Cyclic oligosaccharides for use in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infection

1. A method of removing or reducing the thickness of the capsular polysaccharide layer of a bacterium containing the Wza protein, said method comprising contacting the bacterium with a compound that is a cyclic oligosaccharide of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a mixture of two or more said compounds:

wherein:

n is 3; and

each S is the same or different and represents a saccharide unit, wherein one or more S units is modified at the primary carbon position by replacement of the hydroxyl group with a functional group X which is positively charged, or which bears a positive charge when in aqueous solution at pH 7, wherein each group X is the same or different and represents a group of formula (II):

-(Alk 1 ) p -(Ar) q -(Alk 2 ) r -A  (II)

wherein:

p, q and r independently represent 0 or 1;

Alk 1 represents a straight or branched C 1-6 alkylene group wherein one or more of the CH 2 groups is optionally replaced with a heterogroup selected from —O—, —S—, —NR—, —NRCO—, —CONR, —CO—, —OCO— and —COO—, and wherein one or more of the CH 2 groups is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from OR, SR, NRR′, CH 2 OR, CH 2 SR and CH 2 NRR′, wherein R and R′ independently represent H or a C 1-2 alkyl group;

Ar represents phenyl;

Alk 2 represents methylene or ethylene; and

A represents —NR 2 or

wherein each R is the same or different and represents H or a C 1-2 alkyl group, and wherein A may be in the form of a free base or may be protonated to form a cation;

wherein the method is an in vivo method for removing or reducing the thickness of the capsular polysaccharide layer of a bacterium in a subject, and wherein the contacting is carried out by administering, orally or parenterally, to said subject an effective amount of said compound that is a cyclic oligosaccharide of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or said mixture of two or more said compounds.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting the bacterium with another antibacterial or antimicrobial agent.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the compound or the mixture of two or more compounds is the only active agent administered to said subject.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the compound is a cyclodextrin of Formula (IA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein each R 1 is the same or different and is selected from OH or a group X, wherein at least 6 R 1 groups represent a group X, and wherein each group X is the same or different and represents a functional group which is positively charged, or which bears a positive charge when in aqueous solution at pH 7.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein X is NH 2 .

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein removing or reducing the thickness of the capsular polysaccharide layer of the bacterium results in the antigens on the bacteria being attacked by the subject's immune system.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein removing or reducing the thickness of the capsular polysaccharide layer of the bacterium results in the killing of the bacterium in the subject.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein removing or reducing the thickness of the capsular polysaccharide layer of the bacterium inhibits the growth of the bacterium in the subject.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is other than Staphylococcus aureus.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is selected from Acinetobacter Venetianus, Eschericia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Achtinobacillus suis or Bordetella bronchiseptica.

11. A method of removing or reducing the thickness of the capsular polysaccharide layer of a Wza-containing bacterium in a subject, said method comprising administering to said subject, orally or parenterally, an effective amount of a compound that is a cyclic oligosaccharide of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a mixture of two or more said compounds:

wherein:

n is 3; and

each S is the same or different and represents a saccharide unit, wherein one or more S units is modified at the primary carbon position by replacement of the hydroxyl group with a functional group X which is positively charged, or which bears a positive charge when in aqueous solution at pH 7, wherein each group X is the same or different and represents a group of formula (II):

-(Alk 1 ) p -(Ar) q -(Alk 2 ) r -A  (II)

wherein:

p, q and r independently represent 0 or 1,

Alk 1 represents a straight or branched C 1-6 alkylene group wherein one or more of the CH 2 groups is optionally replaced with a heterogroup selected from —O—, —S—, —NR—, —NRCO—, —CONR, —CO—, —OCO— and —COO—, and wherein one or more of the CH 2 groups is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from OR, SR, NRR′, CH 2 OR, CH 2 SR and CH 2 NRR′, wherein R and R′ independently represent H or a C 1-2 alkyl group;

Ar represents phenyl;

Alk 2 represents methylene or ethylene; and

A represents —NR 2 or

wherein each R is the same or different and represents H or a C 1-2 alkyl group, and wherein A may be in the form of a free base or may be protonated to form a cation;

wherein removing or reducing the thickness of the capsular polysaccharide layer of the bacterium inhibits the growth of the bacterium in the subject.