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Modulating effects of mucoregulating drugs on the attachment of Haemophilus influenzae

C T Ndour1, K Ahmed, T Nakagawa

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8102, Japan.

Microbial Pathogenesis
|March 29, 2001
PubMed

Insights

S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC) reduces non-typable Haemophilus influenzae attachment to respiratory cells by altering surface charge. Ambroxol showed no effect, suggesting S-CMC may decrease respiratory infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is a major cause of human respiratory infections.
  • Bacterial attachment to pharyngeal epithelial cells is crucial for NTHI virulence.
  • Mucoregulating drugs are used to manage respiratory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC) and ambroxol on NTHI attachment to pharyngeal epithelial cells.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which S-CMC affects bacterial adhesion.

Main Methods:

  • Attachment assays using NTHI and human pharyngeal epithelial cells treated with S-CMC or ambroxol.
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to visualize bacterial attachment sites.
  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) to assess cell surface potential.

Main Results:

  • S-CMC significantly decreased NTHI attachment in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01).
  • Ambroxol did not affect bacterial attachment.
  • AFM revealed S-CMC reduced the positive surface charge of epithelial microplicae, the site of NTHI attachment.

Conclusions:

  • S-CMC inhibits NTHI attachment to pharyngeal epithelial cells, likely by reducing the positive surface charge of microplicae.
  • S-CMC may reduce respiratory infections by preventing bacterial adhesion and potentially detaching existing bacteria.
  • Ambroxol does not appear to impact NTHI adhesion to epithelial cells.

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