Aim
To evaluate the effects of animal milk containing fucosylated antigens on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) binding to Lewis b antigen.
Conclusion
The use of "humanized" animal milk produced by the transgenic introduction of fucosylated antigen can perhaps provide an alternative therapy and preventive measure for H. pylori infection.
Methods
A mammary gland expression vector containing human alpha1-3/4-fucosyltransferase cDNA sequences was constructed. Transient expression of human alpha1-3/4-fucosyltransferase cDNA in goat mammary cell and establishment of transgenic mice were performed. The adhesion inhibitory properties of milk samples were analyzed by using H. pylori.
Results
Goat milk samples were found to inhibit bacterial binding to Lewis b antigen. The highest inhibition was observed 42 h after injection of the plasmid. The binding activity of H. pylori to Lewis b antigen reduced mostly, by 83%, however milk samples from transgenic mice did not inhibit H. pylori binding to Lewis b antigen.