The Isolation and Properties of the Immune Proteins of Bovine Milk and Colostrum and their Role in Immunity: A Review

Abstract

Colostrum serves a special function in order to enhance the resistance of the newborn to infectious disease. This is shown by the extremely high concentrations of immune lactoglobulins in the colostrum. These globulins are passively transferred to the offspring, where they may persist in the blood stream for many months. The lactoglobulins which have molecular weights near 180,000 pass from the intestinal tract of the calf to its blood stream. The immune lactoglobulins of bovine milk and colostrum, and the γ- and T-globulins of bovine serum, have been isolated and compared with respect to their physical and chemical properties. © 1948, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.