title: In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity of water-soluble chitosan oligosaccharides against Vibrio vulnificus.
abstract: Vibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative bacterium that induces severely rapid pathological progress. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of two water-soluble chitosan oligosaccharides, COS A (MW, 10,000 Da) and COS B (MW, 1,000 Da), from 90-95% deacetylated chitosan, against V. vulnificus in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with COS A resulted in significantly higher suppressive effects on the growth of V. vulnificus than treatment with COS B. The growth of V. vulnificus was inhibited within 1 h of treatment with water-soluble COS A in concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 10 mg/ml. Additionally, treatment with COS A completely inhibited V. vulnificus-induced cytotoxicity in human intestinal epithelial INT-407 cells, while COS B did not. Furthermore, the administration of COS A (0.1-0.5 mg per mouse) significantly increased the survival period of V. vulnificus-infected mice. The number of viable V. vulnificus in the spleen, liver, small intestine, and blood was significantly lower in COS A-treated mice than in untreated mice. Here, we clearly demonstrate that COS A is a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of infection with V. vulnificus.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myun Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kwang Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Sung
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012995:Solubility / Q000187:drug effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D014867:Water; D048271:Chitosan