Highlights:
A research team from the
Scripps Research Institute (SRI) have discovered that several class of existing
anthelmintic drugs (deworming drugs) called salicylanilides to be effective
against Clostridium difficile bacteria. Clostridium
difficile infections are found to be a major cause for most
of the intestinal infections in United States.
The study found that several
strains including epidemic and hypervirulent strains of Clostridium difficile
bacterium which recurs after treatment were also killed using salicylanilides. - Clostridium difficile bacterium can be a common cause for most of the intestinal infections.
- A team of researchers from Scripps Research Institute (SRI) found salicylanilides to be effective against Clostridium difficile bacteria.
- Salicylanilides act by altering the electrical properties of the cell membrane to disrupt the survival of Clostridium difficile bacteria.
The Secret Genetic Weapon of Clostridium Difficile Identified by Researchers
The location of the genes that control production of toxins that harm people infected by Clostridium difficile bacteria have been identified by researchers.
The location of the genes that control production of toxins that harm people infected by Clostridium difficile bacteria have been identified by researchers.
‘Salicylanilide drugs are now found to combat Clostridium difficile infections.’
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The research study
focusing on C.difficile infections was published online in the Scientific
Reports. Research Study on Salicylanilides
Salicylanilides are chemical amide compounds of salicylic acid and anilines. Drugs like niclosamide, oxyclozanide, rafoxanide are some of the salicylanilides which are effective anthelminitics.Kim D. Janda, the Ely R. Callaway, Jr. Professor of Chemistry, Director of the Worm Institute for Research & Medicine (WIRM) , Member of The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at TSRI and senior author of the study said that “These salicylanilide compounds have all the right features, and they’ve long been used in animals, so I think they can be quickly repurposed against C. difficile infections in people”
Antibiotics Pave Way for C. Diff Infections by Killing Bile Acid-Altering Bacteria
New research from suggests that bile acids which are altered by bacteria normally living in the large intestine inhibit the growth of Clostridium difficile.
New research from suggests that bile acids which are altered by bacteria normally living in the large intestine inhibit the growth of Clostridium difficile.
Oxyclozanide and rafoxanide are approved veterinary drugs for deworming animals. Niclosamide is used for the treatment of tapeworm infections in humans.
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Culturing of Human Gut Microbes Raises Hopes for Using Bugs as Drugs
Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have grown and studied the genome of more than 130 bacteria from the human intestine.
Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have grown and studied the genome of more than 130 bacteria from the human intestine.
The findings of the study reported that closantel and rafoxanide were effective in killing the stationary phase cells of C. difficile infections. These cells are important toxins which damage gut wall and stimulates inflammation in C.difficile infections. Stationary phase cells are hard seed-like spores which tend to stay on the surface for long time and is responsible for high transmission rates of infections in the hospitals.
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Favorable Properties of Salicylanilides
- Stays in the Gut for Longer Time: Pills or the oral form of salicylanilides are not well absorbed in the bloodstream which makes it stay in the gut for a longer time thereby increasing the potency and minimizing the side effects.
- Low Drug Resistance: There is no significant resistance for salicylanilides by C.difficile bacteria.
- Impact on Good Gut Bacteria: Good gut bacteria are mostly microorganisms present in the digestive tract and plays a major role in preventing bowel disorders, ulcers and other inflammatory conditions. Salicylanilides have minimal impact on good gut bacteria.
Mechanism Behind Salicylanilide Effectiveness
Previous studies suggest that salicylanilides are found to act by altering the electrical properties of the cell membrane which disrupts the existence of C.difficile bacterium.New salicylanilide compounds were designed by improving membrane targeting effects for killing C.difficile infections.
Clostridium difficile Infections
Clostridium difficile infections are bacterial infections which lead to diarrhea and colitis infections (inflammation of colon). According to an analysis in 2011 from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), it was estimated that 450,000 cases and 30,000 deaths were due to C.difficile infections in United States.These infections mostly occur after treatment with antibiotics (mainly broad spectrum antibiotics which act against several types of bacteria), people with weak immune system, staying in a hospital for long time or any other conditions like inflammatory disease.
Symptoms of Clostridium difficile infections may include:
- Watery diarrhea
- Painful abdominal cramps
- Sickness
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
