S. Illinois Univ Edwardsville1, Biology, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1651 S Illinois Univ Edwardsville2, Biology, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1651
Glycopeptide antibiotics such as vancomycin Eli Lilly and dalbavancin Vicuron/Pfizer a lipoglycopeptide derivative are used to treat drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, intestinal overgrowth of Clostridium difficile and hospital-acquired drug resistant bacteria. Bacterial activity is thru inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis, disruption of cell membrane permeability and blockage of RNA synthesis. Our laboratory has had a long standing interest in the effects of such drugs on host immune response. These glycopeptide molecules had little effect on cidal activity by murine phagocytic cells. However both drugs boosted murine DTH response to the sensitizing chemical DNFB Sigma. Organ clearance assays are in progress and will be reported. Both of these drugs have become part of the last defense against microbes including drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci. Perhaps this immune enhancement by these drugs may contribute in part to their effective antimicrobial activity. This work was supported in part by the NSF-funded LS-AMP Research Scholar's Program.
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