title: Effect of beta-lactamase inhibitors on normal immune capabilities and their interactions with staphylococcal pathogenicity.
abstract: The effects of the beta-lactamase inhibitors, clavulanic acid, sulbactam and tazobactam on normal immune responses were investigated. These agents did not interfere with either humoral or cell-mediated immune responses as measured by the hemolytic plaque assay and delayed type hypersensitivity reaction assay respectively. In addition, human polymorphonuclear leukocyte phagocytic activity was not altered by these agents. When these agents were tested for their effect on Staphylococcus aureas adherence to buccal epithelial cells we found that all inhibitors suppressed staphylococcal adherence at therapeutic serum concentrations. Among the inhibitors investigated, sulbactam was found to significantly inhibit the hemolysin production of S. aureus. These data suggest that beta-lactamase inhibitors do not exhibit immunomodulating activity, but they interfere with some of the virulence factors of S. aureus. These findings suggest the advantage of preparations containing these inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Al-Zamil
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shibl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D047090:beta-Lactams
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams