Perspectives on interactions between lactoferrin and bacteria.

Lactoferrin has long been recognized for its antimicrobial properties, initially attributed primarily to iron sequestration. It has since become apparent that interaction between the host and bacteria is modulated by a complex series of interactions between lactoferrin and bacteria, lactoferrin and bacterial products, and lactoferrin and host cells. The primary focus of this review is the interaction between lactoferrin and bacteria, but interactions with the lactoferrin-derived cationic peptide lactoferricin will also be discussed. We will summarize what is currently known about the interaction between lactoferrin (or lactoferricin) and surface or secreted bacterial components, comment on the potential physiological relevance of the findings, and identify key questions that remain unanswered.