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. 1978 Jun 3;1(6125):1443–1445. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6125.1443

Phagocytosis and killing of bacteria and yeast by human milk cells after opsonisation in aqueous phase of milk.

J E Robinson, B A Harvey, J F Soothill
PMCID: PMC1604916  PMID: 348265

Abstract

Macrophages and neutrophils from human milk phagocytose and kill Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in vitro after opsonisation by the aqueous phase of milk as effectively as blood leucocytes in serum. They also phagocytose Candida albicans. The overgrowth of E coli resulting from the addition of iron to cultures of the organism in the aqueous phase of milk is not influenced by the presence of cells. We conclude that the phagocytosis and killing of bacteria by milk cells may contribute to the lower incidence of infection among breast-fed than artificially fed babies.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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