title: In vitro activity of the antiasthmatic drug zafirlukast against the oral pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans.
abstract: Oral infections are among the most common diseases worldwide. Many protocols for the prevention and treatment of oral infections have been described, yet no golden standard has been developed so far. The antiseptic chlorhexidine and antibiotics are often used in these treatment procedures. However, long-term use of chlorhexidine can lead to side effects and extensive use of antibiotics can promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which in turn can compromise the effectiveness of the treatment. Consequently, it remains important to search for new antibacterial agents for the treatment of oral infections. In this study, we report on the antibacterial activity of the antiasthma drug zafirlukast against oral pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans. Furthermore, its activity against oral biofilms grown on titanium surfaces was confirmed. In addition, we demonstrated that zafirlukast displays no cytotoxicity against human osteoblasts. Combined, this study paves the way for further research to determine the potential of zafirlukast to be used as a new antibiotic against oral pathogens.
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerits
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isolde
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van der Massen
authors.affiliation: UZ Leuven, Restorative Dentistry- KU Leuven, BIOMAT, Department of Oral Health Sciences, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandamme
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.|VIB, Department of Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kaat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Cremer
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrijn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Brucker
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thevissen
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.|VIB, Department of Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bruno P A
authors.initials: BPA
authors.lastname: Cammue
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beullens
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.|IMEC, Smart Systems and Emerging Technologies Unit, Department of Life Science Technologies, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.|Smart Systems and Emerging Technologies Unit, Department of Life Science Technologies, imec, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fauvart
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michiels
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D058492:Drug Repositioning; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014105:Tosyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007211:Indoles; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; C062735:zafirlukast
keywords: Porphyromonas gingivalis; Streptococcus mutans; Zafirlukast; biofilms; oral pathogens