Isolation of milk whey oligosaccharides and their anti-adhesion activity against Neisseria meningitidis
Abstract
Anti-adhesive activity of acidic bovine milk whey oligosaccharides against Neisseria meningitidis was investigated in this study. The separated fractions were analyzed as regards acidic and neutral parts by measuring total hexoses and sialic acids content.
The inhibitory activity of the specific acidic whey oligosaccharide fractions against the attachment of meningococcal pili was studied by using a solid-phase inhibition assay in vitro. Fractions of acidic whey oligosaccharides were found to inhibit adhesion of Neisseria meningitidis type IV pili proteins to bovine thyroglobulin that was used as a reference glycoprotein.