Inhibition of adhesion of Neisseria meningitidis to human epithelial cells by berry juice polyphenolic fractions

• Published in: Phytotherapy Research
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2011
• Subjects: Life Sciences; Marko; Sanna; Crowberry
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2262/56734; https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3349

Abstract Adhesion of pathogens to host tissues is the requirement for the initiation of the majority of infectious diseases. We recently showed that the binding of Neisseria meningitidis pili to immobilised human epithelial cells is inhibited by molecular size fractions (10?100 kDa) of berry juices. Additionally, the isolated meningococcal pili bound to polyphenolic fractions of berry juices. In the present study we investigated the antiadhesive effects of berry juice polyphenolics against living meningococcal bacteria in a human epithelial cell culture model. The ability of bilberry, cranberry, crowberry, and lingonberry juice polyphenolic fractions to inhibit the attachment of N. meningitidis bacteria to HEC-1B human epithelial cells in a cell culture model was examined. Antibacterial effect of the fractions was tested using microtiter broth microdilution assay. The most effective adhesion inhibition of 75 % was achieved with cranberry juice polyphenolic fraction followed by crowberry (63%), bilberry (63%), and lingonberry (57%) juice polyphenolic fractions. Bacterial survival rates after incubation with the fractions varied between 75?100 %. The present results suggest berry juice polyphenols as inhibitors of adherence of N. meningitidis. Thus the binding of meningococci to berry juice polyphenols might be protective for the host against the infection. [e-mail] (Toivanen, Marko) [e-mail] (Huttunen, Sanna) [e-mail] (Lapinjoki, Seppo) [e-mail] (Tikkanen-Kaukanen, Carina) University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy - Kuopio - FINLAND (Toivanen, Marko) University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition - P.O.Box 1627--> - FI-70211 - Kuopio - FINLAND (Huttunen, Sanna) University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy - Kuopio - FINLAND (Lapinjoki, Seppo) University of Eastern Finland, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition - PO Box 1627--> - 70211 - Kuopio - FINLAND (Tikkanen-Kaukanen, Carina) FINLAND