Effects of treatment with muramyl dipeptide and certain of its analogs on resistance to Listeria monocytogenes in mice

Abstract

Studies were carried out to determine whether treatment of mice with the synthetic adjuvant muramyl dipeptide (MDP) afforded any resistance to infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Regardless of the timing, dose, or route of administration, there was no evidence that treatment with either MDP or two of its analogs (des-MDP or MDP-D-D) induced any resistance to listeria infection in BALB/c, CBA/J, or C57BL/6J mice. In contrast, pretreatment with MDP induced marked protection to infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae (type III).

Evaluating the antibacterial activity of muramyl dipeptide derivatives, retro-tuftsin derivatives, and anthraquinone oligopeptides against a range of pathogenic bacteria

“…This phenomenon was first described by Chedid and others (Chedid et al, 1977), who demonstrated that MDP administered intravenously, subcutaneously, or even orally reduced the mortality of mice infected the day later with a lethal dose of K. pneumoniae. MDP and its analogs can stimulate the non-specific immunity of various animals to infections caused by bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Chedid et al, 1978;Fraser-Smith et al, 1982;Humphers et al, 1980;Masihi et al, 1985;Matsumoti et al, 1981;Osada et al, 1982).…”