In vitro evaluation of the efficacy of chicken egg yolk antibodies (IgY) generated against Propionibacterium acnes.

UNLABELLED: Acne vulgaris driven by multiple factors appears in almost two-third of the population. Increased resistance of the bacterium to antibiotics and cost-effective treatments have made us resort to alternative therapy.

OBJECTIVE

A novel method of targeting acne-causing bacterium Propionibacterium acnes with polyclonal chicken egg yolk antibodies was studied.

METHODS

Anti-Propionibacterium acnes antibodies were generated in white leghorn chickens by immunizing with antigen. The antibodies extracted from the egg yolk by polyethylene glycol method were subjected to the analysis. The antibody binding activity was evaluated by indirect ELISA. Further, inhibition efficiency of the antibodies was tested by growth inhibition assay, and biofilm inhibition was assessed by adherence test.

RESULTS

Titration of antibodies determined by ELISA was found to 0.323 after the first booster dose. The qualitative test for the determination of the binding activity revealed significant reduction in the colonies.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the egg yolk antibodies obtained from white leghorn chickens after immunization with the antigen may present as an alternative treatment option.