Underlying Mechanism of Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan Microparticles and Implications for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092723
• Publication Date: 2014-03-21T21:02:35Z
• Authors: Soo Jin Jeon; Manhwan Oh; Won-Sik Yeo; Klibs N. Galvão; Kwang Cheol Jeong
• Keywords: Human pathogen

The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms is a great public health concern and has triggered an urgent need to develop alternative antibiotics. Chitosan microparticles (CM), derived from chitosan, have been shown reduce E. coli O157:H7 shedding in cattle model, indicating potential use as antimicrobial agent. However, the underlying mechanism CM on reducing this pathogen remains unclear. To understand mode action, we studied molecular mechanisms activity using vitro vivo methods. We report that are effective bactericidal agent with capability disrupt cell membranes. Binding assays genetic studies ompA mutant strain demonstrated outer membrane protein OmpA critical for binding, binding coupled effect CM. This was also animal model cows uterine diseases. treatment effectively reduced intrauterine pathogenic (IUPEC) uterus compared treatment. Since Shiga-toxins encoded genome bacteriophage often overexpressed during treatment, therapy generally not recommended because high risk hemolytic uremic syndrome. did induce or O157:H7; suggesting can be candidate treat infections caused by pathogen. work establishes whereby exert vivo, providing significant insight diseases broad spectrum pathogens including microorganisms.