# HOST DEFENSE MECHANISM--CONTROL OF SURGICAL INFECTION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · 1990 · $461,410

## Abstract

Infections in surgical patients continue to be a major source of morbidity
and mortality, especially in patients admitted to intensive care units.
Studies have been designed to improve resistance to infection by means of
nutritional therapy and improvement of gut barrier functions.  Routine and
immunofluorescent light microscopy, transmission and immuno-electron
microscopy, and isotope techniques will be used to determine how and where
microbes and endotoxin traverse the epithelial barrier of the intestine,
and follow their disposition within various cells and tissues.
Quantitation of translocation will employ probes of 14C endotoxin, 3H-
labeled and unlabeled E. coli and 3H labeled and unlabeled C. albicans in
mice and guinea pigs.  Rates and amounts of translocation will be
correlated with mortality in burn and burn infected animals, extent of
activation in various macrophages, stimulation of catabolic hormone
release, stimulation of resting energy expenditure, the ability to clear S.
aureus from inoculated sites, and stimulation of resting energy
expenditure, the ability to clear S. aureus from inoculated sites, and
selected immunologic responses.  The following variables will be evaluated
for their ability to reduce translocation of endotoxin after burn injury:
intestinal hormones, growth hormones, endotoxin binders, prostaglandin
analogues, allopurinol and various types of dietary lipids, various soluble
fibers, tocopherol, vitamin A, glutamine, and proteins in different
physical states.  Potential synergism between modulatory agents and dietary
components will be studies as well as the effects of reducing translocation
by these means on outcome.  Selected fatty acids of the omega 3, 6, 9
families will be studied in vitro and in vivo for their influence on
macrophage functions.  The investigators have previously shown that
survival in animals with protracted peritonitis is improved with diets
which are hypocaloric, low in protein, high in both omega 3 and 6 fatty
acids, and high in vitamins C and E.  Further studies will define the
optimal amounts of vitamin A, selenium, and soluble fibers for this
partially formulated diet.  The investigators have also shown that
hypocaloric diets, enriched in protein and omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin
E will improve survival of normal animals given an infectious challenge.
Further investigations will determine the roles of vitamins A, C, and E,
and selenium in resistance to infection in normal and malnourished animals
given a septic challenge.  The biological effects of these diets on
bacterial virulence, toxin production, and immune function will be studied
in additional experiments.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125323
- **Project number:** 2R01AI012936-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
- **SAM.gov UEI:** DZ4YCZ3QSPR5
- **Principal Investigator:** J. WESLEY ALEXANDER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $461,410
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1979-05-01 → 1993-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125323

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125323, HOST DEFENSE MECHANISM--CONTROL OF SURGICAL INFECTION (2R01AI012936-14). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125323. Licensed CC0.

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