Galacto-Oligosaccharides as an Anti-Infective and Anti-Microbial Agent for Macrolide-Resistant and -Sensitive <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i>
Hongzhen Zhu,
Yang Cai,
Lisa J. M. Slimmen,
Adrianus C. J. M. de Bruijn,
Annemarie M. C. van Rossum,
Gert Folkerts,
Saskia Braber,
Wendy W. J. Unger
Affiliations
Hongzhen Zhu
Laboratory of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Yang Cai
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
Lisa J. M. Slimmen
Laboratory of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Adrianus C. J. M. de Bruijn
Laboratory of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Annemarie M. C. van Rossum
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Gert Folkerts
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
Saskia Braber
Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
Wendy W. J. Unger
Laboratory of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
The worldwide increase in the incidence of antibiotic resistance of the atypical bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) challenges the treatment of MP infections, especially in children. Therefore, alternative strategies for the treatment of MP infections are warranted. Galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides (GOS and FOS) are a specific group of complex carbohydrates that were recently shown to possess direct anti-pathogenic properties. In this study, we assessed whether GOS and FOS exert anti-microbial and anti-infective effects against MP and, especially, macrolide-resistant MP (MRMP) in vitro. The MIC values of GOS for MP and MRMP were 4%. In contrast, the MIC values of FOS for both MP and MRMP were 16%. A time-kill kinetic assay showed that FOS possess bacteriostatic properties, while for GOS, a bactericidal effect against MP and MRMP was observed after 24 h at a concentration of 4x MIC. In co-cultures with human alveolar A549 epithelial cells, GOS killed adherent MP and MRMP and also concentration-dependently inhibited their adherence to A549 cells. Further, GOS suppressed (MR)MP-induced IL-6 and IL-8 in A549 cells. None of the aforementioned parameters were affected when FOS were added to these co-cultures. In conclusion, the anti-infective and anti-microbial properties of GOS could provide an alternative treatment against MRMP and MP infections.
