Actions of gluco-oligosaccharide against Staphylococcus aureus

Heavy colonization of atopic dermatitis (AD) with Staphylococcus aureus is well documented. The purpose of the present study is to examine the actions of gluco-oligosaccharide (G-OS) against S. aureus for the control of AD skin lesions infected with S. aureus. The colony counts of S. aureus cells in 0.5% sodium chloride solution supplemented with 5% G-OS (pH 4.8) were about 10-fold lower than those in 0.5% sodium chloride solution (pH 6.6; control) after incubation for 24 hours. The colony counts of S. aureus cells attached on the coverslips (pre-treatment with 1% and 5% G-OS/PBS and following treatment with plasma) were about 10-fold lower than those on the coverslips (pre-treatment with PBS and following treatment with plasma; control) in PBS after incubation for 24 hours. The materials (sugars, probably glycocalyx) that stained positively for fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-concanavalin A and were consistent with the presence of S. aureus cells were reduced when S. aureus cells attached to the coverslips treated with 5% G-OS. In conclusion, G-OS is a promising agent that can be applied topically in a cream to clear adherent S. aureus cells from skin lesions of AD in order to prevent its exacerbation. Further, 5% G-OS can inhibit glycocalyx production by S. aureus cells and consequently have some suppressive effect on the colonization of S. aureus on the horny cells of AD lesions.