Transgenic technology: the strategy for the control and prevention of bovine staphylococcal mastitis?

Mastitis is the disease that most affects dairy cattle with losses above US$ 2 billion per year in the United States alone. It frequently presents bacterial origin, with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) standing out as a pathogen challenging to eliminate because of the high resistance to antimicrobials. Antimicrobial therapy often demonstrates failure, with low cure rates, bacterial resistance and bacterial seclusion in the outbreaks of infection as well as leaving its residues in soil, water, and even animal products. Advances in research may provide benefits to animal welfare by increasing cow's resistance to mastitis by inducing mammary gland cells to secrete an antibacterial protein called lysostaphin, which is a potent staphylocolytic enzyme. Over the years, research groups have developed projects aimed at developing particular immunomodulators, as well as transgenic lysostaphin-secreting cows. The focus of this review is to compile studies on the use of lysostaphin and in the therapeutic and prophylactic control of staphylococcal mastitis using genetic engineering and biotechnology as an alternative tool. In the transgenic models of mice and cows, lysostaphin was able to prevent staphylococcal mastitis presenting little effect on the integrity of the mammary gland, animal physiology and milk produced. Further studies should be performed not only related to cases of prevention of staphylococcal mastitis, but also in the treatment and maintenance of the long-term action of lysostaphin.