Defatted bovine milk fat globule membrane inhibits association of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 with human HT-29 cells

The bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is a source of food-derived glycans that can offer an approach to prevent Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection by inhibiting attachment of the pathogen to host cells. Such glycans may decrease the need for antibiotic treatment by acting as prophylactics. In this study, we generated a defatted bovine MFGM fraction, rich in proteins and glycoproteins, and demonstrated its ability to prevent the association of several enterohaemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 strains with human colonic adenocarcinoma, HT-29 cells. This defatted MFGM fraction reduced bacterial association with HT-29 cells in a concentration dependent and strain specific manner. This study may present a new approach to mitigate the adverse health effects caused by E. coli infections in humans.