The role of milk-derived antimicrobial lipids as antiviral and antibacterial agents
Isaacs, C.E.; Thormar, H.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 310: 159-165
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0065-2598 PMID: 1808991 Document Number: 370225
The activity of human milk against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis was tested. Heating for 10 min at 100 degrees C before (but not after) storage at 4 degrees C prevented anti-VSV activity, but lipoprotein lipase (LPL) made it develop earlier, as did also sodium cholate, which inhibits LPL but stimulates bile salt-stimulated lipase (BSSL). Physostigmine and NaCl (both of which inhibit BSSL and LPL), and rabbit serum (which stimulates LPL but inhibits BSSL) prevented anti-VSV activity. Stomach contents obtained from infants 3 h after receiving milk showed both antiviral activity (against HSV-1 and HIV) and antibacterial activity. These results are interpreted as evidence that human milk fat is made antimicrobial by lipase activity releasing fatty acids and monoglycerides.