[Protective effect of schizophyllan on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of mouse (author's transl)]

Effects of schizophyllan (SPG) and several antibiotics in combination against experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were examined. (1) Whereas the increase in protective effect of SPG was not observed in combination with carbenicillin or sulbenicillin, remarkable effects could be recognized in combination with dibekacin or gentamicin (GM). The combined therapy with SPG and GM proved to be most excellent. (2) The time course for changes of viable number of Ps. aeruginosa in various organs of mice revealed that the multiplication of the infected bacteria was more markedly inhibited in mice treated with SPG and GM in combination than those treated with each alone. (3) The increase in bactericidal activity of the peritoneal exudate cells was more remarkably demonstrated in the combined treatment with SPG and GM than with each alone, showing the rapid clearance of bacteria from the peritoneal cavity in the former. (4) The microscopic estimation demonstrated that the increase in both phagocytic index and intracellular digestion of bacteria by cultivated macrophages was larger in combination of SPG and GM than each alone. (5) The measurement of viable number of bacteria in cultivated macrophages by the plate-count method also showed that the ingestion and bactericidal activity within the cells were much higher in combined treatment with SPG and GM than each alone.