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Effect of a glutamine-supplemented diet on response to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice
I Suzuki1, Y Matsumoto, A A Adjei
1Department of Food and Nutrition, Kumamoto Women's University, Japan.
Abstract:
The following study was undertaken to determine whether dietary supplementation with glutamine can be used to modulate the immune response following challenge with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) organisms in mice. Thirty BALB/c female mice were randomized into 3 groups: group A (n = 10) were fed 20% casein diet (control), whereas the mice in Groups B (n = 10) and C (n = 10) were given 20% casein diet supplemented with 2 and 4% glutamine, respectively. The diets were made isonitrogenous by glycine and alanine supplementation. On the 10th day on these treatments, each mouse was challenged intravenously with 2 x 10(8) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml of MRSA organisms and mortality was noted for 20 days. The survival rate in Group A (20%) tended to be lower than the rates in Group B (40%), and Group C (70%). CFU values of spleen and kidney of the surviving mice 20 days post challenge were not different among the three groups (p < 0.05). The present results suggest that dietary glutamine supplementation may be effective as a nutritional immunomodulator for the recovery from MRSA infection.
Insights
Dietary glutamine supplementation improved survival rates in mice challenged with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This suggests glutamine may be a useful nutritional immunomodulator for MRSA infection recovery.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nutritional Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant public health threat.
- The immune system's response to MRSA infection is critical for patient outcomes.
- Nutritional interventions are being explored to support immune function during infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of dietary glutamine supplementation.
- To determine if glutamine affects survival rates following MRSA challenge in a murine model.
- To assess the impact of glutamine on bacterial load in key organs post-infection.
Main Methods:
- Thirty BALB/c female mice were divided into three groups: control (casein diet), 2% glutamine supplemented diet, and 4% glutamine supplemented diet.
- Diets were isonitrogenous, with glycine and alanine added as needed.
- Mice were intravenously challenged with MRSA (2 x 10(8) CFU/ml) on day 10.
- Mortality was recorded for 20 days, and bacterial counts (CFU) in spleen and kidney were assessed in survivors.
Main Results:
- Survival rates were higher in glutamine-supplemented groups (40% for 2% and 70% for 4%) compared to the control group (20%).
- No significant differences in spleen or kidney bacterial counts were observed among the groups in surviving mice.
- A trend suggested improved survival with increasing dietary glutamine concentration.
Conclusions:
- Dietary glutamine supplementation shows potential as a nutritional immunomodulator.
- Glutamine may enhance recovery from MRSA infections by improving survival rates.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind glutamine's protective effects.