capability obtained from the EVs-derived from bovine colostrum (Figure 1), labeled EVs with anti-CD63 and the enhanced resolution of STED over conventional confocal imaging, allowed to image the EVs at their actual size (30-200 nm). Further in-depth view on EV morphology, marker proteins expressed on the membrane, and size will contribute to our understanding of EVs-derived from colostrum and their functions. This will be crucial in studies to evaluate EVs uptake by intestinal cells for the correct identification of compartments involved in subcellular trafficking.

Different effects of the methods of administering lactoferrin, IGF‐1 and IgG from bovine colostrum to rabbits based on the cytokine communication network

Lactoferrin, IGF‐1 and IgG are three well‐known bioactive proteins found in bovine colostrum. We studied the effects of these three active ingredients on the levels of eight cytokines in serum and on the cellular communication networks in vivo by oral administration, intraperitoneal injection and intravenous injection. The results suggested that bioactive ingredients, especially biomacromolecules, can induce different effects, even opposite effects, on the immune system depending on the route of administration. These effects are related to both the functions of the bioactive ingredient in vivo and to its specific receptor binding in the gastrointestinal mucosa that activates different signalling pathways.

Host innate immune responses and microbiome profile of neonatal calves challenged with Cryptosporidium parvum and the effect of bovine colostrum supplementation.

Calves are highly susceptible to gastrointestinal infection with Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), which can result in watery diarrhea and eventually death or impaired development. With little to no effective therapeutics, understanding the host's microbiota and pathogen interaction at the mucosal immune system has been critical to identify and test novel control strategies. Herein, we used an experimental model of C. parvum challenge in neonatal calves to describe the clinical signs and histological and proteomic profiling of the mucosal innate immunity and microbiota shifts by metagenomics in the ileum and colon during cryptosporidiosis. Also, we investigated the impact of supplemental colostrum feeding on C. parvum infection. We showed that C. parvum challenged calves experienced clinical signs including pyrexia and diarrhea 5 days post challenge. These calves showed ulcerative neutrophil ileitis with a proteomic signature driven by inflammatory effectors, including reactive oxygen species and myeloperoxidases. Colitis was also noticed with an aggravated mucin barrier depletion and incompletely filled goblet cells. The C. parvum challenged calves also displayed a pronounced dysbiosis with a high prevalence of Clostridium species (spp.) and number of exotoxins, adherence factors, and secretion systems related to Clostridium spp. and other enteropathogens, including Campylobacter spp., Escherichia sp., Shigella spp., and Listeria spp. Daily supplementation with a high-quality bovine colostrum product mitigated some of the clinical signs and modulated the gut immune response and concomitant microbiota to a pattern more similar to that of healthy unchallenged calves. C. parvum infection in neonatal calves provoked severe diarrheic neutrophilic enterocolitis, perhaps augmented due to the lack of fully developed innate gut defenses. Colostrum supplementation showed limited effect mitigating diarrhea but demonstrated some clinical alleviation and specific modulatory influence on host gut immune responses and concomitant microbiota.

The Effect of Cold Plasma on Selected Parameters of Bovine Colostrum

The main problem in processing bovine colostrum is preserving as many beneficial compounds as possible, most of which have low thermal stability. The present study evaluates the possibility of using cold plasma (CP) as a decontamination technology and its effect on selected biologically active fractions of freeze-dried bovine colostrum. The plasma process was carried out in air, nitrogen, and oxygen environments. The results revealed that the sterilization process using CP caused slight changes in the colour of the samples expressed by the attributes ΔC, ΔL, Δh and ΔE. The decontamination effect depended on the gas used and the type of microorganism. The highest decontamination effects were gained under oxygen conditions, where reductions were obtained for total psychrophilic bacteria (THPC) by log 1.24, mesophilic bacteria (THMC) by log 1.02, Enterobacteriaceae by log 1.16, E. coli by log 0.96, yeast (TYMC) by log 0.92. A significantly lower decontaminating effect was obtained for Gram-positive bacteria and sporophytic forms. Additionally, the application of CP, regardless of the gas used, affected the modification of protein structure and reduction of immunoglobulin concentration. as proven by proteomics analyses (1-DE, 2-DE, MALDI–TOF MS). The same applied to β-lactoglobulin in air and oxygen and BSA in nitrogen and air.

Proteoforms of β-Casein, α-s1-Casein, α-Lactalbumin, Serum Albumin, and Lactotransferrin Identified in Different Lactation Phases of Human Milk by Proteomics Approach.

Human milk (HM) has a wide range of proteins with biological and nutritional functions, essential for newborns. The roles of proteins and their proteoforms in HM are not fully understood. This study aims to assess, by 2-DE proteomics, the differential proteoforms in HM, present in colostrum (COL), transition (TRA), and mature milk (MAT), aiming to contribute to understanding neonates' protein needs. HM samples are collected from 39 healthy lactating women. COL presents the higher concentration of essential amino acids. After MALDI-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis, proteoforms are differentially detected. Abundances of β-casein (CSN2), α-s1 casein, and α-lactalbumin (LALBA) are higher in MAT; CSN2s are found in 11 spots and the isoforms increase in size as the pI becomes more acidic; regarding LALBA, two variant forms are found with different abundances in TRA and MAT; CSN2, LALBA, lactotransferrin (LTF), and serum albumin forms are present in all lactation phases. This study reveals differential proteoforms in COL involved in tissue growth and body development, besides essential amino acids, and, in MAT, involved in muscle mass gain, strengthening of the immune system, and energy production. The results provide new insight about proteoforms involved in maturation of the newborn's organs and systems.

Purification and identification of xanthine oxidase inhibitory peptides from enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein

The development of food-derived Xanthine Oxidase (XO) inhibitors is critical to the treatment of hyperuricemia and oxidative stress-related disease. Few studies report on milk protein hydrolysates’ XO inhibitory activity, with the mechanism of their interaction remaining elusive. Here, different commercial enzymes were used to hydrolyze α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein. The two proteins hydrolyzed by alkaline protease exhibited the most potent XO inhibitory activity (bovine casein: IC50 = 0.13 mg mL−1; α-lactalbumin: IC50 = 0.28 mg mL−1). Eight potential XO inhibitory peptides including VYPFPGPI, GPVRGPFPIIV, VYPFPGPIPN, VYPFPGPIHN, QLKRFSFRSFIWR, LVYPFPGPIHN, AVFPSIVGR, and GFININSLR (IC50 of 4.67–8.02 mM) were purified and identified from alkaline protease hydrolysates by using gel filtration, LC-MS/MS and PeptideRanker. The most important role of inhibiting activity of peptides is linked to hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding based on the results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein could be a competitive candidates for hyperuricemia-resisting functional food.

Multifunctional Nutraceutical Composition Based on Fermented Spirulina, Apple Cider Vinegar, Jerusalem Artichoke, and Bovine Colostrum.

The main purpose of this experiment was to develop a multifunctional nutraceutical composition based on ingredients of different origins (Spirulina powder (SP), bovine colostrum (BC), Jerusalem artichoke powder (JAP), and apple cider vinegar (ACV)) which possess different health benefits through their different mechanisms of action. In order to improve the functional properties of Spirulina and bovine colostrum, fermentation with the Pediococcus acidilactici No. 29 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LUHS244 strains, respectively, was carried out. These LAB strains were chosen due to their good antimicrobial properties. The following parameters were analysed: for Spirulina (non-treated and fermented)-pH, colour coordinates, fatty acid profile, and contents of L-glutamic and GABA acids; for bovine colostrum (non-treated and fermented)-pH, colour coordinates, dry matter, and microbiological parameters (total LAB, total bacteria, total enterobacteria, Escherichia coli, and mould/yeast counts); for the produced nutraceuticals-hardness, colour coordinates, and overall acceptability. It was established that fermentation reduced the pH of the SP and BC and affected their colour coordinates. Fermented SP contained a greater concentration of gamma-aminobutyric and L-glutamic acids (by 5.2 times and 31.4% more, respectively), compared to the non-treated SP and BC. In addition, the presence of gamma-linolenic and omega-3 fatty acids was observed in fermented SP. Fermentation of BC reduces Escherichia coli, total bacteria, total enterobacteria, and total mould/yeast counts in samples. The obtained three-layer nutraceutical (I layer-fermented SP; II-fermented BC and JAP; III-ACV) demonstrated a high overall acceptability. Finally, our finding suggest that the selected nutraceutical combination has immense potential in the production of a multifunctional product with improved functionality and a high acceptability.

Development of a novel definitive scoring system for an enteral feed-only model of necrotizing enterocolitis in piglets.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a complex inflammatory disorder of the human intestine that most often occurs in premature newborns. Animal models of NEC typically use mice or rats; however, pigs have emerged as a viable alternative given their similar size, intestinal development, and physiology compared to humans. While most piglet NEC models initially administer total parenteral nutrition prior to enteral feeds, here we describe an enteral-feed only piglet model of NEC that recapitulates the microbiome abnormalities present in neonates that develop NEC and introduce a novel multifactorial definitive NEC (D-NEC) scoring system to assess disease severity. Premature piglets were delivered via Caesarean section. Piglets in the colostrum-fed group received bovine colostrum feeds only throughout the experiment. Piglets in the formula-fed group received colostrum for the first 24 h of life, followed by Neocate Junior to induce intestinal injury. The presence of at least 3 of the following 4 criteria were required to diagnose D-NEC: (1) gross injury score ≥4 of 6; (2) histologic injury score ≥3 of 5; (3) a newly developed clinical sickness score ≥5 of 8 within the last 12 h of life; and (4) bacterial translocation to ≥2 internal organs. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm intestinal inflammation in the small intestine and colon. 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to evaluate the intestinal microbiome. Compared to the colostrum-fed group, the formula-fed group had lower survival, higher clinical sickness scores, and more severe gross and histologic intestinal injury. There was significantly increased bacterial translocation, D-NEC, and expression of IL-1α and IL-10 in the colon of formula-fed compared to colostrum-fed piglets. Intestinal microbiome analysis of piglets with D-NEC demonstrated lower microbial diversity and increased Gammaproteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. We have developed a clinical sickness score and a new multifactorial D-NEC scoring system to accurately evaluate an enteral feed-only piglet model of NEC. Piglets with D-NEC had microbiome changes consistent with those seen in preterm infants with NEC. This model can be used to test future novel therapies to treat and prevent this devastating disease.

Bovine Colostrum Exosomes Are a Promising Natural Bacteriostatic Agent against Staphylococcus aureus.

Bioactive molecules and immune factors in the bovine colostrum (BC) are important elements of passive immunity that prevent bacterial infection. However, the mechanisms underlying the antimicrobial activity of BC are not fully understood. We assessed the antibacterial properties of BC-derived exosomes (BC-Exo) and found that they had bacteriostatic, anti-hemolytic, and biofilm-eradication effects on Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, cell surface deformation and reduced ATP production were observed following BC-Exo treatment. The most reasonable explanation for this finding is that BC-Exo has a strong inhibitory effect on the oxidative phosphorylation pathway in S. aureus. We demonstrated, for the first time, that BC-Exo can exhibit clear antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. Our findings constitute an important basis for future antibiotic discovery.

Bovine Colostrum for Veterinary and Human Health Applications: A Critical Review.

Bovine colostrum harbors a diverse array of bioactive components suitable for the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals with veterinary and human health applications. Bovine colostrum has a strong safety profile with applications across all age groups for health promotion and the amelioration of a variety of disease states. Increased worldwide milk production and novel processing technologies have resulted in substantial growth of the market for colostrum-based products. This review provides a synopsis of the bioactive components in bovine colostrum, the processing techniques used to produce high-value colostrum-based products, and recent studies utilizing bovine colostrum for veterinary and human health.

Colostrum and Lactoferrin Protect against Side Effects of Therapy with Antibiotics, Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Steroids, and Psychophysical Stress: A Comprehensive Review.

In this article, we review the benefits of applying bovine colostrum (BC) and lactoferrin (LF) in animal models and clinical trials that include corticosteroid application and psychic stress, treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics. A majority of the reported investigations were performed with native bovine or recombinant human LF, applied alone or in combination with probiotics, as nutraceutics and diet supplements. Apart from reducing adverse side effects of the applied therapeutics, BC and LF augmented their efficacy and improved the wellness of patients. In conclusion, LF and complete native colostrum, preferably administered with probiotic bacteria, are highly recommended for inclusion in therapeutic protocols in NSAIDs and corticosteroid anti-inflammatory, as well as antibiotic, therapies. These colostrum-based products can also be of value for individuals subjected to prolonged psychophysical stress (mediated by endogenous corticosteroids), especially at high ambient temperatures (soldiers and emergency services), as well as physically active people and training athletes. They are also recommended for patients during recovery from trauma and surgery, which are always associated with severe psychophysical stress.