Certain surfactants show promise in the therapy of pulmonary tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to develop the basis for the use of surfactants in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Bacteria are surrounded by a thick lipid coat primarily consisting of trehalose dimycolate (TDM) and, consequently, are well shielded from the immune system's response and antibiotics. This protective barrier was removed by exposing the bacteria to certain surfactants.


METHODS
Dodecyl maltoside (DDM) and octyl glucoside (OG) were utilized as non-toxic surfactants.


RESULTS
Electron microscopy (EM) studies revealed that aggregated bacteria were also covered with excessive TDM which exacerbate the treatment efforts. Light and EM studies demonstrated that DDM and OG disperse the aggregated bacteria and are bactericidal.


CONCLUSIONS
The studies presented here establish that certain surfactants are proficient in removing MTB's shield and, because they are well known as cell permeabilizing agents, they may also enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics and the immune system's response in the treatment of pulmonary TB.
UT-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA. james.k.stoops@uth.tmc.edu
James K
JK
Stoops
Ranjana
R
Arora
Lisa
L
Armitage
Audrey
A
Wanger
Ling
L
Song
Michael R
MR
Blackburn
Gerhard R
GR
Krueger
Semyon A
SA
Risin
D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D003311:Cord Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005697:Galactosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000494:pharmacology; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D000336:Aerosols; D003311:Cord Factors; D005697:Galactosides; D005960:Glucosides; D011136:Polysorbates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C087303:octyl galactopyranoside; C040358:dodecyl maltoside