RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Kuo, Chih-Feng A1 Chen, Cheng-Chih A1 Luo, Yueh-Hsia A1 Huang, Robert Y A1 Chuang, Woei-Jer A1 Sheu, Chia-Chin A1 Lin, Yee-ShinYR 2005 T1 Cordyceps sinensis mycelium protects mice from group A streptococcal infection JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 54 IS 8 SP 795 OP 802 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.45704-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB Group A streptococcus (GAS) infection can cause severe invasive diseases, including necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Cordyceps sinensis, a Chinese herbal medicine, is an immunomodulator. In this study the air-pouch bacterial inoculation model was used to investigate the protective efficacy of C. sinensis mycelium extract against GAS infection. Force-feeding mice with C. sinensis mycelium extract for 3 consecutive days before GAS infection increased the survival rate and reduced local skin-tissue injury compared with mice fed PBS. Bacterial numbers in the air pouch exudates from C. sinensis-treated mice were lower than those from PBS-treated mice. Blood and organs in PBS-treated mice showed bacterial dissemination, but those in C. sinensis-treated mice did not. Three days of pretreatment with C. sinensis extract followed by C. sinensis treatment every other day after GAS infection resulted in 100 % survival. The post-GAS-infection levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and blood urea nitrogen in the sera of C. sinensis-treated mice were lower than those of PBS-treated mice. Taken together, these results show that C. sinensis mycelium extract protects by decreasing bacterial growth and dissemination, thereby increasing mouse survival rate. IL-12 and IFN-γ expression and macrophage phagocytic activity also increased after C. sinensis treatment., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.45704-0