Effects of fucosylated milk of goat and mouse on Helicobacter pylori binding to Lewis b antigen

AIM: To evaluate the effects of animal milk containing fucosylated antigens on Helicobacter pylori ( H pylori) binding to Lewis b antigen. METHODS: A mammary gland expression vector containing human alpha 1-3/4-fucosyltransferase cDNA sequences was constructed. Transient expression of human alpha 1-3/4-fucosyltransferase cDNA in goat mammary cell and establishment of transgenic mice were performed. The adhesion inhibitory properties of milk samples were analyzed by using H pylori. RESULTS: Goat milk samples were found to inhibit bacterial binding to Lewis b antigen. The highest inhibition was observed 42 h after injection of the plasmid. The binding activity of H pylori to Lewis b antigen reduced mostly, by 83%, however milk samples from transgenic mice did not inhibit H pylori binding to Lewis b antigen. CONCLUSION: The use of "humanized" animal milk produced by the transgenic introduction of fucosylated antigen can perhaps provide an alternative therapy and preventive measure for H pylori infection.