IN-VITRO EFFECT OF NATURAL AND SEMISYNTHETIC CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS ONCHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS INFECTION

The effect of different natural and semi-synthetic polysaccharides on Chlamydia trachomatis multiplication in Hela 229 cells was evaluated. Some neutral, negatively and positively charged carbohydrates were abl e, in a dose-dependent fashion, to inhibit chlamydial infection by int erfering mainly with the adsorption process. The inhibiting compounds, whose effect was shown within the concentration range of 8-200 mu g/m l, were in order of action: dextran sulphate > glyloid sulphate 4327 > glycogen sulphate 4427 > arabic gum = glyloid > chitosan > glycogen. Data obtained suggested that antichlamydial activity was not only rela ted to the electric charge of these molecules but could also be attrib uted to other features of their polymeric backbone. Since carbohydrate polymers have also been shown to inhibit the early stages of infectio n by viral agents causing sexually transmitted diseases, the employmen t of these molecules for prevention or treatment of mixed viral-C. tra chomatis infections can be hypothesized.