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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 2007, p. 3056-3062, Vol. 51, No. 9
0066-4804/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.01295-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Chitosan Malate Inhibits Growth and Exotoxin Production of Toxic Shock Syndrome-Inducing Staphylococcus aureus Strains and Group A Streptococci{triangledown}

Patrick M. Schlievert*

Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455

Received 17 October 2006/ Returned for modification 19 February 2007/ Accepted 7 June 2007

Previously, it has been shown that the polysaccharide chitosan inhibits the growth of gram-positive bacteria. In this study, chitosan malate was evaluated in broth and thin-film cultures for its effect on the growth and exotoxin production of toxic shock syndrome (TSS)-inducing Staphylococcus aureus (five strains, three producing TSS toxin 1 and one each producing enterotoxin B or C) and group A streptococci (three strains producing streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A). Also, the compound was evaluated in a rabbit subcutaneous Wiffle ball model for its ability to prevent S. aureus and group A streptococcal induction of TSS. Finally, chitosan malate was evaluated for its ability to prevent TSS and necrotizing fasciitis in rabbits after subcutaneous inoculation with microbes. Chitosan malate inhibited both bacterial growth and, at sub-growth-inhibitory concentrations, the production of exotoxins, in both broth and thin-film cultures. Rabbits treated with chitosan malate in implanted Wiffle balls were protected from prior challenge with TSS-inducing S. aureus compared to animals not receiving chitosan malate (P < 0.001) and group A streptococci (P < 0.005). Chitosan malate protected rabbits from the development of streptococcal TSS with necrotizing fasciitis (P < 0.01). The data suggest that use of this growth- and toxin-inhibitory compound may be able to reduce the severity of S. aureus and group A streptococcal mucous membrane and trauma-associated skin infections.

* Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, MMC 196, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Phone: (612) 624-9471. Fax: (612) 626-0623. E-mail: schli001{at}umn.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 18 June 2007.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 2007, p. 3056-3062, Vol. 51, No. 9
0066-4804/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.01295-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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