The present invention relates to a method improving the half-life in milk products. More particularly, it relates to a method for producing milk with an improved shelf life.
Spoilage of milk products may arise from a number of sources. Milk products may spoil as a result of chemical changes caused by a reaction between the products and packaging material or contamination by foreign materials. Fats like butter are subject to rancidity caused by a chemical reaction that breaks down the fatty acids in fat to smaller molecular weight free fatty acids and, at the same time, releases certain odours.
Milk products like other foodstuffs are naturally contaminated with micro-organisms. To keep numbers of viable micro-organisms as low as possible, processes have been developed to physically remove cells—for example through improved sanitation, heating and temperature control. Refrigeration also increases the time required for milk products to spoil.
Another source of spoilage in milk products is the degradation of milk components by enzymes including lipoprotein lipases (LPLS) and metalloproteases. Enzymes are chemicals produced by all living things and bacteria produce enzymes to break down food, allowing the bacteria to access nutrients and proliferate in an environment.
Regarding LPLs, rancidity arises from the hydrolysis of milk-fat by these. LPLs can be inactivated, however some bacterial LPLs are heat resistant. Heat resistant LPLs are a major cause of rancidity (Cousin, 1982).
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for improving the half-life in milk, processed milk products, concentrates etc. More particularly, there is provided a method for improving the shelf life of milk.
According to a first embodiment the inventive method comprises the step of: contacting milk with an antibody raised against a molecule required, for survival and or growth, by at least a micro-organism that is responsible for reducing the half-life of milk or a micro-organism that aids other micro-organisms to reduce the half-life of milk. Desirably the antibody, when contacted with the milk, will form an antibody-antigen interaction with the molecule and will deplete, remove or prevent the molecule from either being a nutrient source for the micro-organism or prevent the activity of the molecule. One such antibody is an antibody generated against lipoprotein lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens.
According to second embodiment the method comprises the step of: inducing the production of at least an antibody in the mammary gland of an animal, which antibody is raised against a molecule required, for survival and or growth, by at least a micro-organism that is responsible for reducing the half-life of milk or a micro-organism that aids other micro-organisms to reduce the half-life of milk.
According to a third aspect the invention provides a method for the production of milk containing antibodies which method comprises the steps of: induction of antibodies according to the method detailed above and then collecting and optionally processing the antibody containing milk from the mammal. The collection of milk may be effected using normal milking processes.
According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a milk product with improved shelf-life, said milk product being prepared according to any one of the above methods and wherein milk produced by the methods is processed into the milk product. The invention also provides a milk product with improved shelf-life, said product being a milk product or derivative whose shelf-life is improved by the addition of an antibody preparation that binds a molecule required, for survival and or growth, by at least a micro-organism that is responsible for reducing the half-life of milk or a micro-organism that aids other micro-organisms to reduce the half-life of milk.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the instant invention, in its details as seen from the above, and from the following description of the preferred embodiment.
General
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variation and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in the specification, individually or collectively and any and all combinations or any two or more of the steps or features.
Each document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is expressly incorporated herein by reference, which means that it should be read and considered by the reader as part of this text. That the document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is not repeated in this text is merely for reasons of conciseness.
The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein, which are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, compositions and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.
Through this specification the acronyms CRD and ARD are used interchangeably. Both refer to the antigen releasing device described, disclosed and claimed herein.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.
Other definitions for selected terms used herein may be found within the description of the invention and apply throughout. Unless otherwise defined, all other scientific and technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs.
This invention is based on the unexpected discovery that by contacting antibodies against lipoprotein lipase enzymes produced by Pseudomonas species (e.g. Pseudomonas fluorscens) it is possible to produce a milk product with improved properties and shelf-life compared to normal pasteurised milk.
Thus, according to a first embodiment the invention provides a method for improving the half-life of milk comprising the step of:
Preferably, the method also prolongs the shelf-life of the milk.
Desirably the antibody, when contacted with the milk, will form an antibody-antigen interaction with the molecule and will deplete, remove or prevent the molecule from either being a nutrient source for the micro-organism or prevent the activity of the molecule. One such antibody is an antibody generated against lipoprotein lipase from a species of Pseudomonas such as Pseudomonas fluoroscens
The method of the present invention is performed on milk produced by mammals. Preferably, the mammals used to produce the milk are rodents or ruminants. Most preferably, the mammals are goats, sheep or cattle. Desirably the mammals are dairy cattle breeds; however dairy goat or sheep breeds may also be used.
The term “milk” used herein refers to both milk and colostrum in the form in which it is produced by the mammal or any derivative of whole milk, such as skimmed milk or whey, in liquid or in solid form.
The term “antigen” as used herein refers to any material capable of inducing an antibody response in a treated mammal, wherein the antibody is capable of binding a molecule required, for survival and or growth, by at least a micro-organism that is responsible for reducing the half-life of milk or a micro-organism that aids other micro-organisms to reduce the half-life of milk. Antigenic substances that may be employed in the invention including but not limited to: lipoprotein lipases and metalloproteinases from Pseudomonas species fluorescens (such as for example Pseudomonas). Where haptens or peptides are to be used as antigens these should first be conjugated to carrier substances such as proteins using chemistry well known to people versed in the art. (Hanly et al; Review of Polyclonal Antibody Production Procedures, ILAR Journal (1995), 37:3, 93-118).
Antibody molecules that may be used in the method of the invention include intact immunoglobulin molecules, substantially intact immunoglobulin molecules and those portions of an immunoglobulin molecule that contain the paratope. Such paratope containing portions include those portions known in the art as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2 and F(v). Fab and F(ab′)2. These portions of antibodies may be prepared by the proteolytic reaction of papain and pepsin, respectively, on substantially intact antibodies by methods that are well known. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,566. Fab′ antibody portions are also well known and are produced from F(ab′)2 portions followed by reduction of the disulfide bonds linking the two heavy reduction of the disulfide bonds linking the two heavy chain portions as with mercaptoethanol, and followed by alkylation of the resulting protein mercaptan with a reagent such as iodoacetamide. An antibody containing intact antibody molecules are preferred, and are utilised as illustrated herein.
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for improving the half-life of milk comprising the step of:
Preferably, the method also prolongs the shelf-life of the milk.
Methods for the induction of antibody production in milk will include the step of: implanting at least one antigen releasing device adjacent to or within at least one supramammary lymph node, wherein in use the antigen releasing device releases an antigen into the tissue area around the supramammary lymph node which stimulates antibody secretion into a mammary gland.
According to this aspect of the invention the distance of the implant from the supramammary gland should be at least close enough that the release of antigen from the antigen releasing device causes the antibody response of the mammal (into which it is implanted) to be maintained at a level facilitates the production of antibodies in milk at levels that are therapeutically or anti-microbially suitable. For example, the ARD may be implanted in the udder. Alternatively by way of illustration the antigen releasing device is preferably implanted at a distance of up to 150 mm from at least one supramammary lymph node, wherein in use the antigen releasing device releases an antigen into the tissue area around the supramammary lymph node which stimulates antibody secretion into a mammary gland. Preferably, the antigen releasing device is implanted either adjacent to or at a distance of between about 1 mm and 100 mm from the supramammary lymph node. Most preferably, the distance is between about 50 mm and 100 mm.
Implantation of the antigen releasing device adjacent to or within at least one supramammary lymph node causes the antigen contained in the antigen releasing device to be released into the tissue near and within the node (
The size, characteristics and choice of antigen releasing device is dependant on the size and properties of the antigen of interest. It is desirable that the choice of antigen releasing device allows the antigen contained therein to be released from the device at a rate which causes the antibody response of the mammal into which it is implanted to be maintained at a desirable level.
Devices for slow release of compositions are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,996, whilst immunopotentiating devices for the sustained release of antigen are described, for example, in Australian Patent No. 740133
A porous silicon implant impregnated with a beneficial substance is described in Patent No. DE69917625D. An implantable device for molecule delivery is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,208. Other suitable examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the protein, which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsules compressed into delivery devices. Examples of sustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels [e.g., poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) as described by Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 15:167-277 (1981) and Langer, Chem. Tech. 12:98-105 (1982) or poly(vinylalcohol)], polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers 22:547-556 [1983]), non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate (Langer et al., supra), degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT™ (injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988). Another reference is B. Baras, M. A. Benoit & J. Gillard (2000) “Parameters influencing the antigen release from spray dried poly (DL-lactide) microparticles.” International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 200:133-145.
While polymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acid enable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels release proteins for shorter time periods. When encapsulated antigens remain in the body for a long time, they may denature or aggregate as a result of exposure to moisture at 37° C., resulting in a loss of biological activity and possible changes in immunogenicity. Rational strategies can be devised for antibody stabilization depending on the mechanism involved. For example, if the aggregation mechanism is discovered to be intermolecular SS or disulfide bond formation through thio-disulfide interchange, stabilisation may be achieved by modifying sulfhydryl residues, lyophilising from acidic solutions, controlling moisture content, using appropriate additives, and developing specific polymer matrix compositions.
Sustained-release fragment compositions also include liposomally entrapped fragments. Liposomes containing the antibody are prepared by methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:3688-3692 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949; EP 142,641; Japanese patent application 83-118008; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily the liposomes are of the small (about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamellar type. Other devices for the slow release of antigen into the tissue near the supramammary lymph node are encompassed within the present invention.
An effective amount of antigen to be employed therapeutically will depend, for example, upon the objectives, the route of administration, the type of antigen and/or adjuvant and the condition of the mammal. Accordingly, it will be necessary for the therapist to titre the dosage and modify the mode of administration as required to obtain the optimal effect. Typically, the operator will administer an antigen until a dosage is reached that achieves the desired effect. The progress of this therapy is easily monitored by conventional assays.
In the further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for inducing the sustained release of antibodies in milk comprising the further step of administering a primer composition by an administration route selected from intramammary, intraperitoneal, intramuscular or intranasal. Administration of a primer may take place before, during or after implanting the antigen releasing device. It is preferable that the primer composition be delivered to a mucosal surface so that antibody production on mucosal surfaces (of which the mammary gland is one) is preferentially stimulated.
The primer composition administration could be a single administration, or could comprise a number of administrations at intervals over a period of days or weeks. Timing of the administration of primer composition is generally spaced based on contemporary immunisation protocols (for example, every 2 weeks). To avoid local irritation and congestion, it is usually preferred that the primer composition not be administered to the same site more frequently than every second week. The initial exposure of this priming step stimulates the low level production of antibodies, which production is then increased and maintained by antigen released by the antigen releasing device.
The method of the present invention may also comprise the additional step of administering a booster composition comprising antigen to a mammal by an administration route selected from intramammary, intraperitoneal, intramuscular and/or intranasal after the antigen releasing device has been implanted. It is preferable that the booster composition be delivered to a mucosal surface so that antibody production on mucosal surfaces (of which the mammary gland is one) is preferentially stimulated.
Such booster compositions could be administered as a single administration, or could comprise a number of administrations at intervals over a period of days or weeks. Administration of booster compositions is generally spaced to suit the convenience of the operator. To avoid local irritation and congestion, it is usually preferred that administration of the booster composition to the same site not be more frequent than every other week.
In a preferred method, the antigen administered is the same for each step of the method. Therefore, the same antigen may be used in the antigen releasing device, the primer composition and/or the booster composition.
The use of adjuvants both within the antigen releasing device and in the compositions used for priming and boosting is also desirable. An adjuvant can serve as a tissue depot that slowly releases the immunogen and also as a lymphoid system activator that non-specifically enhances the immune response [Hood et al., in Immunology, p. 384, Second Ed., Benjamin/Cummings, Menlo Park, Calif. (1984)]. Suitable adjuvants for use with the antigens of the invention include but are not limited to the following: Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIC), TiterMax Gold™, adjuvant 65, cholera toxin B subunit, IL1-B Fragment 163-171 synthetic human adjuvant, alhydrogel; or bordetella pertussis, muramyl dipeptide, cytokines, saponin, Adju-Phos, Algal Glucau, Algammuliu, Alhydrogel, Antigen Formulation, Avridine, Bay R1005, calcitrial, calcium phosphate, Gel, CRL 1005, cholera Holotoxin (CT), DDA, DHEA, DMPC, DMPG, DOC/Alum Complex, Gamma Inulin, Gerbu Adjuvant, GMDP, Imiquimod, Imuither, Interferon-gamma, ISCOM(s), Iscoprop 7.0.3, Loxoribine, LT-OA or LT Oral adjuvant, MF59, MONTANIDE ISA51 and ISA720, MPL, MTP-PE, MTP PE Liposomas, murametide, murapalmitive, NAGO, Nonionic surfactant vesides, Pleuram, PLGA, PGA and PLA, Pluronic L121, PMMA, PODDS, Poly Ra, Polyru Polyphophazene, Polysorbate 80, Protein Cochleates, QS-21, Quil A, Rehydrogel HPA, Rehydrogel LV, S-28465, SAF-1, Sclavo, peptide, Seudai Protediposomes, sendai-containing lipid matrices, Span 85, specal, squalene, stearyl Tyrosine, Theramide, Threonyl-MDP, Ty Particles, saponin Q521, MF59, Alum.
In relation to the step of administering the priming composition or the boosting composition, preferably the antigenic substances are suspended in liquid medium for infusion or injection according to known protocols. Any appropriate carriers, diluents, buffers, and adjuvants known in the art may be used. Suitable suspension liquids include saline solution, water, and physiologic buffers.
If administration of the priming composition or the boosting composition is by injection, preferably prior to injection the antigens are emulsified in appropriate carriers with adjuvant using, for example, a laboratory homogeniser. In one example of such a method, aqueous antigen is mixed with 3 volumes of adjuvant and emulsified until a stable water-in-oil emulsion is formed. The presence of a stable emulsion can be demonstrated using tests well known in the art.
In a further aspect of the invention, the method further comprises a preselection step. In this step individual animals are tested and selected for their ability to produce antibodies. Considerable between-animal variability exists for the production of antibodies. This preselection step, wherein the animals showing the best antibody titre responses are selected, assists in decreasing the between-animal variability factor. This process may similarly be used to build groups of animals particularly suited to antibody production.
According to a third aspect the invention provides a method for the production of milk with a prolonged half-life containing antibodies, which method comprises the steps of: induction of antibodies according to the method detailed above and then collecting and optionally processing the antibody containing milk from the mammal. The collection of milk may be effected using normal milking processes. Preferably, the method also prolongs the shelf-life of the milk.
According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a milk product with improved half-life, said milk product being prepared from milk generated according to any one of the above methods and wherein milk produced by the methods is processed into the milk product.
The invention also provides a milk product with improved half-life, said product being a milk product or derivative whose half-life is improved by the addition of an antibody raised against at least one of the following:
This milk is useful in the form obtained directly from the mammal but may be processed if required. Examples of processing steps include heat treatment, ultra violet radiation, concentration, supplementation with food additives, drying into concentrates, milk powders and the like.
The present invention also provides a milk product with prolonged shelf-life, said product being a milk product or derivative whose shelf-life is prolonged by the addition of an antibody raised against at least one of the following:
Milk and milk products in which the method of the invention may have benefit may include foodstuffs, drinks (e.g., energy or sports drinks) and animal feeds. For example, the milk may possibly be used as an ingredient in, baby food, bakery products (for example, a bread, yeasted good or cake) or bakery supply products (for example, custard or bakery fillings or toppings), batter or breading, cereal, confectionary, flavour or beverage emulsions, fruit fillings, gravy, soups, sauces (eg meat sauces) or food thickeners, UHT treated gravy, meal components (e.g., vegetarian meal/components), meat products (e.g., comminuted meat products, sausages, burgers, grill steaks, canned meats, meat pies, fish preparations, meat patties, meat spread and pastes), pizza toppings, pet foods, pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals, potato products, dressings (e.g., salad or low fat dressings), snack or cracker spreads (e.g., savoury or sweet spreads), pasta products (e.g. noodles), fat-filled powders, quiches or flans, cheese or cream mimetics and other substitute dairy products not specifically detailed within this description of invention (e.g. desserts, flavoured milk drinks, milk shakes, cheeses, cheese spreads or dips).
Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following non-limiting Examples. It is to be understood, however, that this detailed description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood in any way as a restriction on the broad description of the invention as set out above.
Materials
(i) 0.15 g mannitol-D (Sigma-Aldrich)
(ii) 0.15 g sodium citrate (Proanalys)
(iii) 11.25 mg lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (Sigma-Aldrich)
(iv) 0.75 ml part A Silastic (Dow Corning Q7-4850)
(v) 0.75 ml part B Silastic (Dow Corning Q7-4850)
(vi) 2×2.5 ml disposable syringes (Terumo)
(vii) 2×1 ml syringe (Terumo)
(viii) 2×12G×4 inch stainless steel hypodermic needles
(ix) 37° C. incubator
(x) sterile petri dish
(xi) sterile scalpel
(xii) sterile spachella
(xiii) 32 ml glass McCartney bottle
Methods
(i) Remove pistons from all syringes
(ii) Part A—silastic placed into 1 ml syringe using spatula. Piston replaced into syringe and 0.75 ml quantity dispensed into one 2.5 ml syringe.
(iii) Procedure repeated for Part B.
(iv) Lipase, mannitol and sodium citrate are combined and mixed in a small glass McCartney then placed into the 2.5 ml syringe containing Part A of the silastic. Part B was then expelled from its syringe into the other 2.5 ml syringe effectively ‘sandwiching’ the lipase, mannitol and sodium citrate between Part A and Part B of the silastic in one syringe. The piston was replaced in this syringe and removed from the empty syringe. The contents of the first syringe were expelled into the second syringe then its piston replaced. The procedure was repeated 20 times to effectively mix all reagents. The reagents were finally expelled into two 12G needles and stored at 37° C. for three days. The cured silastic was extracted from the needles, cut into 3 cm lengths in the open petri dish and placed under UV light for 24 hours before being stored in sterile 10 ml centrifuge tubes at −20° C. Each 3 cm ARD contained 1 mg lipase, 13 mg mannitol, 13 mg sodium citrate, in 250 μl of total silastic.
Materials
(i) 0.3 g mannitol-D (Sigma-Aldrich)
(ii) 0.3 g sodium citrate (Proanalys)
(iii) 22.50 mg lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (Sigma-Aldrich)
(iv) 1.2 mg IL1-B Fragment 163-171 synthetic human (Sigma)
(v) 1.5 ml Part A Silastic (Dow Corning Q7-4850)
(vi) 1.5 ml Part B Silastic (Dow Corning Q7-4850)
(vii) 2×2.5 ml disposable syringes (Terumo)
(viii) 2×1 ml syringe (Terumo)
(ix) 2×12G×4 inch stainless steel hypodermic needles
(x) 37° C. incubator
(xi) sterile petri dish
(xii) sterile scalpel
(xiii) sterile spachella
(xiv) 32 ml glass McCartney bottle
Methods
(i) Remove pistons from all syringes
(ii) Part A silastic placed into 1 ml syringe using spatula. Piston replaced into syringe and 0.75 ml quantity dispensed into one 2.5 ml syringe.
(iii) Procedure repeated for Part B.
(iv) Lipase, mannitol and sodium citrate mixed in a small glass McCartney then placed into the 2.5 ml syringe containing Part A of the silastic. Part B was then expelled from its syringe into the other 2.5 ml syringe effectively ‘sandwiching’ the lipase, mannitol and sodium citrate between Part A and Part B of the silastic in one syringe. The piston was replaced in this syringe and removed from the empty syringe. The contents of the first syringe was expelled into the second syringe then its piston replaced. The procedure was repeated 20 times to effectively mix all reagents. The reagents were finally expelled into two 12 G needles and stored at 37° C. for three days. The cured silastic was extracted from the needles, cut into 3 cm lengths in the open petri dish and placed under UV light for 24 hours before being stored in sterile 10 ml centrifuge tubes at −20° C. Each 3 cm ARD contained 1 mg lipase, 13 mg mannitol, 13 mg sodium citrate, 50 μg IL1-B, in 250 μl of total silastic.
A device was purpose designed and built comprising a 10 ml disposable luer lock syringe, a 10G×4 inch stainless steel hypodermic needle and a 90 mm×10G stainless steel welding rod (see
The animal was placed on the floor on its back and restrained by animal handlers. An area approximately 3 cm×10 cm right lateral and adjacent to the udder was swabbed with iodine. 2 ml of 2% lignocaine infiltrated the cutaneous tissue through a 26G hypodermic needle as a local anaesthetic. The 10G needle housing the ARD was inserted in the posterior end of this area and pushed to the anterior end subcutaneously. The piston was depressed and needle withdrawn simultaneously. The point of insertion was swabbed with iodine. In most cases the antigen releasing device could be felt in situ.
Materials
2.5 ml of inoculum (containing 1 mg lipase, 64.5 μg Cholera Toxin B Subunit) was drawn into syringe with the 20G tube from the infusion set attached. 60-80% of tube length was placed into right nostril of animal and slowly dispensed whilst simultaneously withdrawing the tube from the nostril (
Materials
(i) 36.5 mg of lipase from P. fluorescens (Sigma)
(ii) 9.1 ml of 0.85% saline (Excel Laboratories)
(iii) TiterMax Gold™ adjuvant
(iv) glass McCartney bottle
(v) 3 ml all plastic syringes (Teruma)
(vi) stainless steel double-hub
(vii) 23G×1 inch hypodermic needle
Methods
(i) Lipase and saline were combined in glass McCartney giving a concentration of 4 mg/ml on the day of first administration. The remainder was stored at 4° C. until required.
0.5 ml of 4 mg/ml lipase in saline solution as drawn Into syringe and emulsified with 0.5 ml TiterMax Gold™ as per manufacturers instructions. Inoculum was administered intramuscularly (IM) in the rear of the left hind leg using 23G×1 inch needle attached to the syringe. Animals received IM injections Day 7, Day 14 and Day 21.
The animals were given an IM injection in the flank, the commonly used route for immunisation.
Two animals were immunised by the intramuscular route (IM) with lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens on day 0 with 1250 μg lipase emulsified with 750 ul titremax. The animals received a primary boost (950 ug lipase and 560 μl titremax) and a secondary boost (2500 ug lipase and 500 μl titremax) on day 12 and day 24 respectively. Animals were bled on the days of immunisation and blood samples were collected at monthly intervals after the immunisation program.
The animals were given antigen inoculation by antigen releasing device and/or injection. Table 1 summarises the schedule of inoculums and refers to 6 animals and one antigen.
Protocols used 2 animals per group with 12 goats used in total. Six different protocols were evaluated in two separate animals to determine an optimal procedure to produce sustained antibody levels in milk, summarised in Table 4 and 5.
A total of 12 goats were studied, with two goats dedicated to each inoculation regime. The presence of anti-lipase antibodies was evaluated with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The mean absorbance value less that of the blank control of the daily milk samples were plotted (
All six regimens were successful in raising antibodies. However, the relative concentrations of antibodies for each group varied. The highest mean absorbance value; which is indicative of the greatest concentration of antibodies produced; was recorded for the Group 4 animals. The Group 4 animals received an ARD implant on Day 0 of the program and 3 subsequent injections to the back flank area on Days 7, 14 and 21.
The mean absorbance value of Group 4 was greater than the value produced by the Group 1 goats, who only received IM injections at day 7, 14 and 21.
Both Group 1 and 4 animals showed some response up to approximately Day 14. At Day 15, the levels of anti-lipase antibodies increased substantially, presumably a consequence of the secondary immune response. The higher levels of antibodies were sustained for the duration of the study, in this case up to Day 28.
The levels of anti-lipase antibodies in the serum of the inoculated animals was also measured, as shown in
The protocol used two lactating goats (Capra hircus) for each group, with four goats used in total. The antigen used was lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens.
Preparation for Immunisation Protocol
Coating Plates for Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Protocol
Results
Milk collected was analysed by ELISA for levels of IgG, IgA and IgM. Results from Group 1 (intermuscular into the flank—designated G1) and Group 2 (stimulation of the supramammary lymph node—G2 animals) in
Materials
(i) Beckman Acuspin refrigerated centrifuge
(ii) Rennet Type II from Mucor meihei (Sigma) in Hp water at a concentration of 2 mg/ml
(ii) 10 ml sterile centrifuge tubes
(iv) P1000 pipetteman
(v) 1 ml disposable transfer pipettes
(vi) 5 ml plastic storage tubes
(vii) 37° C. incubator
Method
Milk was collected by hand milking into 32 ml glass McCartney bottles in the absence of any chemical or mechanical stimuli. Milk was generally collected in the morning without prior separation from kids. Samples were stored on ice after collection and transferred as soon as practicable thereafter. Milk was transferred to sterile 10 ml centrifuge tubes and centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 15 mins at 4° C. Milk was aspirated from under the solid fat layer using disposable pipette and placed in fresh 10 ml tube. The pipette was carefully plunged through the fat layer into the milk layer below. 2 mg/ml Rennet solution was added to the milk at the ratio of 0.4 ml rennet to 5 ml milk, tubes were shaken then incubated at 37° C. for 1 to 2 hours. Tubes were centrifuged at 5000 rpm×15 mins at 4° C. Supernatant was removed by transfer pipette and stored at −20° C.
Antibodies in the milk were quantified by the ELISA.
Materials
(i) 7 ml of 9 ml Vacutainers™ (Bectco Dickinson) for serum collection
(ii) 20G×1.5 inch Vacutainer™ (Bectco Dickinson) needles and holder
Method
Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein using Vacutainer™ collection tubes, holder and needle. Tubes were stored at 4° C. Samples were centrifuged at 4000 rpm×15 min at 4° C. Upper serum layer was removed using a transfer pipette and stored at −20° C.
Materials
100 μl of lipase in carbonate buffer was added to the wells of the ELISA plate and stored at 4° C. overnight. Plates were washed 3 times with PBS-TW. 100 μl of serum diluent was added to wells for serum analysis, and 90 μl were added to wells for milk analysis. 1 μl of serum sample and 10 μl of milk sample added to the serum diluent. The mixture was created by gentle tapping the plate. The plates were stored at 4° C. overnight. The plates were washed 3 times with PBS-TW. 100 μl of a 1/2500 dilution of Donkey anti-goat IgG-HRP in 0.85% saline added to each well. The plates were incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. The plates were washed 3 times with PBS-TW. 9 parts of Part A and 1 part of Part B of TMBS were mixed in a glass Schott bottle and 100 μl was added to each well. The plates were incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes. 100 μl 1M H2SO4 was added to each well and plate read on spectrophotometer at 450 nm. A printout of the absorbance results was obtained. The absorbance values of each milk and blood sample collected from all animals were measured. Plots of absorbance values on the y-axis against time (days) on the x-axis were prepared for individual animals and the average absorbance value for each group (comprising two test subjects).
Results are present in
Results are present in
In well 2 and 3, a zone of lipid hydrolysis is evident as a result of the activity of the lipase enzyme. In well 5, the activity of lipase is inhibited by the addition of serum containing anti-lipase activity. Well 1, which serum does not contain antibodies, shows no hydrolytic activity. This show that there components of the serum does not affect lipids in milk. Similarly, the serum that contains anti-lipase antibodies does not hydrolyse lipids in milk (well 4). Lane 6 is a negative control (containing only PBS) and shows no hydrolysis of lipids.
In summary, the addition of lipase hydrolyses lipids that are contained within milk contained in the milk agar plate as evident in wells 2 and 3. There appears to be elements in the serum that enhances the hydrolytic activity, when the diameter of zoning is compared between wells 3 and 2. This is not unexpected, since serum is a protein rich solution that may contain elements that are synergistic with the lipase enzyme. Nevertheless, the hydrolytic activity of the lipase enzyme, including the factors of serum, is completely inhibited by the inclusion of the anti-lipase antibody (see well 5). There was no hydrolytic activity produced by serum only (well 1 and 4) and saline (well 6).
In
Results from examples 16 and 17 are presented in
In
The experiment was repeated at 10° C. and 4° C. At 10° C., the rate of pH change between lipase spike milk that contain antibody and those that do not contain the antibody were similar, indicating that mechanisms other that lipase hydrolysis is at work. At 4° C., the rate of change without antibody was greater when compared to the sample containing the anti-lipase antibody.
Results are presented in
Milk was incubated with lipase and eight dilutions of serum containing anti-lipase antibody. A positive control (lipase only with no serum) and a negative serum (saline or PBS only) were also prepared for comparison. The pH of milk was measured prior to start of the experiment and one hour after incubation. At the 1:2 and 1:5 dilutions, the pH change was minimal. As the concentrations of antibodies are decreased, the pH changes are distinct, suggesting an antibody dose-effect on the lipolysis of milk fat by lipase.
In contrast, milk that was incubated with serum containing no antibodies showed the hydrolytic activity of lipase. The change in pH over the incubation period (1 hr) suggests that lipase is hydrolyzing the lipids in the milk.
Although the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations and modifications may be made within the scope, of the broad principles of the invention. Hence, it is intended that the preferred embodiments and all of such variations and modifications be included within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2004905761 | Oct 2004 | AU | national |