IgY-technology: application and trends

The IgY-technology stand for the immunisation of chickens and the extraction of specific IgY antibodies (Ab) from egg yolk. Due to the non-invasive Ab isolation IgY-technology is internationally accepted as so-called alternative method. Despite of the aspect of animal welfare Ab production in chicken offers also outstanding economical advantages. i) purchase of chickens is much more cheep than purchase of rabbits. ii) One hen produces 17-35 g of total IgY/year. That is much more than the amount of Ab obtained from a rabbit in the same period (provided that regulations of animal welfare are observed). iii)That enormous Ab amount offers new fields of IgY application, particularly for therapeutic and/or prophylactic use in human and veterinary medicine. For example, there exists worldwide experience in successful treatment of diarrhoea in piglets, calves and also in children. Every year many children suffer or die from intestinal infections, particularly in non-developed countries. The administration of electrolyte solutions to infected children decrease the incidence of mortality but not the morbidity. Electrolyte solutions fortified with spec. Abs could decrease also the morbidity. Specific IgY Abs are used for treatment of infections with Helicobacter pylori a widespread infection normally eradicated by antibiotic therapy. In the last time H. pylori species are observed with resistance against antibiotics. Therefore, it is important to have effective alternatives. IgY Abs directed against H. pylori derived urease have been proved as effective. Recently, a drinking yoghurt fortified with anti-H. pylori urease Abs was tested successfully. The infection was not completely eradicated but significantly decreased. It could be proved that specific IgY prevent interactions between microorganisms and her target structures. There are a lot of other IgY application fields like prophylaxis in dental caries, treatment of celiac disease, application in aquafarming and anti-snake venum production. During the last few years the IgY-technology attracts also the interest of institutions working in the field of bioterrorism. There are several toxins and viruses suited for bio attacks, e.g. ricin, botulinum toxins, staphylococcal enterotoxins etc. Furthermore, today there is a big demand for specific Ab useful for detection and neutralisation of toxins in foodstuffs and toxins being candidates for bioterroristic attacks. IgY-technology is a fast developing field and we are convinced that the use of IgY will offer new alternatives and solutions to science, to medicine and to the society as a whole. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________