Immunoglobulins form an important component of the immunological activity found in milk and colostrum. They are central to the immunological link that occurs when the mother transfers passive immunity to the offspring. The mechanism of transfer varies among mammalian species. Cattle provide a readily available immune rich colostrum and milk in large quantities, making those secretions important potential sources of immune products that may benefit humans. Immune milk is a term used to describe a range of products of the bovine mammary gland that have been tested against several human diseases. The use of colostrum or milk as a source of immunoglobulins, whether intended for the neonate of the species producing the secretion or for a different species, can be viewed in the context of the types of immunoglobulins in the secretion, the mechanisms by which the immunoglobulins are secreted, and the mechanisms by which the neonate or adult consuming the milk then gains immunological benefit. The stability of immunoglobulins as they undergo processing in the milk, or undergo digestion in the intestine, is an additional consideration for evaluating the value of milk immunoglobulins. This review summarizes the fundamental knowledge of immunoglobulins found in colostrum, milk, and immune milk.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/3/4/442/pdf

Perspectives on Immunoglobulins in Colostrum and Milk

ISCOMs and other saponin based adjuvants.

Current vaccines that provide protection against infectious diseases have primarily relied on attenuated or inactivated pathogens. Virus-like particles (VLPs), comprised of capsid proteins that can initiate an immune response but do not include the genetic material required for replication, promote immunogenicity and have been developed and approved as vaccines in some cases. In addition, many of these VLPs can be used as molecular platforms for genetic fusion or chemical attachment of heterologous antigenic epitopes. This approach has been shown to provide protective immunity against the foreign epitopes in many cases. A variety of VLPs and virus-based nanoparticles are being developed for use as vaccines and epitope platforms. These particles have the potential to increase efficacy of current vaccines as well as treat diseases for which no effective vaccines are available.

/pdf/viral-nanoparticles-and-virus-like-particles-platforms-for-2k2rxtxq9f.pdf

Viral nanoparticles and virus‐like particles: platforms for contemporary vaccine design

ISCOMs and ISCOMATRIX.

The K99 antigen of Escherichia coli can be detected more readily in cultures grown on Minca medium at 37 degrees C for 6 to 8 h or grown on Minca plus 1% Iso VitaleX for 20 to 24 h.

Improved Minca medium for the detection of K99 antigen in calf enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli [Bacterial pathogens].

Twenty-four pregnant cows were vaccinated intramuscularly with K99 extract from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and inactivated rotavirus as follows: six cows were injected with 2 ml of oil-adjuvanted vaccine; six cows were injected with 0.5 ml of oil-adjuvanted vaccine; six cows were injected with 4 ml of aluminum hydroxide-adjuvanted vaccine twice with a four-week interval; and six cows were unvaccinated as controls. Calves born to these cows were challenged with enterotoxigenic E. coli at 6 to 18 h after birth. Serum and milk antibodies to K99 and rotavirus in cows vaccinated with either dose of oil vaccine were significantly increased until at least 28 days after calving. In cows vaccinated with alhydrogel vaccine, there was a significant K99 antibody increase in serum and in colostrum but not in milk and a significant rotavirus antibody increase only in colostrum. Five of six calves born to unvaccinated cows developed enterotoxic colibacillosis after challenge, and all excreted the challenge strain of enterotoxigenic E. coli. None of the 18 calves in the three vaccinated groups developed clinical colibacillosis, and fecal excretion of the challenge organism was reduced. A combined enterotoxigenic E. coli-rotavirus vaccine may prove useful in preventing some outbreaks of calf diarrhea.

https://iai.asm.org/content/iai/37/2/586.full.pdf

David R. Snodgrass

Papers

Passive immunity in calf diarrhea: vaccination with K99 antigen of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and rotavirus.

Effect of oral rotavirus/iscom vaccines on immune responses in gnotobiotic lambs.

Experimental infection of non-human primates with a human rotavirus isolate.

Stimulation of rotavirus IgA, IgG and neutralising antibodies in baboon milk by parenteral vaccination

Intestinal cellular immunity after primary rotavirus infection.