Passive Immunization Through Avian Egg Antibodies

Oral administration of specific antibodies is an attractive approach to establish passive immunization against various pathogens in humans and animals. Egg yolk contains over 100 mg of IgY per egg and is considered to be a more hygienic and economical source of antibodies, than antibodies from mammalian sera. Recently, considerable research has focussed on the use of IgY as an alternative to mammalian antibodies for several applications, most notably for oral passive immunization against various bacteria and viruses. Oral administration of IgY has proven to be successful for the treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) pathogens such as bovine and human rotaviruses, bovine coronavirus, Yersinia ruckeri, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Edwardsiella, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas. Recent advances in hybridoma technology, for the production of monoclonal IgY, also present many benefits for its universal application. IgY technology has significant future opportunities for the design of strategies for the prevention and treatment of infectious gastrointestinal diseases in humans and animals.