Effects of Ginseng on PA motility and biofilm formation.

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2011 Feb 8. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.2011.00787.x. [Epub ahead of print]

Effects of Ginseng on Pseudomonas aeruginosa motility and biofilm formation.

Wu H, Lee B, Yang L, Wang H, Givskov M, Molin S, Høiby N, Song Z.

Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DENMARK Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, DENMARK Department of International health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DENMARK ESCMID Study Group on Biofilms.

Abstract

Biofilm associated chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) are virtually impossible to eradicate with antibiotics because biofilm growing bacteria are highly tolerant to antibiotics and host defence mechanisms. Previously we found that Ginseng treatments protected animal models from development of chronic lung infection by P. aeruginosa. In the present study, the effects of Ginseng on the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms were further investigated in vitro and in vivo. Ginseng aqueous-extract at concentrations of 0.5-2.0% did not inhibit growth of P. aeruginosa, but significantly prevented P. aeruginosa from forming biofilm. Exposure to 0.5% Ginseng aqueous-extract for 24 h destroyed most of 7-day-old mature biofilms formed by both mucoid and non-mucoid P. aeruginosa strains. Ginseng treatment enhanced swimming and twitching motility, but reduced swarming of P. aeruginosa at concentrations as low as 0.25%. Oral administration of ginseng extracts in mice promoted phagocytosis of P. aeruginosa PAO1 by airway phagocytes, but did not affect phagocytosis of a PAO1-filM mutant. Our study suggests that Ginseng treatment may help to eradicate the biofilm associated chronic infections caused by P. aeruginosa.

© 2011 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 21303421 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Australian Approval for Pharmaxis

08 February 2011

PHARMAXIS' BRONCHITOL RECEIVES TGA APPROVAL FOR AUSTRALIANS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Pharmaceutical company Pharmaxis (ASX: PXS) today announced that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved Bronchitol (inhaled dry powder mannitol) for marketing in Australia for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and it is now to be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

Bronchitol has been approved for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in both adult and paediatric patients aged over six years as either an add-on therapy to dornase alfa or in patients intolerant of, or inadequately responsive to, dornase alfa.

Mr Terry Stewart, CEO of CF Australia, said: "We welcome the approval of Bronchitol and congratulate Pharmaxis on its commitment to helping patients and in getting a long awaited new treatment to this point. There is a great need for new medicines for people with CF. We must not forget that this is a genetic condition; people have cystic fibrosis from their first breath, so anything new that can improve patients' way of living, their quality of life and potentially their length of life is a wonderful step forward."

Dr Alan Robertson, Pharmaxis Chief Executive Officer, said: "The TGA's decision is the first approval for Bronchitol anywhere in the world and is an historic milestone for the company. It is fitting for a product that has been discovered and developed in Australia to be made available first to Australian patients. We are extremely pleased to have concluded the regulatory review process for Bronchitol with the TGA, one of the world's leading regulatory bodies. This approval is a testament to the hard work of many people in Pharmaxis and those in the CF community worldwide who have assisted in the clinical development of Bronchitol."

Bronchitol has been the subject of two pivotal clinical trials in cystic fibrosis in over 600 people involving 93 hospitals around the world. In April 2009 Bronchitol was awarded Orphan Drug designation in Australia for the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis to improve lung function and reduce exacerbations.

Bronchitol has received Orphan Drug Designation and fast track status from the US Food and Drug Administration and Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency.

#ENDS#

SOURCE: Pharmaxis Ltd, Sydney, Australia
CONTACT: Alan Robertson - Chief Executive Officer
Ph: +61 2 9454 7200 or email alan.robertson@pharmaxis.com.au

RELEASED THROUGH:
Australia:
Felicity Moffatt, phone +61 418 677 701 or email felicity.moffatt@pharmaxis.com.au

Cystic Fibrosis Gene Mutation Tied to Pancreatitis Risk

Last Updated: February 03, 2011.

Patients with pancreatic-sufficient cystic fibrosis carrying genotypes associated with mild phenotypes appear to be at an increased risk of developing pancreatitis as compared to patients with the disease carrying genotypes associated with moderate-severe phenotypes, according to a study published in the January issue of Gastroenterology.

Patients with pancreatic-sufficient cystic fibrosis (CF) carrying genotypes associated with mild phenotypes appear to be at an increased risk of developing pancreatitis as compared to patients with the disease carrying genotypes associated with moderate-severe phenotypes, according to a study published in the January issue ofGastroenterology.

Chee Y. Ooi, of The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and colleagues identified 277 patients with pancreatic-sufficient CF from two CF population-based databases to assess whether genotypes of the CF gene (CFTR) determined the risk of pancreatitis.

The investigators found that patients with pancreatitis were more likely to have genotypes associated with mild (70 percent) as compared with moderate-severe (30 percent) pancreatic insufficiency prevalence (PIP) scores. The investigators also found that the cumulative proportion of patients who developed pancreatitis through age 50 years was significantly greater for genotypes associated with mild (50 percent) than moderate-severe (27 percent) PIP scores. Compared to patients without pancreatitis, patients with pancreatitis were diagnosed with CF at an older median age and had lower mean levels of sweat chloride.

"Specific CFTR genotypes are significantly associated with pancreatitis. Patients with genotypes associated with mild phenotypic effects have a greater risk of developing pancreatitis than patients with genotypes associated with moderate-severe phenotypes," the authors write


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