Open AccessInhibition of adhesion of Clostridium difficile to Caco‐2 cells
Author(s) -
Naaber Paul,
Lehto Elina,
Salminen Seppo,
Mikelsaar Marika
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1996.tb00288.x
Subject(s) - xylitol , colostrum , microbiology and biotechnology , clostridium difficile , diarrhea , adhesion , biology , antibiotics , immunology , medicine , chemistry , food science , antibody , organic chemistry , fermentation
For many microorganisms, including Clostridium difficile , mucosal association is an important factor influencing intestinal colonisation and subsequent infection. Inhibition of adhesion of C. difficile to intestinal mucosa could be a new promising strategy for prevention and treatment of antibiotic‐associated diarrhoea. We investigated the possibilities of influencing the adhesion of C. difficile by xylitol and bovine colostrum.whey. Caco‐2 cells and C. difficile cells were incubated with 1%, 5% and 10% solutions of xylitol and colostrum. Our study revealed that both xylitol and colostrum inhibited the adhesion of C. difficile to Caco‐2 cells. Inhibition by xylitol was dose‐dependent. When compared to the control, the count of adherent C. difficile decreased 3.4 times when treated with 1% xylitol, 12 times when 5% xylitol was applied, and 18.7 times when treated with 10% xylitol. The inhibition of adherence by colostrum was partially dose‐dependent: 3.1 times in the case of 1%, and 5.5 times in the cases of 5% and 10% colostrum. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed for the application of xylitol and colostrum in the treatment and prophylaxis of pseudomembraneous colitis.