Plasmablast Recruitment to the Ruminant Mammary Gland

Abstract

Antibodies derived from ruminant mammary secretion can be used prophylactically to protect humans against disease. Although ruminant colostrum is a rich source of antibodies, colostrum is produced only for a short time, whereas milk, which is produced over extended periods, contains extremely low concentrations of antibodies. Therefore the aim of this project was to investigate underlying biological principles that could be employed to develop strategies aimed at enhancing antibody levels in ruminant milk while maintaining normal milk production. To address this aim, it was proposed that increasing the numbers of antibody secreting cells (ASCs) resident in the mammary gland during the lactation period would lead to enhanced local antibody production and in turn increased amounts of antibody in milk.