الفهرس 
1. IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 220 |  |  |
| | | from | 220 | | |
Abstract
Lactoferrin (Lf), known as lactotransferrin (LTf), is a multifunctional protein of the transferrin family. Lactoferrin is a globular glycoprotein with a molecular mass of about 80 kDa that is widely represented in various secretory fluids, such as milk, saliva, tears, and nasal secretions. Lactoferrin is also present in secondary granules of PMN and is secreted by some acinar cells. Lactoferrin can be purified from milk or produced recombinantly. Human colostrum (first milk) has the highest concentration, followed by human milk, then cow milk (150 mg/L).
Lactoferrin is one of the components of the immune system of the body; it has antimicrobial activity (bacteriocide, fungicide) and is part of the innate defense, mainly at mucoses. In particular, lactoferrin provides antibacterial activity to human infants. Lactoferrin interacts with DNA and RNA, polysaccharides and heparin, and shows some of its biological functions in complexes with these ligands. The antibacterial activity of Lf has been widely documented both in vitro and in vivo for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and in some acid–alcohol-resistant bacteria. Lf’s bacteriostatic function is due to its ability to take up the Fe3+ ion, limiting use of this nutrient by bacteria at the infection site and inhibiting the growth of these microorganisms as well as the expression of their virulence factors. Lf’s bactericidal function has been attributed to its direct interaction with bacterial surfaces.