Днепропетровская медицинская академия Министерства здравоохранения Украины, Днепропетровск, Украина Clinical signifi cance of lactoferrin in rotavirus infection in children Клиническое значение лактоферрина при ротавирусной инфекции у детей ______________________ Resume __________________________________________________________________________ The article presents data that characterize the content of lactoferrin in the oropharyngeal fl uid and blood serum in infants during gastroenteritis associated with rotavirus that the possibility of using The lactoferrin concentration in the oropharyngeal fl uid is suggested to be a marker of rotavirus infection severity. <...> Lactoferrin plays a special role in non-specifi c protection as respiratory and intestinal protein [3]. <...> Lactoferrin (LF) was identifi ed in 1939 in cow’s milk, in 1960, in human milk, and subsequently in all of exocrine glands secretion [4]. 74 Оригинальные исследования Lactoferrin (80 kDa) – is an iron-binding glycoprotein (LF, LTF, GIG12, HLF2, growth inhibitory protein 12), which is evolutionarily the youngest in a family of transferrin – cationic iron-binding glycoproteins. <...> LF polypeptide chain molecule, consisting of 692 amino acid residuals, is folded into two symmetrical homologous lobes, binding one ion Fe3+ and CO3 2- each. <...> Lactoferrin is represented by three molecular isoforms – LF-α, LF-β, LF-g, two of which – the LF-α, LF-β – have ribonuclease activity. <...> The highest concentration of LF is observed in colostrum and breast milk (3–7 mg/ml), in tears, saliva (1–4 mg/ml), bronchoalveolar fl uid (0,1–1 mg/ml). <...> It is believed that the LF attaches to viral structural polypeptides or combines with their host’s cellular receptors, spatially separates the infectious agent and the receptor [12]. <...> Lactoferrin has an inhibitory eff ect on rotavirus, HIV, hepatitis B, C, cytomegalovirus [13]. <...> Changes, occurring in the content of LF in oropharyngeal secretions and serum during rotavirus infection in infants are practically not depicted in the available scientifi c literature. <...> THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of our study was to investigate the dynamics of the lactoferrin level in the oropharyngeal fl uid and blood serum in infants during rotavirus infection. <...> The etiologic diagnosis of rotavirus gastroenteritis in all the examined children was verifi ed on the basis of a positive result by the CITO TEST ROTA <...>