Comparative studies on Polyferm and Fermosorb, two oral (ferment + sorbent) - type preparations designed for therapy/prophylaxis of intestinal infections in animal neonates

Where do the immunostimulatory effects of oral proteolytic enzymes (‘systemic enzyme therapy’) come from? Microbial proteolysis as a possible starting point

Enteric-coated proteolytic enzyme preparations like Wobenzym and Phlogenzym are widely used for the so-called 'systemic enzyme therapy' both in humans and animals. Numerous publications reveal that oral proteolytic enzymes are able to stimulate directly the activity of immune competent cells as well as to increase efficiency of some of their products. But origins of the immunostimulatory effects of oral proteolytic enzymes are still unclear. The hypothesis described here suggests that it may be proteolysis of intestinal microorganisms that makes the immune competent cells to work in the immunostimulatory manner. The hypothesis was largely formed by several scientific observations: First, microbial lysis products (lipopolysaccharides, muropeptides and other peptidoglycan fragments, beta-glucans, etc.) are well known for their immunostimulatory action. Second, a normal human being hosts a mass of intestinal microorganisms equivalent to about 1 kg. The biomass (mainly due to naturally occurring autolysis) continuously supplies the host's organism with immunostimulatory microbial cell components. Third, the immunostimulatory effects resulting from the oral application of exogenously acting antimicrobial (lytic) enzyme preparations, such as lysozyme and lysosubtilin, are likely to be a result of the action of microbial lysis products. Fourth, cell walls of most microorganisms contain a considerable amount of proteins/peptides, a possible target for exogenous proteolytic enzymes. In fact, several authors have already shown that a number of proteases possess an ability to lyse the microbial cells in vitro. Fifth, the pretreatment of microbial cells (at least of some species) in vitro with proteolytic enzymes makes them more sensitive to the lytic action of lysozyme and, otherwise, pretreatment with lysozyme makes them more susceptible to proteolytic degradation. Sixth, exogenous proteases, when in the intestines, may participate in final steps of food-protein digestion. The resulting food-borne peptides have recently been shown to be potential activators of microbial autolysis. The main question that needs to be answered in order to verify the hypothesis is whether oral proteases are able (and to what extent) to lyse/mediate lysis of intestinal microorganisms in situ. Methods based on up-to-date molecular biology techniques to allow investigation of the influence of exogenous proteases on microbial lysis processes in vivo (in the intestines) need to be developed. Research testing of this hypothesis may have an important impact in development of novel preparations for the systemic enzyme therapy.

Stimulation of microbial autolytic system by tryptic casein hydrolysate

Antimicrobial activity of a tryptic casein hydrolysate (TCH), its mode of antimicrobial action and its efficacy in treatment using a newborn calf colibacillosis model are described. The antimicrobial activity of TCH activated the autolytic system of the microbial cell and was expressed mathematically as the autolysis activation index. TCH stimulated the autolytic enzyme system of the 19 bacterial and five fungal strains tested. The autolysis activation index for naturally-autolyzing microorganisms was 1.45-22.0. Autolysis in three bacterial and one fungal strain that did not lyse in the absence of TCH was increased in its presence by 3.9-56.7% showing activation of latent autolysis. The in vivo trials on 800 newborn calves revealed 93.0% therapeutic and 93.5% prophylactic efficacy for TCH. These levels were similar to the 95.0 and 95.5% attained when Fermosorb, an authorized antimicrobial drug, was used.

Comparative antimicrobial activity of lysosubtilin and its acid-resistant derivative, Fermosorb

Comparative data are given on the in vitro activity of lysosubtilin against micro-organisms and its acid-resistant derivative, Fermosorb. The lytic activity Fermosorb against all micro-organisms tested was higher (in the range of 0.9-7.7 and 4.1-13.5% for bacteria and filamentous fungi/yeasts, respectively) than that achieved by the action of lytic enzymes present in lysosubtilin solution. All six lysosubtilin-resistant strains tested were Fermosorb-susceptible. Considering the increase in the incidence of antibiotic resistance antimicrobial enzymotherapy or enzymoprophylaxis by means of Fermosorb might be considered for the treatment of intestinal infections in animals.