Description
Introduction: Lactoferrin (LF), also known as lactotransferrin (LTF), is a globular multifunctional protein with antimicrobial activity (bacteriocide, fungicide) and is part of the innate defense, mainly at mucoses. Lactoferrin is found in milk and many mucosal secretions such as tears and saliva. Lactoferrin is also present in secondary granules of PMN and also is secreted by some acinar cells. Lactoferrin can be purified from milk or produced recombinantly. Human colostrum has the highest concentration, followed by human milk, then cow milk. Lactoferrin antimicrobial activity is due partly to its high affinity for Fe3+ (ferric state). LF proteolysis produces lactoferricin, kaliocin-1 small peptides with antimicrobial activity. The combination of iron and lactoferrin in mucosal secretions modulate the ability and aggregation of pathogenic bacteria, and inhibit both bacteria and viruses by binding to host cells/viral particles. This inhibits the ability of bacteria and viruses to attach to cell membranes. It is also an antifungal agent.
Principle of the Assay: The microtiter plate provided in this kit has been pre-coated with an antibody specific to LTF. Standards or samples are then added to the appropriate microtiter plate wells with a Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated monoclonal antibody preparation specific for LTF and incubated. Then substrate solution A and B are added to each well. Only those wells that contain LTF, HRP-conjugated antibody will exhibit a change in color. The enzyme-substrate reaction is terminated by the addition of a sulphuric acid solution and the color change is measured spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 450 nm +/- 2 nm. The concentration of LTF in the samples is then determined by comparing the O.D. of the samples to the standard curve