Organosulfur prodrugs for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases

摘要

A method for enhancing the overall beneficial immune system response in a host that works in conjunction with the host's natural immune system response to simultaneously enhance the host's ability to eliminate infectious microbes while suppressing the toxicity of the immune system response to the host. Allium related organosulfur compounds have a variety of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties that work together with the host's immune system in the prevention and treatment of disease. Prophylactic and therapeutic treatment is provided by administering an allium related organosulfur compound such that a localized thiosulfinate is caused to be formed in response to localized generation of reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide by the activated immune system cells. Allium related organosulfur compounds may be administered to the host in an efficient manner through the use of protein-bound S-AllylMercaptoCysteine or similar prodrugs.