Antibodies to iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of coliform bacteria isolated from bovine intramammary infections

Expression of iron-regulated outer membrane proteins (OMP) by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae initially isolated from bovine intramammary infections (IMI) was investigated. Additionally, the presence of antibodies in bovine serum and mammary secretion directed against the iron-regulated OMP was examined. Outer membrane proteins were separated by sodium-dodecyl polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Detection of immunoglobulin G directed against OMP was by immunoblotting. All Gram-negative bacteria expressed iron-regulated OMP when grown in skim milk or trypticase soy broth plus iron chelator, alpha-alpha'-dipyridyl. Immunoglobulin G directed against the iron-regulated OMP, as well as the major OMP and several other proteins, was detected in serum and milk of lactating cows with or without Gram-negative bacterial IMI. Antibody against the iron-regulated OMP was detected also in colostrum, secretion from the involuted gland, and in newborn calf serum 4 days after ingesting colostrum.