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J Med Microbiol 55 (2006), 913-918; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46405-0
© 2006 Society for General Microbiology
ISSN 1473-5644

Effect of N-chlorotaurine on Aspergillus, with particular reference to destruction of secreted gliotoxin

Emer P. Reeves1, Markus Nagl2, Joseph O'Keeffe1, Judy Kelly1 and Kevin Kavanagh1

1 Medical Mycology Unit, National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Department of Biology, NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland

2 Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

Correspondence
Emer P. Reeves
emer.reeves{at}nuim.ie

Received 7 November 2005
Accepted 22 March 2006

The fungistatic and fungicidal activity of N-chlorotaurine (NCT), a long-lived oxidant produced by stimulated neutrophils, was investigated. Physiological concentrations (75–100 µM) of NCT showed clear fungicidal activity against a range of Aspergillus isolates. Moreover, killing by NCT was significantly increased in the presence of ammonium chloride, explained by the formation of monochloramine by halogenation of ammonium. One clinical isolate of Aspergillus fumigatus was characterized for the production of the immunosuppressive agent gliotoxin, and NCT was shown to cause destruction of gliotoxin, possibly via reduction of the disulphide bridge. Because of its endogenous nature and its high antifungal activity, NCT appears to be a good choice for topical treatment of Aspergillus infections, and the results of this study further substantiate its therapeutic efficacy.

Abbreviations: FCS, fetal calf serum; NCT, N-chlorotaurine.






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