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Iqbal I, Saqib F, Mubarak Z, Latif MF, Wahid M, Nasir B, Shahzad H, Sharifi-Rad J, Mubarak MS. Alzheimer's disease and drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier: approaches and challenges. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:313. [PMID: 38849950 PMCID: PMC11161981 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01915-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a diverse disease with a complex pathophysiology. The presence of extracellular β-amyloid deposition as neuritic plaques and intracellular accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau as neurofibrillary tangles remain the core neuropathologic criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. Nonetheless, several recent basic discoveries have revealed significant pathogenic roles for other essential cellular and molecular processes. Previously, there were not so many disease-modifying medications (DMT) available as drug distribution through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is difficult due to its nature, especially drugs of polypeptides nature and proteins. Recently FDA has approved lecanemab as DMT for its proven efficacy. It is also complicated to deliver drugs for diseases like epilepsy or any brain tumor due to the limitations of the BBB. After the advancements in the drug delivery system, different techniques are used to transport the medication across the BBB. Other methods are used, like enhancement of brain blood vessel fluidity by liposomes, infusion of hyperosmotic solutions, and local intracerebral implants, but these are invasive approaches. Non-invasive approaches include the formulation of nanoparticles and their coating with polymers. This review article emphasizes all the above-mentioned techniques, procedures, and challenges to transporting medicines across the BBB. It summarizes the most recent literature dealing with drug delivery across the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iram Iqbal
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
- Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Govt of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fatima Saqib
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan.
| | - Zobia Mubarak
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Govt of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Farhaj Latif
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
| | - Muqeet Wahid
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Nasir
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Hamna Shahzad
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Javad Sharifi-Rad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Mohammad S Mubarak
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
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2
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Liu MZ, Dai XH, Zeng MT, Chen EQ. Clinical treatment of cryptococcal meningitis: an evidence-based review on the emerging clinical data. J Neurol 2024; 271:2960-2979. [PMID: 38289535 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12193-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a fatal fungal central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by Cryptococcus infecting the meninges and/or brain parenchyma, with fever, headache, neck stiffness, and visual disturbances as the primary clinical manifestations. Immunocompromised individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or who have undergone organ transplantation, as well as immunocompetent people can both be susceptible to CM. Without treatment, patients with CM may have a mortality rate of up to 100% after hospital admission. Even after receiving therapy, CM patients may still suffer from problems such as difficulty to cure, poor prognosis, and high mortality. Therefore, timely and effective treatment is essential to improve the mortality and prognosis of CM patients. Currently, the clinical outcomes of CM are frequently unsatisfactory due to limited drug choices, severe adverse reactions, drug resistance, etc. Here, we review the research progress of CM treatment strategies and discuss the suitable options for managing CM, hoping to provide a reference for physicians to select the most appropriate treatment regimens for CM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao-Zhu Liu
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xin-Hua Dai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ming-Tang Zeng
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - En-Qiang Chen
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guo Xue Xiang, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Babatunde D, Pollock AM, Ocan M, Brhlikova P. Audit of essential medicine listing and registration status of medicines on standard treatment guidelines in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda: Case study of malaria, tuberculosis, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. JRSM Open 2024; 15:20542704241232814. [PMID: 38560365 PMCID: PMC10981236 DOI: 10.1177/20542704241232814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives To determine alignment between national and World Health Organization (WHO) treatment recommendations, medicines prioritisation in country's essential medicines list (EML), and medicines availability in National drug register. Design An audit of medicines for malaria, tuberculosis, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus listed in the national standard treatment guidelines (STGs) of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as of March 2021, against WHO treatment guidelines, and respective country EML and National drug register. Setting Not applicable. Participants None. Main outcome measures Proportion of medicine in country's STGs that align with WHO treatment recommendations, country's EML and country's drug register. Results Some disease areas had two sets of treatment guidelines - national STGs and disease-specific treatment guidelines (DSGs) developed at different times with different recommended medicines. Both STGs and DSGs included medicines not recommended by the WHO or not listed on the country EML and drug register. Non-WHO-recommended medicines accounted for 17/68 (25%), 10/57 (18%) and 3/30 (10%) of all STG medicines in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, respectively. For tuberculosis, the numbers and proportion of STG medicines listed on the respective national EMLs were 2/6 (33%), 15/19 (79%) and 4/5 (80%) in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. All tuberculosis medicines included in Kenya's and Uganda's STGs were registered compared with only 12/19 (63%) tuberculosis medicines in Tanzania's STG. Conclusions Alignment between treatment guidelines, EMLs and drug registers is crucial for effective national pharmaceutical policy. Research is needed to understand the inclusion of medicines on STGs and DSGs which fall outside WHO treatment guidelines; the non-alignment of some STGs and DSGs, and STGs and DSGs including medicines which are not on country EML and drug register.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Babatunde
- Health System Strengthening, APIN Public Health Initiatives, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Allyson M Pollock
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Moses Ocan
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Petra Brhlikova
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Castro-Lopez N, Wormley FL. Models for Inducing Experimental Cryptococcosis in Mice. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2775:29-46. [PMID: 38758309 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3722-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the predominant etiological agents of cryptococcosis, a particularly problematic disease in immunocompromised individuals. The increased clinical use of immunosuppressive drugs, the inherent ability of Cryptococcus species to suppress and evade host immune responses, and the emergence of drug-resistant yeast support the need for model systems that facilitate the design of novel immunotherapies and antifungals to combat disease progression. The mouse model of cryptococcosis is a widely used system to study Cryptococcus pathogenesis and the efficacy of antifungal drugs in vivo. In this chapter, we describe three commonly used strategies to establish cryptococcosis in mice: intranasal, intratracheal, and intravenous inoculations. Also, we discuss the methodology for delivering drugs to mice via intraperitoneal injection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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Mondal S, Ghosh S. Liposome-Mediated Anti-Viral Drug Delivery Across Blood-Brain Barrier: Can Lipid Droplet Target Be Game Changers? Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 44:9. [PMID: 38123863 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01443-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) are subcellular organelles secreted from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that play a major role in lipid homeostasis. Recent research elucidates additional roles of LDs in cellular bioenergetics and innate immunity. LDs activate signaling cascades for interferon response and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since balanced lipid homeostasis is critical for neuronal health, LDs play a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases. RNA viruses enhance the secretion of LDs to support various phases of their life cycle in neurons which further leads to neurodegeneration. Targeting the excess LD formation in the brain could give us a new arsenal of antiviral therapeutics against neuroviruses. Liposomes are a suitable drug delivery system that could be used for drug delivery in the brain by crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier. Utilizing this, various pharmacological inhibitors and non-coding RNAs can be delivered that could inhibit the biogenesis of LDs or reduce their sizes, reversing the excess lipid-related imbalance in neurons. Liposome-Mediated Antiviral Drug Delivery Across Blood-Brain Barrier. Developing effective antiviral drug is challenging and it doubles against neuroviruses that needs delivery across the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). Lipid Droplets (LDs) are interesting targets for developing antivirals, hence targeting LD formation by drugs delivered using Liposomes can be game changers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Mondal
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700032, India
| | - Sourish Ghosh
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700032, India.
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Lanser DM, Bennett AB, Vu K, Gelli A. Macropinocytosis as a potential mechanism driving neurotropism of Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1331429. [PMID: 38149006 PMCID: PMC10750359 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1331429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans can invade the central nervous system by crossing the blood-brain barrier via a transcellular mechanism that relies on multiple host factors. In this narrative, we review the evidence that a direct interplay between C. neoformans and brain endothelial cells forms the basis for invasion and transmigration across the brain endothelium. Adherence and internalization of C. neoformans is dependent on transmembrane proteins, including a hyaluronic acid receptor and an ephrin receptor tyrosine kinase. We consider the role of EphA2 in facilitating the invasion of the central nervous system by C. neoformans and highlight experimental evidence supporting macropinocytosis as a potential mechanism of internalization and transcytosis. How macropinocytosis might be conclusively demonstrated in the context of C. neoformans is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Angie Gelli
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Munzen ME, Goncalves Garcia AD, Martinez LR. An update on the global treatment of invasive fungal infections. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:1095-1117. [PMID: 37750748 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are a serious problem affecting many people worldwide, creating critical economic and medical consequences. Fungi are ubiquitous and can cause invasive diseases in individuals mostly living in developing countries or with weakened immune systems, and antifungal drugs currently available have important limitations in tolerability and efficacy. In an effort to counteract the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with invasive fungal infections, various approaches are being utilized to discover and develop new antifungal agents. This review discusses the challenges posed by fungal infections, outlines different methods for developing antifungal drugs and reports on the status of drugs currently in clinical trials, which offer hope for combating this serious global problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa E Munzen
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Luis R Martinez
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Immunology and Transplantation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Giamberardino CD, Tenor JL, Toffaletti DL, Palmucci JR, Schell W, Boua JVK, Marius C, Stott KE, Steele SL, Hope W, Cilla D, Perfect JR. Pharmacodynamics of ATI-2307 in a rabbit model of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0081823. [PMID: 37728934 PMCID: PMC10583688 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00818-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) is a devastating fungal disease with high morbidity and mortality. The current regimen that is standard-of-care involves a combination of three different drugs administered for up to one year. There is a critical need for new therapies due to both toxicity and inadequate fungicidal activity of the currently available antifungal drugs. ATI-2307 is a novel aryl amidine that disrupts the mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibits the respiratory chain complexes of fungi-it thus represents a new mechanism for direct antifungal action. Furthermore, ATI-2307 selectively targets fungal mitochondria via a fungal-specific transporter that is not present in mammalian cells. It has very potent in vitro anticryptococcal activity. In this study, the efficacy of ATI-2307 was tested in a rabbit model of CM. ATI-2307 demonstrated significant fungicidal activity at dosages between 1 and 2 mg/kg/d, and these results were superior to fluconazole and similar to amphotericin B treatment. When ATI-2307 was combined with fluconazole, the antifungal effect was greater than either therapy alone. While ATI-2307 has potent anticryptococcal activity in the subarachnoid space, its ability to reduce yeasts in the brain parenchyma was relatively less over the same study period. This new drug, with its unique mechanism of fungicidal action and ability to positively interact with an azole, has demonstrated sufficient anticryptococcal potential in this experimental setting to be further evaluated in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles D. Giamberardino
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Tenor
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dena L. Toffaletti
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia R. Palmucci
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wiley Schell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Choiselle Marius
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Katharine E. Stott
- Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics, Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - William Hope
- Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics, Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Don Cilla
- Appili Therapeutics Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - John R. Perfect
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Caza M, Santos DA, Burden E, Brisland A, Hu G, Kronstad JW. Proteasome inhibition as a therapeutic target for the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0190423. [PMID: 37750732 PMCID: PMC10580939 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01904-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The current therapeutic challenges for treating fungal diseases demand new approaches and new drugs. A promising strategy involves combination therapy with agents of distinct mechanisms of action to increase fungicidal activity and limit the impact of mutations leading to resistance. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal potential of bortezomib by examining the inhibition of proteasome activity, cell proliferation, and capsule production by Cryptococcus neoformans, the causative agent of fungal meningoencephalitis. Chemical genetic screens with collections of deletion mutants identified potential druggable targets for combination therapy with bortezomib. In vitro assays of combinations of bortezomib with flucytosine, chlorpromazine, bafilomycin A1, copper sulfate, or hydroxyurea revealed antifungal effects against C. neoformans. Furthermore, combination treatment with bortezomib and flucytosine in a murine inhalation model of cryptococcosis resulted in the improvement of neurological functions and reduced fungal replication and dissemination, leading to a delay in disease progression. This study therefore highlights the utility of chemical genetic screens to identify new therapeutic approaches as well as the antifungal potential of proteasome inhibition. IMPORTANCE Fungal diseases of humans are difficult to treat, and there is a clear need for additional antifungal drugs, better diagnostics, effective vaccines, and new approaches to deal with emerging drug resistance. Fungi are challenging to control because they share many common biochemical functions with their mammalian hosts and it is therefore difficult to identify fungal-specific targets for drug development. One approach is to employ existing antifungal drugs in combination with agents that target common cellular processes at levels that are (ideally) not toxic for the host. We pursued this approach in this study by examining the potential of the clinically approved proteasome inhibitor bortezomib to influence the proliferation and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. We found that the combination of bortezomib with the anti-cryptococcal drug flucytosine improved the survival of infected mice, thus demonstrating the potential of this strategy for antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Caza
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Daniel Assis Santos
- Department of Microbiology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Burden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anna Brisland
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Guanggan Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - James W. Kronstad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Sprute R, Duda S, Liekweg A, Simon M, Cornely OA. The silent flucytosine shortage in Europe - not a distant problem. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2023; 30:100658. [PMID: 37293188 PMCID: PMC10245318 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosanne Sprute
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Seraina Duda
- Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Michaela Simon
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Oliver A. Cornely
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Lalloo UG, Komarow L, Aberg JA, Clifford DB, Hogg E, McKhann A, Bukuru A, Lagat D, Pillay S, Mave V, Supparatpinyo K, Samaneka W, Langat D, Ticona E, Badal-Faesen S, Larsen RA. Higher Dose Oral Fluconazole for the Treatment of AIDS-related Cryptococcal Meningitis (HIFLAC)-report of A5225, a multicentre, phase I/II, two-stage, dose-finding, safety, tolerability and efficacy randomised, amphotericin B-controlled trial of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281580. [PMID: 36780493 PMCID: PMC9925064 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The WHO recommended 1200mg/day of fluconazole (FCZ) in the induction phase of cryptococcal meningitis (CM) in HIV prior to 2018 in regions where amphotericin-B (AMB) was unavailable. A 2-stage AMB-controlled, dose-escalation study to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the safety/efficacy of an induction-consolidation strategy of higher doses FCZ (1200mg-2000mg/day), adjusted for weight and renal function (eGFR)in adults with CM was undertaken. METHODS In Stage-1, three induction doses of FCZ (1200mg/day, 1600mg/day and 2000mg/day) were tested in sequential cohortsand compared with AMB in a 3:1 ratio. A particular dose was not tested in Stage 2 if there were significant predetermined safety or efficacy concerns. In Stage-2, the 1200mg dose was excluded per protocol because of increased mortality, and participants were randomised to 1600mg, 2000mg FCZ or AMB in a 1:1:1 ratio. FINDINGS One hundred and sixty eight participants were enrolled with 48, 50, and 48 in the AMB, 1600mg and 2000mg cohorts. The Kaplan Meier proportion for mortality (90% CI) at 10 and 24 weeks for AMB was 17% (10, 29) and 24% (15, 37), compared to 20% (12, 32) and 30% (20, 43) for 1600mg, and 33% (23, 46) and 38% (27, 51) for 2000mg/day FCZ. With the exception of a higher incidence of gastrointestinal side effects in the 2000mg cohort, both induction doses of FCZ were safe and well tolerated. There were no life-threatening changes in electrocardiogram QTc which were similar across all doses of FCZ and AMB. The median (IQR) change in log10 cryptoccal colony forming units (CFU) from week 0 to week 2 was -8(-4.1,-1.9) for AMB; -2.5(-4.0, -1.4) for 1600mg FCZ and -8 (-3.2, -1.0) for 2000mg FCZ. The proportion (90% CI) CSF CM negative at 10 weeks was 81%(71,90) for AMB; 56%(45,69) for 1600mg FCZ and 60%(49,73) for 2000mg FCZ. INTERPRETATION Induction phase weight and renal-adjusted doses of 1600mg and 2000mg/day FCZ for CM were safe and well tolerated except for increased GI side effects in the 2000mg/day dose, and had similar times to achieve CSF sterilization, but took significantly longer than AMB. The WHO recommended 1200mg FCZ was associated with a high mortality. While not statistically significant, mortality was numerically lower in the AMB compared to 1600mg and 2000mg FCZ These data make a case for a phase 3 study of higher doses of FZC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren Komarow
- Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, and The Biostatistics Center, The George Washington University, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Judith A. Aberg
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - David B. Clifford
- Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Evelyn Hogg
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ashley McKhann
- Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, and The Biostatistics Center, The George Washington University, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - David Lagat
- MOI University Teaching Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Sandy Pillay
- Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Vidya Mave
- BJ Medical School, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Robert A. Larsen
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Robertson E, Abera C, Wood K, Deressa K, Mesfin S, Scantlebury C. Striving towards access to essential medicines for human and animal health; a situational analysis of access to and use of antifungal medications for histoplasmosis in Ethiopia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0278964. [PMID: 36893127 PMCID: PMC9997978 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Antifungal medications are vital in combatting fungal diseases that affect over a billion people annually. Antifungal medications for people and equids are scarce in Ethiopia, where lack of resources to treat fungal infection, in particular histoplasmosis, is a major health challenge. Histoplasmosis is endemic within the equine population in Ethiopia, where it is estimated that one in five horses are infected. This disease has far reaching impacts on equine welfare and the socio-economic wellbeing of families. The burden of histoplasmosis in people in Ethiopia is currently unknown, representing a blind spot in public health surveillance. Previous research has identified contact with wildlife, and domestic animal species as possible transmission pathways for histoplasmosis however, questions remain about the role of equids in human histoplasmosis. Given the close proximity of people and animals in this setting, the high level of endemic disease among equids, and the common sources of anti-fungals in Ethiopia, our study adopted a One-Health approach to examine how systemic issues affect access to, and use of antifungals to treat histoplasmosis among people and equids. A qualitative study was conducted in 6 urban regions of Oromia, Ethiopia in December 2018, incorporating semi-structured face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. Twenty-seven individual interviews were held with doctors (n = 7), pharmacists (n = 12), veterinarians (n = 5), para-veterinarians (n = 2) and an equid owner (n = 1). Eleven focus groups were conducted with equid owners (n = 42), 3 with veterinarians (n = 6), 1 with para-veterinarians (n = 2) and 1 with pharmacists (n = 2). Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, and dimensions of key themes conceptualised and compared. Two overarching themes namely, 'Structural', and 'Human factors', summarised the main limitations to access to antifungal medications. 'Structural factors' included the national reliance on importation of medicines or pharmaceutical ingredients, inaccurate demand forecasting due to poor recording of the shortfall within the pharmaceutical supply chain, deficiencies in diagnostic capacity for fungal disease and, a healthcare system funded with a significant component of out-of-pocket expenditure. 'Human factors' that influenced access to antifungals included the perception of the expense of antifungals compared with competing needs such as food and education, the social stigma attached to histoplasmosis that could lead to delays in treatment seeking and, readily available home remedies or alternative treatment options. Furthermore, it was reported that trust in healthcare and veterinary provisions was undermined by a perceived lack of efficacious medications. Access to antifungals remains an urgent public health and animal welfare concern in Ethiopia. Key points within the supply and distribution chain that affect access to anti-fungals are identified, and policies that facilitate anti-fungal procurement and distribution should be reviewed. This paper highlights the structural, socio-economic and cultural factors influencing the management of infection with histoplasmosis, including how it is understood, identified and treated. This study identifies areas where further cross-sectorial work is needed to address these factors to improve disease control and clinical outcomes observed in human and animal histoplasmosis within Ethiopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Robertson
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Cherinet Abera
- Histoplasmosis Research Group, Care of SPANA Bishoftu, Brooke Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kelly Wood
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Kabeba Deressa
- Histoplasmosis Research Group, Care of SPANA Bishoftu, Brooke Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Claire Scantlebury
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Carvajal SK, Vargas-Casanova Y, Pineda-Castañeda HM, García-Castañeda JE, Rivera-Monroy ZJ, Parra-Giraldo CM. In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Chimeric Peptides Derived from Bovine Lactoferricin and Buforin II against Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11121819. [PMID: 36551475 PMCID: PMC9774238 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11121819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The limited number of antifungal agents, their toxicity, and the difficulty of these molecules in crossing the blood-brain barrier have made the exploration of new therapeutic candidates against Cryptococcus neoformans a priority task. To optimize the antimicrobial functionality and improve the physicochemical properties of AMPs, chemical strategies include combinations of peptide fragments into one. This study aimed to evaluate the binding of the minimum activity motif of bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB) and buforin II (BFII) against C. neoformans var. grubii. The antifungal activity against these chimeras was evaluated against (i) the reference strain H99, (ii) three Colombian clinical strains, and (iii) eleven mutant strains, with the aim of evaluating the possible antifungal target. We found high activity against these strains, with a MIC between 6.25 and 12.5 µg/mL. Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of the combination of fluconazole treatments, finding a synergistic effect. Finally, when fibroblast cells were treated with 12.5 µg/mL of the chimeras, a viability of more than 65% was found. The results obtained in this study identify these chimeras as potential antifungal molecules for future therapeutic applications against cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Katherine Carvajal
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C. 110231, Colombia
| | - Yerly Vargas-Casanova
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C. 110231, Colombia
| | - Héctor Manuel Pineda-Castañeda
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26–85, Building 451, Office 409, Bogotá D.C. 111321, Colombia
| | - Javier Eduardo García-Castañeda
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No. 26–85, Building 450, Bogotá D.C. 111321, Colombia
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera-Monroy
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26–85, Building 451, Office 409, Bogotá D.C. 111321, Colombia
| | - Claudia Marcela Parra-Giraldo
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C. 110231, Colombia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-1-3208320 (ext. 4305)
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Li Y, Li S, Chen M, Xiao J, Fang H. Synergistic effect of pyrvinium pamoate and posaconazole against Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro and in vivo. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1074903. [PMID: 36569209 PMCID: PMC9780465 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1074903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcosis is a global invasive mycosis with high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially in AIDS patients. Its treatment remains challenging because of the limited antifungals and their unavoidable toxicity, and as such more efforts need to focus on the development of novel effective drugs. Previous studies have indicated that pyrvinium pamoate (PP) has individual and synergistic fungistatic effect. In this study, the effects of PP alone and in combination with azoles [fluconazole (FLU), itraconazole (ITR), voriconazole (VOR), posaconazole (POS)] or amphotericin B (AmB) were evaluated against Cryptococcus neoformans both in vitro and in vivo. Methods A total of 20 C. neoformans strains collected from cryptococcal pneumonia and cryptococcal meningitis were studied. The effects of PP alone, PP-azoles and PP-AmB interactions against C. neoformans were evaluated via the microdilution chequerboard technique, adapted from broth microdilution method according to the CLSI M27-A4. The in vivo antifungal activity of PP alone and in combination with azoles and AmB against C. neoformans infections was evaluated by Galleria mellonella survival assay. Results The in vitro results revealed that PP individually was ineffective against C. neoformans (MIC>16 μg/ml). Nevertheless, the synergistic effects of PP with ITR, VOR, POS, FLU or AmB was observed in 13 (65.0%, FICI 0.188-0.365), 3 (15.0%, FICI 0.245-0.301), 19 (95.0%, FICI 0.188-0.375), 7 (35.0%, FICI 0.188-0.375), and 12(60.0%, FICI 0.281-0.375) strains of C. neoformans, respectively. There was no antagonism. The survival rates of larvae treated with PP (3.33%) showed almost no antifungal effective, but the larvae survival rates improved when PP combined with AmB (35% vs. 23.33%), FLU (40% vs. 25%), ITR (48.33% vs. 33.33%), VOR (48.33% vs. 53.33%) and POS (56.67% vs. 36.67%) comparison with AmB or azoles alone, and statistical significance was observed when PP combined with POS versus POS alone (P = 0.04). Conclusions In summary, the preliminary results indicated the potential of PP in reduction the MICs of azoles and AmB, also itself against C. neoformans; the combination of PP with AMB, FLU, ITR, VOR and POS improve the survival rates of C. neoformans infection larvae, compared with they are alone. The in vitro and in vivo data show that PP could enhance the activity of POS against C. neoformans. This study contributes with data of PP in combination with classical drugs of choice for cryptococcosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Li
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jialing Xiao
- Department of Stomatology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Jialing Xiao, ; Hong Fang,
| | - Hong Fang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Jialing Xiao, ; Hong Fang,
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Wen J, Yin R, Chang J, Chen Y, Dong X, Cao W, Ma X, Li T, Wei J. Short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with cryptococcal meningitis after ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Front Neurol 2022; 13:773334. [PMID: 36468057 PMCID: PMC9712185 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.773334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term and long-term outcomes of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement in patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM). METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with CM admitted to the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 1990 to January 2021. We collected related clinical features to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of VPS at 1 month and 1 year at least the following therapy, respectively. Overall survival (OS) was compared with all patients and a subgroup of critically ill cases by the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test. Univariable and multivariable analyses were also performed using the Cox proportional hazard model to identify statistically significant prognostic factors. RESULTS We enrolled 98 patients, fifteen of whom underwent VPS. Those who received VPS had a lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Cryptococcus burden (1:1 vs. 1:16; p = 0.046), lower opening pressures (173.3 mmH2 O vs. 224 mmH2O; p = 0.009) at lumbar punctures, and a lower incidence of critical cases (6.7 vs. 31.3%; p = 0.049). According to our long-term follow-up, no significant difference was shown in the Barthel Index (BI) between the two groups. Two patients in the VPS group suffered postoperative complications and had to go through another revision surgery. According to survival analysis, overall survival (OS) between the VPS and non-VPS groups was not significantly different. However, the Kaplan-Meier plots showed that critical patients with VPS had better survival in OS (p < 0.009). Multivariable analyses for critical patients showed VPS was an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION A VPS could reduce the intracranial pressure (ICP), decrease the counts of Cryptococcus neoformans by a faster rate and reduce the number of critical cases. The VPS used in critical patients with CM has a significant impact on survival, but it showed no improvement in the long-term Barthel Index (BI) vs. the conservative treatment and could lead to postoperative complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxian Wen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Yin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianbo Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yihao Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiying Dong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Infectious Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojun Ma
- Department of Infectious Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Taisheng Li
- Department of Infectious Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Junji Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Li S, Yang X, Moog C, Wu H, Su B, Zhang T. Neglected mycobiome in HIV infection: Alterations, common fungal diseases and antifungal immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1015775. [PMID: 36439143 PMCID: PMC9684632 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1015775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection might have effects on both the human bacteriome and mycobiome. Although many studies have focused on alteration of the bacteriome in HIV infection, only a handful of studies have also characterized the composition of the mycobiome in HIV-infected individuals. Studies have shown that compromised immunity in HIV infection might contribute to the development of opportunistic fungal infections. Despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), opportunistic fungal infections continue to be a major cause of HIV-related mortality. Human immune responses are known to play a critical role in controlling fungal infections. However, the effect of HIV infection on innate and adaptive antifungal immunity remains unclear. Here, we review recent advances in understanding of the fungal microbiota composition and common fungal diseases in the setting of HIV. Moreover, we discuss innate and adaptive antifungal immunity in HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Sino-French Joint Laboratory for Research on Humoral Immune Response to HIV Infection, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Sino-French Joint Laboratory for Research on Humoral Immune Response to HIV Infection, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Christiane Moog
- Laboratoire d’ImmunoRhumatologie Moléculaire, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) UMR_S 1109, Institut thématique interdisciplinaire (ITI) de Médecine de Précision de Strasbourg, Transplantex NG, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire OMICARE, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Vaccine Research Institute (VRI), Créteil, France
| | - Hao Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Sino-French Joint Laboratory for Research on Humoral Immune Response to HIV Infection, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Su
- Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Sino-French Joint Laboratory for Research on Humoral Immune Response to HIV Infection, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Sino-French Joint Laboratory for Research on Humoral Immune Response to HIV Infection, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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The Next Frontier in Neurocritical Care in Resource-Constrained Settings. Crit Care Clin 2022; 38:721-745. [PMID: 36162907 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2022.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Neurocritical care (NCC) is an emerging field within critical care medicine, reflecting the widespread prevalence of neurologic injury in critically ill patients. Morbidity and mortality from neurocritical illness (NCI) have been reduced substantially in resource-rich settings (RRS), owing to the development of advanced technologies, neuro-specific units, and subspecialized medical training. Despite shouldering much of the burden of NCI worldwide, resource-limited settings (RLS) face immense hurdles when implementing guidelines generated in RRS. This review summarizes the current epidemiology, management, and outcomes of the most common NCIs in RLS and offers commentary on future directions in NCC practiced in RLS.
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Ma H, Wang X, Yan H, Liu Q, Yang D, Bian T. Dual intracranial infection with Nocardia farcinica and Cryptococcus neoformans diagnosed by next-generation sequencing in a patient with nephrotic syndrome: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e30325. [PMID: 36107518 PMCID: PMC9439795 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000030325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Intracranial infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, due to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Establishing a rapid, accurate diagnosis and a precise therapeutic regimen is crucial for management of the patients. Our report described a rare intracranial infection of patient with nephrotic syndrome. PATIENT CONCERNS A 66-year-old woman with a history of nephrotic syndrome presented symptoms in central nervous system for 1 month, followed by headache and fever over several days. DIAGNOSIS Neurological examination, brain imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests exhibited resemblance to intracranial infection. Subsequently, CSF cultures confirmed the presence of Cryptococcus. Fortunately, next-generation sequencing revealed the concomitant infection with Nocardia farcinica in addition to Cryptococcus neoformans. INTERVENTIONS The treatment with intravenous fluconazole combined with amphotericin could not immediately ameliorate her symptoms. The patient's condition improved significantly with minimal deficits after timely administration of antibiotics against N farcinica. OUTCOMES One month later, cranial MRI indicated that basal ganglia lesions ameliorated. The patient has recovered well. LESSONS SUBSECTIONS To our best knowledge, this is the first case report of intracranial infection caused by both N farcinica and C neoformans in a patient with nephrotic syndrome. Remarkably, extensive application of next-generation sequencing can facilitate investigation on the potential role of various pathogenic organisms in infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Ma
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Fengtai You’anmen Hospital, BeijingChina
- *Correspondence: Hongmei Ma, Department of Neurology, Beijing Fengtai You’anmen Hospital, No. 199 You’anmen Wai Avenue, Fengtai District, Beijing 100069, China (e-mail: )
| | - Xiangbo Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Heli Yan
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Fengtai You’anmen Hospital, BeijingChina
| | - Dan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Fengtai You’anmen Hospital, BeijingChina
| | - Tingting Bian
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Fengtai You’anmen Hospital, BeijingChina
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Global Consumption Trend of Antifungal Agents in Humans From 2008 to 2018: Data From 65 Middle- and High-Income Countries. Drugs 2022; 82:1193-1205. [PMID: 35960433 PMCID: PMC9402496 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-022-01751-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Understanding the trend of global antifungal agent consumption could assist with identification of global healthcare policy inadequacies and promote accessibility and availability of antifungal agents. Methods Using pharmaceutical sales data from the IQVIA-multinational integrated data analysis system database, we assessed use of systemic antifungal agents in humans in 27 middle- and 38 high-income countries from 2008 through 2018. Results Consumption of systemic antifungal agents increased from 0.50 (in 2008) to 0.92 defined daily dose (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day (in 2018), with a compound annual growth rate of 6.2%. High-income countries remain major consumers of antifungal agents with large variance in quantities consumed, with a gradual decline in consumption in recent years. Consumption in middle-income countries increased. Itraconazole (0.32 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day), terbinafine (0.30 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day), and fluconazole (0.23 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day) were the most commonly used antifungal agents in middle- and high-income countries in 2018. Following incorporation into the World Health Organization Essential Medicines List, itraconazole consumption in middle-income countries surged. Consumption of ketoconazole slowly declined, with 5.04% annual decrease, probably due to labelling changes in 2013 to reflect hepatotoxicity concerns. The use of polyenes (0.004 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day) and echinocandins (0.003 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day) were lowest among all the antifungal drug classes. Conclusion Global consumption of triazoles and terbinafine has gradually increased in middle- and high-income countries. Life-saving antifungal agents, including echinocandins and polyenes, are available only parenterally and may be underutilized, mainly in middle-income countries. Future research on country-specific epidemiology is warranted to guide health policy coordination to ensure equitable access to appropriate use of antifungal agents. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40265-022-01751-x.
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Larson B, Shroufi A, Muthoga C, Oladele R, Rajasingham R, Jordan A, Jarvis JN, Chiller TM, Govender NP. Induction-phase treatment costs for cryptococcal meningitis in high HIV-burden African countries: New opportunities with lower costs. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 6:140. [PMID: 35706922 PMCID: PMC9184925 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16776.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Access to and the cost of induction treatment for cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is rapidly changing. The newly-announced price for flucytosine ($0.75 per 500 mg pill) and possibly lower prices for liposomal amphotericin B (AmB-L) create opportunities to reduce CM treatment costs compared to the current standard treatment in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We developed an Excel-based cost model to estimate health system treatment costs for CM over a two-week induction phase for multiple treatment combinations, newly feasible with improved access to flucytosine and AmB-L. CM treatment costs include medications, laboratory tests and other hospital-based costs (bed-day costs and healthcare worker time). We report results from applying the model using country-specific information for South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, and Botswana. Results: A 14-day induction-phase of seven days of inpatient AmB-D with flucytosine, followed by seven days of high-dose fluconazole as an outpatient, will cost health systems less than a 14-day hospital stay with AmB-D and fluconazole. If daily AmB-L replaces AmB-D for those with baseline renal dysfunction, with a cost of $50 or less per 50 mg vial, incremental costs would still be less than the AmB-D with fluconazole regimen. Simple oral combinations (e.g., seven days of flucytosine with fluconazole as an inpatient) are practical when AmB-D is not available, and treatment costs would remain less than the current standard treatment. Conclusions: Improved access to and lower prices for flucytosine and AmB-L create opportunities for improving CM treatment regimens. An induction regimen of flucytosine and AmB-D for seven days is less costly than standard care in the settings studied here. As this regimen has also been shown to be more effective than current standard care, countries should prioritize scaling up flucytosine access. The cost of AmB-L based regimens is highly dependent on the price of AmB-L, which currently remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Larson
- Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Charles Muthoga
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Rita Oladele
- College of Medicine, Univerity of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Radha Rajasingham
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alexander Jordan
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joseph N. Jarvis
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tom M. Chiller
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nelesh P. Govender
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
- University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Hernandez C, Shukla S. Liposome based drug delivery as a potential treatment option for Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:1190-1198. [PMID: 34782553 PMCID: PMC8643057 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.327328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition leading to atrophy of the brain and robbing nearly 5.8 million individuals in the United States age 65 and older of their cognitive functions. Alzheimer's disease is associated with dementia and a progressive decline in memory, thinking, and social skills, eventually leading to a point that the individual can no longer perform daily activities independently. Currently available drugs on the market temporarily alleviate the symptoms, however, they are not successful in slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Treatment and cures have been constricted due to the difficulty of drug delivery to the blood-brain barrier. Several studies have led to identification of vesicles to transport the necessary drugs through the blood-brain barrier that would typically not achieve the targeted area through systemic delivered medications. Recently, liposomes have emerged as a viable drug delivery agent to transport drugs that are not able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Liposomes are being used as a component of nanoparticle drug delivery; due to their biocompatible nature; and possessing the capability to carry both lipophilic and hydrophilic therapeutic agents across the blood brain barrier into the brain cells. Studies indicate the importance of liposomal based drug delivery in treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. The idea is to encapsulate the drugs inside the properly engineered liposome to generate a response of treatment. Liposomes are engineered to target specific diseased moieties and also several surface modifications of liposomes are under research to create a clinical path to the management of Alzheimer's disease. This review deals with Alzheimer's disease and emphasize on challenges associated with drug delivery to the brain, and how liposomal drug delivery can play an important role as a drug delivery method for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This review also sheds some light on variation of liposomes. Additionally, it emphasizes on the liposomal formulations which are currently researched or used for treatment of Alzheimer's disease and also discusses the future prospect of liposomal based drug delivery in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carely Hernandez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Larkin University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Surabhi Shukla
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Larkin University, Miami, FL, USA
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22
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Current Strategies to Enhance Delivery of Drugs across the Blood–Brain Barrier. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14050987. [PMID: 35631573 PMCID: PMC9145636 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14050987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) has shown to be a significant obstacle to brain medication delivery. The BBB in a healthy brain is a diffusion barrier that prevents most substances from passing from the blood to the brain; only tiny molecules can pass across the BBB. The BBB is disturbed in specific pathological illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, seizures, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of this study is to offer a general overview of current brain medication delivery techniques and associated topics from the last five years. It is anticipated that this review will stimulate readers to look into new ways to deliver medications to the brain. Following an introduction of the construction and function of the BBB in both healthy and pathological conditions, this review revisits certain contested questions, such as whether nanoparticles may cross the BBB on their own and if medications are selectively delivered to the brain by deliberately targeted nanoparticles. Current non-nanoparticle options are also discussed, including drug delivery via the permeable BBB under pathological circumstances and the use of non-invasive approaches to improve brain medication absorption.
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Larson B, Shroufi A, Muthoga C, Oladele R, Rajasingham R, Jordan A, Jarvis JN, Chiller TM, Govender NP. Induction-phase treatment costs for cryptococcal meningitis in high HIV-burden African countries: New opportunities with lower costs. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 6:140. [PMID: 35706922 PMCID: PMC9184925 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16776.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Access to and the cost of induction treatment for cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is rapidly changing. The newly-announced price for flucytosine ($0.75 per 500 mg pill) and possibly lower prices for liposomal amphotericin B (AmB-L) create opportunities to reduce CM treatment costs compared to the current standard treatment in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We developed an Excel-based cost model to estimate health system treatment costs for CM over a two-week induction phase for multiple treatment combinations, newly feasible with improved access to flucytosine and AmB-L. CM treatment costs include medications, laboratory tests and other hospital-based costs (bed-day costs and healthcare worker time). We report results from applying the model using country-specific information for South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, and Botswana. Results: A 14-day induction-phase of seven days of inpatient AmB-D with flucytosine, followed by seven days of high-dose fluconazole as an outpatient, will cost health systems less than a 14-day hospital stay with AmB-D and fluconazole. If daily AmB-L replaces AmB-D for those with baseline renal dysfunction, with a cost of $50 or less per 50 mg vial, incremental costs would still be less than the AmB-D with fluconazole regimen. Simple oral combinations (e.g., seven days of flucytosine with fluconazole as an inpatient) are practical when AmB-D is not available, and treatment costs would remain less than the current standard treatment. Conclusions: Improved access to, and lower prices for flucytosine and AmB-L create opportunities for improving CM treatment regimens. An induction regimen of flucytosine and AmB-D for seven days is less costly than standard care in the settings studied here. As this regimen has also been shown to be more effective than current standard care, countries should prioritize scaling up flucytosine access. The cost of AmB-L based regimens is highly dependent on the price of AmB-L, which currently remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Larson
- Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Charles Muthoga
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Rita Oladele
- College of Medicine, Univerity of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Radha Rajasingham
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alexander Jordan
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joseph N. Jarvis
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tom M. Chiller
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nelesh P. Govender
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
- University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahomed-Yunus S Moosa
- From the Department of Infectious Diseases (M.-Y.S.M.), and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (R.J.L.), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Richard J Lessells
- From the Department of Infectious Diseases (M.-Y.S.M.), and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (R.J.L.), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Rajasingham R, Nalintya E, Israelski DM, Meya DB, Larson BA, Boulware DR. Cost-effectiveness of single-dose AmBisome preemptive treatment for the prevention of cryptococcal meningitis in African low and middle-income countries. Med Mycol 2022; 60:6506454. [PMID: 35026017 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) screening is recommended for patients with advanced HIV to reduce AIDS-related mortality. For asymptomatic CrAg-positive persons, fluconazole preemptive therapy is standard, despite a ∼25% failure rate. Single-dose liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) is non-inferior to standard treatment for cryptococcal meningitis. We evaluate the threshold of efficacy necessary for AmBisome + fluconazole to be cost-effective as preemptive therapy for CrAg-positive persons. We created a decision analytic model to evaluate CrAg screening and treatment in HIV-infected persons with CD4 < 100 cells/µL. Costs were estimated for screening, preemptive therapy, and hospitalization for an example low-income country (Uganda) and middle-income country (South Africa). We used a discounted price range of AmBisome® at ${\$}$16.25 to ${\$}$40 per 50 mg vial for both Uganda and South Africa. We estimated AmBisome efficacy from 75% to 95%. Parameter assumptions were based on prospective CrAg screening studies and clinical trials in Africa. Disability adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated using the age-specific life expectancy in Uganda, per WHO Global Health Observatory data. We modeled the theoretical efficacy of adjunctive AmBisome to determine cost per DALY averted. In South Africa, at ${\$}$16.25 per vial cost and a minimum efficacy of 85%, adjunctive AmBisome is cost-saving compared to fluconazole monotherapy. Compared to fluconazole preemptive therapy in Uganda, AmBisome + fluconazole would cost ${\$}$475, ${\$}$220, or ${\$}$136 per DALY averted if meningitis-free survival efficacy was 80%, 85%, or 90% at ${\$}$24 per vial cost. Investing in AmBisome may be cost-effective in low-income settings compared to using fluconazole preemptive therapy alone, if efficacy is 85% or greater. AmBisome preemptive therapy appears more cost-efficient in middle-income settings where hospitalization costs for meningitis, and GDP per capita are higher.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha Rajasingham
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
| | | | - Dennis M Israelski
- Medical Affairs, Global Patient Solutions, Gilead Sciences, Inc., CA, USA
| | - David B Meya
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Bruce A Larson
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David R Boulware
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
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Yang L, Tian Z, Zhou L, Zhu L, Sun C, Huang M, Peng J, Guo G. In vitro Antifungal Activity of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 Against Planktonic Cells and Biofilms of Cryptococcus neoformans. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:233-248. [PMID: 35115792 PMCID: PMC8800587 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s344246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcus neoformans is a common human fungal pathogen in immunocompromised people, as well as a prevalent cause of meningitis in HIV-infected individuals. With the emergence of clinical fungal resistance and the shortage of antifungal drugs, it is urgent to discover novel antifungal agents. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica, has antifungal activity against C. neoformans. However, its antifungal and anti-biofilm activities remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of AMP-17 against planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the biofilm inhibitory and eradicating concentration (BIC and BEC) were determined by the broth microdilution assay or the 2, 3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay, respectively. The inhibitory and killing activities of AMP-17 against C. neoformans were investigated through the time-inhibition/killing kinetic curves. The potential antifungal mechanism of AMP-17 was detected by flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The efficiency of AMP-17 against biofilm formation or preformed biofilm was evaluated by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assays. The morphology of pre-biofilms was tested by optical microscopy (OM) and CLSM. Results AMP-17 exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. neoformans planktonic cells and biofilms, with MICs of 4~16 μg/ml, BIC80 and BEC80 of 16~32 μg/ml, 64~128 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, the 2× and 4× MIC of AMP-17 exhibited similar inhibition levels compared to the 2× and 4× MIC of the clinical drugs FLC and AMB in C. neoformans growth. Moreover, the time-kill results showed that AMP-17 (8× MIC) did not significantly eliminate colony forming units (CFU) after 6 h of treatment; however, there was 2.9-log reduction in CFU of C. neoformans. Furthermore, increasing of the permeability of the fungal cell membrane was observed with the treatment of AMP-17, since the vast change as fungal leakage and cell membrane disruption. However, the DNA binding assay of AMP-17 indicated that the peptide did not target DNA. Besides, AMP-17 was superior in inhibiting and eradicating biofilms of C. neoformans compared with FLC. Conclusion AMP-17 exhibited potential in vitro antifungal activity against the planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans, and it may disrupt fungal cell membranes through multi-target interactions, which provides a promising therapeutic strategy and experimental basis for Cryptococcus-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbing Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhuqing Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Luoxiong Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoqin Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingjiao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Peng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guo Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Guo Guo, Building Wuben, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, College Town, Gui’an New District, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China, Tel/fax +86 851 882 59268, Email
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Hurt WJ, Harrison TS, Molloy SF, Bicanic TA. Combination Therapy for HIV-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis-A Success Story. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:1098. [PMID: 34947080 PMCID: PMC8708058 DOI: 10.3390/jof7121098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis is the leading cause of adult meningitis in patients with HIV, and accounts for 15% of all HIV-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. The mainstay of management is effective antifungal therapy, despite a limited arsenal of antifungal drugs, significant progress has been made developing effective treatment strategies by using combination regimens. The introduction of fluconazole as a safe and effective step-down therapy allowed for shorter courses of more fungicidal agents to be given as induction therapy, with higher doses achieving more rapid CSF sterilisation and improved treatment outcomes. The development of early fungicidal activity (EFA), an easily measured surrogate of treatment efficacy, has enabled rapid identification of effective combinations through dose ranging phase II studies, allowing further evaluation of clinical benefit in targeted phase III studies. Recent clinical trials have shown that shorter course induction regimens using one week of amphotericin paired with flucytosine are non-inferior to traditional two-week induction regimens and that the combination of fluconazole and flucytosine offers a viable treatment alternative when amphotericin is unavailable. Access to drugs in many low and middle-income settings remains challenging but is improving, and novel strategies based on single high dose liposomal amphotericin B promise further reduction in treatment complications and toxicities. This review aims to summarise the key findings of the principal clinical trials that have led to the success story of combination therapy thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J. Hurt
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George’s University London, London SW17 0RE, UK; (T.S.H.); (S.F.M.); (T.A.B.)
| | - Thomas S. Harrison
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George’s University London, London SW17 0RE, UK; (T.S.H.); (S.F.M.); (T.A.B.)
- Clinical Academic Group in Infection & Immunity, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK
- The MRC Centre of Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Síle F. Molloy
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George’s University London, London SW17 0RE, UK; (T.S.H.); (S.F.M.); (T.A.B.)
| | - Tihana A. Bicanic
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George’s University London, London SW17 0RE, UK; (T.S.H.); (S.F.M.); (T.A.B.)
- Clinical Academic Group in Infection & Immunity, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK
- The MRC Centre of Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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28
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Tripathi S, Gupta U, Ujjwal RR, Yadav AK. Nano-lipidic formulation and therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease via intranasal route. J Microencapsul 2021; 38:572-593. [PMID: 34591731 DOI: 10.1080/02652048.2021.1986585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM The inability of drug molecules to cross the 'Blood-Brain Barrier' restrict the effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Lipid nanocarriers have proven to be a novel paradigm in brain targeting of bioactive by facilitating suitable therapeutic concentrations to be attained in the brain. METHODS The relevant information regarding the title of this review article was collected from the peer-reviewed published articles. Also, the physicochemical properties, and their in vitro and in vivo evaluations were presented in this review article. RESULTS Administration of lipid-based nano-carriers have abilities to target the brain, improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties of drugs, and mitigate the side effects of encapsulated therapeutic active agents. CONCLUSION Unlike oral and other routes, the Intranasal route promises high bioavailability, low first-pass effect, better pharmacokinetic properties, bypass of the systemic circulation, fewer incidences of unwanted side effects, and direct delivery of anti-AD drugs to the brain via circumventing 'Blood-Brain Barrier'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shourya Tripathi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research- Raebareli, Lucknow, India
| | - Ujala Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research- Raebareli, Lucknow, India
| | - Rewati Raman Ujjwal
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research- Raebareli, Lucknow, India
| | - Awesh K Yadav
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research- Raebareli, Lucknow, India
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Chua SMH, Wizrah MSI, Luo Z, Lim BYJ, Kappler U, Kobe B, Fraser JA. Structural features of Cryptococcus neoformans bifunctional GAR/AIR synthetase may present novel antifungal drug targets. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101091. [PMID: 34416230 PMCID: PMC8449271 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that causes life-threatening systemic mycoses. During infection of the human host, this pathogen experiences a major change in the availability of purines; the fungus can scavenge the abundant purines in its environmental niche of pigeon excrement, but must employ de novo biosynthesis in the purine-poor human CNS. Eleven sequential enzymatic steps are required to form the first purine base, IMP, an intermediate in the formation of ATP and GTP. Over the course of evolution, several gene fusion events led to the formation of multifunctional purine biosynthetic enzymes in most organisms, particularly the higher eukaryotes. In C. neoformans, phosphoribosyl-glycinamide synthetase (GARs) and phosphoribosyl-aminoimidazole synthetase (AIRs) are fused into a bifunctional enzyme, while the human ortholog is a trifunctional enzyme that also includes GAR transformylase. Here we functionally, biochemically, and structurally characterized C. neoformans GARs and AIRs to identify drug targetable features. GARs/AIRs are essential for de novo purine production and virulence in a murine inhalation infection model. Characterization of GARs enzymatic functional parameters showed that C. neoformans GARs/AIRs have lower affinity for substrates glycine and PRA compared with the trifunctional metazoan enzyme. The crystal structure of C. neoformans GARs revealed differences in the glycine- and ATP-binding sites compared with the Homo sapiens enzyme, while the crystal structure of AIRs shows high structural similarity compared with its H. sapiens ortholog as a monomer but differences as a dimer. The alterations in functional and structural characteristics between fungal and human enzymes could potentially be exploited for antifungal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena M H Chua
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maha S I Wizrah
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zhenyao Luo
- School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bryan Y J Lim
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ulrike Kappler
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - James A Fraser
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
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Akapo OO, Macnar JM, Kryś JD, Syed PR, Syed K, Gront D. In Silico Structural Modeling and Analysis of Interactions of Tremellomycetes Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases CYP51s with Substrates and Azoles. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7811. [PMID: 34360577 PMCID: PMC8346148 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP51 (sterol 14α-demethylase) is a well-known target of the azole drug fluconazole for treating cryptococcosis, a life-threatening fungal infection in immune-compromised patients in poor countries. Studies indicate that mutations in CYP51 confer fluconazole resistance on cryptococcal species. Despite the importance of CYP51 in these species, few studies on the structural analysis of CYP51 and its interactions with different azole drugs have been reported. We therefore performed in silico structural analysis of 11 CYP51s from cryptococcal species and other Tremellomycetes. Interactions of 11 CYP51s with nine ligands (three substrates and six azoles) performed by Rosetta docking using 10,000 combinations for each of the CYP51-ligand complex (11 CYP51s × 9 ligands = 99 complexes) and hierarchical agglomerative clustering were used for selecting the complexes. A web application for visualization of CYP51s' interactions with ligands was developed (http://bioshell.pl/azoledocking/). The study results indicated that Tremellomycetes CYP51s have a high preference for itraconazole, corroborating the in vitro effectiveness of itraconazole compared to fluconazole. Amino acids interacting with different ligands were found to be conserved across CYP51s, indicating that the procedure employed in this study is accurate and can be automated for studying P450-ligand interactions to cater for the growing number of P450s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olufunmilayo Olukemi Akapo
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa;
| | - Joanna M. Macnar
- College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Warsaw, Stefana Banacha 2C, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
- Biological and Chemical Research Center, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Justyna D. Kryś
- Biological and Chemical Research Center, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Puleng Rosinah Syed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa;
| | - Khajamohiddin Syed
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa;
| | - Dominik Gront
- Biological and Chemical Research Center, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
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Wang L, Zhang M, Guo J, Guo W, Zhong N, Shen H, Cai J, Zhu Z, Wu W. In vitro activities of the tetrazole VT-1161 compared with itraconazole and fluconazole against Cryptococcus and non- albicans Candida species. Mycologia 2021; 113:918-925. [PMID: 34132632 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2021.1913949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Recently, Cryptococcus and non-albicans Candida (NAC) have emerged as health-threatening pathogens for clinical fungal infections. Due to their increased resistance to existing antifungal drugs, novel antifungals are urgently needed. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal effect of VT-1161 and its comparators itraconazole and fluconazole against common fluconazole-sensitive or -resistant Cryptococcus and NAC strains. The tested strains were obtained from Chinese patients by the Invasive Fungal Infection Group within the past 2 years. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of VT-1161 and other triazoles were measured according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-Ed4 guidelines. We found that VT-1161 exhibited strong in vitro activity against Cryptococcus spp.. VT-1161 (geometric mean MIC = 0.024 μg/mL) was 21.7-fold and 104.5-fold more potent than itraconazole and fluconazole, respectively. Against the seven Cryptococcus neoformans isolates with higher fluconazole MICs (≥8 μg/mL based on the MIC90 value of this azole), VT-1161 maintained potent activities, with MICs ranging between 0.031 and 0.5 μg/mL. For NAC spp., VT-1161 (geometric mean MIC = 0.099 μg/mL) was 6.0-fold and 11.4-fold more effective than itraconazole and fluconazole, respectively. There is a positive correlation of the MICs between VT-1161 and itraconazole/fluconazole. The MIC values of VT-1161 against Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis were significantly lower than those of fluconazole, whereas for Candida parapsilosis the differences in the MIC values between VT-1161 and fluconazole were not statistically significant. The results showed that tetrazole VT-1161 might be a promising candidate for treating Cryptococcus and NAC infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenzheng Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
| | - Ni Zhong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinfeng Cai
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, 2901 Caolang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaoqin Zhu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, 2901 Caolang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjuan Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 1800 Yuntai Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China
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Larson B, Shroufi A, Muthoga C, Oladele R, Rajasingham R, Jordan A, Jarvis JN, Chiller TM, Govender NP. Induction-phase treatment costs for cryptococcal meningitis in high HIV-burden African countries: New opportunities with lower costs. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:140. [PMID: 35706922 PMCID: PMC9184925 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16776.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Access to and the cost of induction treatment for cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is rapidly changing. The newly-announced price for flucytosine ($0.75 per 500 mg pill) and possibly lower prices for liposomal amphotericin B (AmB-L) create opportunities to reduce CM treatment costs compared to the current standard treatment in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We developed an Excel-based cost model to estimate health system treatment costs for CM over a two-week induction phase for multiple treatment combinations, newly feasible with improved access to flucytosine and AmB-L. CM treatment costs include medications, laboratory tests and other hospital-based costs (bed-day costs and healthcare worker time). We report results from applying the model using country-specific information for South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, and Botswana. Results: A 14-day induction-phase of seven days of inpatient AmB-D with flucytosine, followed by seven days of high-dose fluconazole as an outpatient, will cost health systems less than a 14-day hospital stay with AmB-D and fluconazole. If daily AmB-L replaces AmB-D for those with baseline renal dysfunction, with a cost of $50 or less per 50 mg vial, incremental costs would still be less than the AmB-D with fluconazole regimen. Simple oral combinations (e.g., seven days of flucytosine with fluconazole as an inpatient) are practical when AmB-D is not available, and treatment costs would remain less than the current standard treatment. Conclusions: Improved access to, and lower prices for flucytosine and AmB-L create opportunities for improving CM treatment regimens. An induction regimen of flucytosine and AmB-D for seven days is less costly than standard care in the settings studied here. As this regimen has also been shown to be more effective than current standard care, countries should prioritize scaling up flucytosine access. The cost of AmB-L based regimens is highly dependent on the price of AmB-L, which currently remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Larson
- Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Charles Muthoga
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Rita Oladele
- College of Medicine, Univerity of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Radha Rajasingham
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alexander Jordan
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joseph N. Jarvis
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tom M. Chiller
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nelesh P. Govender
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
- University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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A preliminary study on the characteristics of Th1/Th2 immune response in cerebrospinal fluid of AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:500. [PMID: 34051748 PMCID: PMC8164222 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06138-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcal Meningitis (CM) is a common opportunistic infection in the late stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Despite the wide use of effective antiretroviral and antifungal therapy in AIDS patients, CM is still a major morbidity and mortality cause. Understanding the immune response in cryptococcal infection may help to improve the treatment strategies. Methods We established a prospective cohort of twelve AIDS patients with CM (HIV + CM+) admitted to the hospital from 2019 to 2020. All patients were examined at the baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks thereafter. The level of 19 cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were recorded to analyze the characteristics and dynamic changes of Th1/Th2 immune response. Meanwhile, six AIDS patients without CM (HIV + CM-) and seventeen healthy subjects (HIV-CM-) were included as control groups for CSF assessment. Results The HIV+ CM+ group had higher CSF IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 (P40), IL-15, IL-18, CCL2 levels but lower IL-4 when compared with the HIV-CM- group at baseline. And they also had a higher level of IL-12 (P40) and IL-17A compared with HIV + CM- patients. Except one patient dropped out of the study, eleven HIV + CM+ patients received induction antifungal therapy and regular CSF testing, and the mortality rate was 9.1% (1/11) and 18.2% (2/11) respectively at week 2 and week 4. Compared with baseline CSF cytokines, IL-2, IL-13, IL-17A, and VEGF-A decreased in week 2, and the VEGF-A levels further decreased in week 4. But there was no difference in the levels of all cytokines between survivors and the dead. Conclusion No evidence of Th1/Th2 imbalance was found in AIDS patients with CM. However, the CSF cytokine network may provide new clues for the treatment of AIDS patients with CM. Trial registration This trial was prospectively registered in 2019.7.16. The registered number is ChiCTR1900024565. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06138-z.
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Vu K, Blumwald E, Gelli A. The Antifungal Activity of HMA, an Amiloride Analog and Inhibitor of Na +/H + Exchangers. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:673035. [PMID: 34025629 PMCID: PMC8133316 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.673035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
One path toward identifying effective and easily accessible antifungals is to repurpose commonly used drugs. Amiloride, a widely used diuretic, inhibits different isoforms of Na+/H+ exchangers, Na+ channels, and Na+/Ca2+ exchangers. Here, we found that amiloride had poor antifungal activity against isolates of Cryptococcus prompting the examination of the amiloride analog, HMA [5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride]. HMA possesses strong activity against Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) and little K+-associated toxicity since HMA has only minimal inhibitory effects toward epithelial sodium channels (ENaC), the diuretic and antikaliuretic target of amiloride. Although HMA produced a robust dose-dependent growth inhibition of several fungal isolates, susceptibility assays revealed modest MICs against isolates of Cryptococcus. A checkerboard dilution strategy resulted in fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) < 0.5, suggesting that HMA displays synergy with several antifungal azole drugs including posaconazole, voriconazole, and ketoconazole. Itraconazole and ravuconazole showed moderate synergy with HMA across all tested fungal isolates. In combination with HMA, ravuconazole had MICs of 0.004-0.008 μg/ml, a ∼16-fold reduction compared to MICs of ravuconazole when used alone and significantly more effective than the overall MIC90 (0.25 μg/ml) reported for ravuconazole against 541 clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. In combination with azole drugs, MICs of HMA ranged from 3.2 μM (1 μg/ml) to 26 μM (16 μg/ml), HMA was not cytotoxic at concentrations ≤ 8 μg/ml, but MICs were above the reported HMA Ki of 0.013-2.4 μM for various Na+/H+ exchangers. Our results suggest that HMA has limited potential as a monotherapy and may have additional targets in fungal/yeast cells since strains lacking NHEs remained sensitive to HMA. We determined that the hydrophobic substituent at the 5-amino group of HMA is likely responsible for the observed antifungal activity and synergy with several azoles since derivatives with bulky polar substitutions showed no activity against Cryptococcus, indicating that other 5-substituted HMA derivatives could possess stronger antifungal activity. Moreover, substitution of other positions around the pyrazine core of HMA has not been investigated but could reveal new leads for antifungal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiem Vu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Eduardo Blumwald
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Angie Gelli
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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A Rapid Screening Program for Histoplasmosis, Tuberculosis, and Cryptococcosis Reduces Mortality in HIV Patients from Guatemala. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7040268. [PMID: 33916153 PMCID: PMC8065950 DOI: 10.3390/jof7040268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic infections (OIs) and advanced HIV disease (AHD) contribute to HIV-related mortality. Here, we analyzed the situation of AHD and OIs in a cohort of newly diagnosed HIV patients from Guatemala. We included 2127 adult patients from 13 facilities across the country during 2017 to 2018. Patients were screened for tuberculosis (TB), nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), histoplasmosis, and cryptococcal disease, independently of their CD4 cell count. Of the 2127 enrolled patients, 1682 (79.1%) had a CD4 cell count available; of which 52% presented with AHD. Of the Mayan population, 65% had AHD. The overall OI incidence was 21%. Histoplasmosis was the most frequent OI (7.9%), followed by TB (7.1%); 94.4% of these infections occurred in patients with a CD4 < 350 cells/mm3. Mortality at 180 days was significantly higher in those with OIs than without OIs (29.7% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.0001). In one year, this program decreased the OI mortality by 7% and increased the OI treatment by 5.1%. Early OI diagnosis and appropriate therapy reduced OI mortality among newly diagnosed HIV patients in Guatemala. Screening for OIs should be considered in all newly diagnosed HIV patients who have a CD4 cell count < 350 cells/mm3 or those without a CD4 cell count available. To improve results, interventions such as early HIV detection and access to flucytosine and liposomal amphotericin B are required.
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The Antifungal and Synergistic Effect of Bisphosphonates in Cryptococcus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.01753-20. [PMID: 33139289 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01753-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
New treatment strategies are required for cryptococcosis, a leading mycosis in HIV-AIDS patients. Following the identification of Cryptococcus proteins differentially expressed in response to fluconazole, we targeted farnesyl pryrophosphate synthetase (FPPS), an enzyme in the squalene biosynthesis pathway, using nitrogenous bisphosphonates. We hypothesized that these would disrupt squalene synthesis and thereby produce synergy with fluconazole, which acts on a downstream pathway that requires squalene. The susceptibilities of 39 clinical isolates from 6 different species of Cryptococcus were assessed for bisphosphonates and fluconazole, used both independently and in combination. Effective fluconazole-bisphosphonate combinations were then assessed for fungicidal activity, efficacy against biofilms, and ability to resolve cryptococcosis in an invertebrate model. The nitrogenous bisphosphonates risedronate, alendronate, and zoledronate were antifungal against all strains tested. Zoledronate was the most effective (geometric mean MIC = 113.03 mg/liter; risedronate = 378.49 mg/liter; alendronate = 158.4 mg/liter) and was broadly synergistic when combined with fluconazole, with a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of ≤0.5 in 92% of isolates. Fluconazole and zoledronate in combination were fungicidal in a time-kill assay, inhibited Cryptococcus biofilms, prevented the development of fluconazole resistance, and resolved infection in a nematode model. Supplementation with squalene eliminated bisphosphonate-mediated synergy, demonstrating that synergy was due to the inhibition of squalene biosynthesis. This study demonstrates the utility of targeting squalene synthesis for improving the efficacy of azole-based antifungal drugs and suggests bisphosphonates are promising lead compounds for further antifungal development.
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Thompson L, Porte L, Díaz V, Díaz MC, Solar S, Valenzuela P, Norley N, Pires Y, Carreño F, Valenzuela S, Shabani R, Rickerts V, Weitzel T. Cryptococcus bacillisporus (VGIII) Meningoencephalitis Acquired in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7010055. [PMID: 33467409 PMCID: PMC7830430 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a case of chronic meningoencephalitis with hydrocephalus caused by Cryptococcus bacillisporus (VGIII) in an immunocompetent patient from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. This first report of a member of the Cryptococcus gattii species complex from Bolivia suggests that C. bacillisporus (VGIII) is present in this tropical region of the country and complements our epidemiological and clinical knowledge of this group of emerging fungal pathogens in South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Thompson
- Unidad de Infectología, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile; (L.T.); (S.S.); (P.V.)
| | - Lorena Porte
- Laboratorio Clínico, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile;
| | - Violeta Díaz
- Servicio de Neurología, Departamento de Neurología y Psiquiatría, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile;
| | - María Cristina Díaz
- Programa de Microbiologia y Micologia, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7650568, Chile;
| | - Sebastián Solar
- Unidad de Infectología, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile; (L.T.); (S.S.); (P.V.)
| | - Pablo Valenzuela
- Unidad de Infectología, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile; (L.T.); (S.S.); (P.V.)
| | - Nicole Norley
- Mycology Section, FG 16, Robert-Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (N.N.); (R.S.)
| | - Yumai Pires
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile;
| | - Fernando Carreño
- Departamento de Imágenes, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile;
| | - Sergio Valenzuela
- Servicio de Neurocirugía, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile;
| | - Rukmane Shabani
- Mycology Section, FG 16, Robert-Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (N.N.); (R.S.)
| | - Volker Rickerts
- Mycology Section, FG 16, Robert-Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (N.N.); (R.S.)
- Correspondence: (V.R.); (T.W.)
| | - Thomas Weitzel
- Laboratorio Clínico, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7650568, Chile;
- Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina (ICIM), Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7550000, Chile
- Correspondence: (V.R.); (T.W.)
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Shroufi A, Chiller T, Jordan A, Denning DW, Harrison TS, Govender NP, Loyse A, Baptiste S, Rajasingham R, Boulware DR, Ribeiro I, Jarvis JN, Van Cutsem G. Ending deaths from HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis by 2030. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 21:16-18. [PMID: 33271065 PMCID: PMC8611658 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30909-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tom Chiller
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alex Jordan
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David W Denning
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thomas S Harrison
- Centre for Global Health, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nelesh P Govender
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Angela Loyse
- Centre for Global Health, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Solange Baptiste
- International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Radha Rajasingham
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - David R Boulware
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joseph N Jarvis
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Gilles Van Cutsem
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Southern Africa Medical Unit, Doctors Without Borders Southern Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
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Lactoferrin-Derived Peptide Lactofungin Is Potently Synergistic with Amphotericin B. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00842-20. [PMID: 32690642 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00842-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Previously, we discovered that LF synergistically enhanced the antifungal efficacy of amphotericin B (AMB) across a variety of yeast species and subsequently hypothesized that this synergy was enhanced by the presence of small peptides derived from the whole LF molecule. In this study, LF was digested with pepsin under a range of conditions. The resulting hydrolysates exhibited enhanced synergy with AMB compared to its synergy with undigested LF. Samples were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, and 14 peptides were identified. The sequences of these peptides were predicted by matching their molecular weights to those of a virtual digest with pepsin. The relative intensities of predicted peptides in each hydrolysate were compared with the activity of the hydrolysate, and the structural and physicochemical properties of the peptides were assessed. From this, a 30-residue peptide was selected for synthesis and dubbed lactofungin (LFG). Pure LFG was highly synergistic with AMB, outperforming native LF in all fungal species tested. With potential for further structural and chemical improvements, LFG is an excellent lead for development as an antifungal adjuvant.
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40
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Magalhães TFF, da Silva CM, Dos Santos LBF, Santos DA, Silva LM, Fuchs BB, Mylonakis E, Martins CVB, de Resende-Stoianoff MA, de Fátima Â. Cinnamyl Schiff bases: synthesis, cytotoxic effects and antifungal activity of clinical interest. Lett Appl Microbiol 2020; 71:490-497. [PMID: 32777092 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to synthesize and investigate the in vitro antifungal properties of 23 cinnamyl Schiff bases. In addition, cytotoxic effects of such cinnamyl Schiff bases against human lung, kidney or red blood cells were also checked. The compounds were synthesized in a single-step, 2 min of reaction under microwave irradiation produced up to 97% yield. Six of the 23 cinnamyl Schiff bases possessed antifungal activities against strains of Candida, Aspergillus, Fonsecaea and, particularly, Cryptococcus species. Indeed, cinnamyl Schiff bases 1 and 23 exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values more than twofold lower than fluconazole (FCZ) against all the Cryptococcus neoformans strains (MIC = 1·33, 1·4 and 5·2 µg ml-1 , respectively) and Cryptococcus gattii strains (MIC = 5·3, 2·8 and 9·2 µg ml-1 , respectively) (12 strains of each species) while cinnamyl Schiff base 11 was as potent as FCZ against all strains from both Cryptococcus species. No significant cytotoxic effects were observed for Schiff bases against human lung, kidney or red blood cells, all presenting selective indexes higher than 10. In conclusion, this study revealed cinnamyl Schiff bases, especially 1 and 23, as new lead anticryptococcal agents for the discovery of novel antifungal drugs. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The occurrence and severity of fungal infections have increased in recent decades due to resistance to available antifungal drugs and the appearance of new emerging pathogens. Thus, the search for new antifungal agents is mandatory. From a series of 23 cinnamyl Schiff bases, two compounds (1 and 23) were interrogated as new anticryptococcal agents without significant cytotoxicity against human lung, kidney or red blood cells. In turns, these new Schiff bases are lead compounds for the discovery of novel antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- T F F Magalhães
- Departamento de Microbiologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - C M da Silva
- Grupo de Estudos em Química Orgânica e Biológica (GEQOB), Departamento de Química, ICEx, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - L B F Dos Santos
- Grupo de Estudos em Química Orgânica e Biológica (GEQOB), Departamento de Química, ICEx, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - D A Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - L M Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - B B Fuchs
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - E Mylonakis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - C V B Martins
- Centro de Engenharias e Ciência Exatas, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Toledo, PR, Brazil
| | - M A de Resende-Stoianoff
- Departamento de Microbiologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Â de Fátima
- Grupo de Estudos em Química Orgânica e Biológica (GEQOB), Departamento de Química, ICEx, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Lyus R, Pollock A, Ocan M, Brhlikova P. Registration of antimicrobials, Kenya, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania, 2018. Bull World Health Organ 2020; 98:530-538. [PMID: 32773898 PMCID: PMC7411312 DOI: 10.2471/blt.19.249433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the proportion of essential and non-essential antimicrobial medicines that are registered on the drug registers in Kenya, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania. METHODS We categorized all antimicrobials on the national drug registers and essential medicines lists of the three countries using the British National Formulary. We also categorized all antibiotics according to the World Health Organization access, watch and reserve (AWaRe) classification. We calculated the proportions of essential and non-essential antimicrobials that were registered by antimicrobial class and AWaRe classification. FINDINGS In 2018, Kenya had 2105 registered antimicrobials, Uganda had 1563 and the United Republic of Tanzania had 1327. Of these medicines, 1353 (64.3%) were non-essential in Kenya, 798 (51.1%) in Uganda and 706 (53.2%) in the United Republic of Tanzania. Kenya had 160 antimicrobials on its national essential medicines lists, Uganda had 187 and the United Republic of Tanzania had 182; of these, 33 (20.7%), 50 (26.7%) and 52 (28.6%) were not registered, respectively. High proportions of antimycobacterial and antiparasitic medicines were not registered. Of essential access antibiotics, 14.3% (4/28) were not registered in Kenya, 8.6% (3/35) in Uganda and 20.5% (8/39) in the United Republic of Tanzania, nor were 25.0% (3/12) of watch antibiotics in Kenya, 14.3% (2/14) in Uganda and 19.1% (4/21) in the United Republic of Tanzania. CONCLUSION Suboptimal registration of essential antimicrobials and over-registration of non-essential antimicrobials may encourage inappropriate use, especially since non-essential antimicrobials do not appear on national treatment guidelines. Countries should prioritize registration of the antimicrobial medicines on their essential medicines lists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Lyus
- Centre for Regulatory Science, Population Health Sciences Institute, Baddiley-Clark Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, England
| | - Allyson Pollock
- Centre for Regulatory Science, Population Health Sciences Institute, Baddiley-Clark Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, England
| | - Moses Ocan
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Petra Brhlikova
- Centre for Regulatory Science, Population Health Sciences Institute, Baddiley-Clark Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, England
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Bermas A, Geddes‐McAlister J. Combatting the evolution of antifungal resistance in
Cryptococcus neoformans. Mol Microbiol 2020; 114:721-734. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Arianne Bermas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
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Osman M, Al Bikai A, Rafei R, Mallat H, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. Update on invasive fungal infections in the Middle Eastern and North African region. Braz J Microbiol 2020; 51:1771-1789. [PMID: 32623654 PMCID: PMC7335363 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-020-00325-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the recent years, the epidemiology of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has changed worldwide. This is remarkably noticed with the significant increase in high-risk populations. Although surveillance of such infections is essential, data in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region remain scarce. In this paper, we reviewed the existing data on the epidemiology of different IFIs in the MENA region. Epidemiological surveillance is crucial to guide optimal healthcare practices. This study can help to guide appropriate interventions and to implement antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control programs in countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Osman
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Aisha Al Bikai
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Rayane Rafei
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Hassan Mallat
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
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Li Y, Huang X, Qin Y, Wu H, Yan X, Chen Y. What Is the Most Appropriate Induction Regimen for the Treatment of HIV-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis When the Recommended Regimen Is Not Available? Evidence From a Network Meta-Analysis. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:963. [PMID: 32714189 PMCID: PMC7344322 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Our object was to find the most appropriate, most effective, and most readily available of four induction regimens for HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis (CM) (Regimen A: 1 week of AmB plus 5-FC followed by 1 week of fluconazole, Regimen B: 1 week of AmB plus fluconazole followed by 1 week of fluconazole, Regimen C: 2 weeks of AmB plus 5-FC, Regimen D: 2 weeks of AmB plus fluconazole), given the vast differences between resource-limited and resource-abundant settings regarding therapeutic drug accessibility, availability, and affordability for HIV-associated (CM). Methods We conducted a network meta-analysis to compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of four different induction treatment regimens. Results The 10-week mortality of Regimen A was significantly lower than that of Regimen B and D, and the 2-week mortality of Regimen A was significantly lower than that of Regimen B. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in 10-week mortality, 2-week mortality, as well as in effective fungicidal activity (EFA) over the first 2 weeks among Regimens B, C, and D. The statistical differences in adverse events between Regimen B and Regimen D, and Regimen C and Regimen D were not calculated to be significant. Conclusions Our results indicate that, 1 week of AmB plus 5-FC followed by 1 week of fluconazole is superior to the three other studied regimens, and that when 5-FC is not available, accessible, or affordable, 2 weeks of AmB plus fluconazole or 1 week of AmB plus fluconazole followed by 1 week of fluconazole is an appropriate substitution for 2 weeks of AmB plus 5-FC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Li
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaojie Huang
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Qin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Yaokai Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, Chongqing, China
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Derbie A, Mekonnen D, Woldeamanuel Y, Abebe T. Cryptococcal antigenemia and its predictors among HIV infected patients in resource limited settings: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:407. [PMID: 32527231 PMCID: PMC7291525 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05129-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that primarily affects people with advanced HIV/AIDS and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe. By far the most common presentation of the disease is cryptococcal meningitis (CM), which leads to an estimated 15–20% of all HIV related deaths worldwide, 75% of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. However, to the best of our knowledge there is quite limited reviewed data on the epidemiology of cryptococcal antigenemia in a large HIV-infected population in resource limited settings. Methods Articles published in English irrespective of the time of publication were systematically searched using comprehensive search strings from PubMed/Medline and SCOPUS. In addition, Google Scholar and Google databases were searched manually for grey literature. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. The pooled prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia was determined with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Among 2941 potential citations, we have included 22 studies with a total of 8338 HIV positive individuals. The studies were reported in ten different countries during the year (2007–2018). Most of the articles reported the mean CD4 count of the participants below 100 cells/μl. The pooled prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia at different CD4 count and ART status was at 8% (95%CI: 6–10%) (ranged between 1.7 and 33%). Body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2, CD4 count < 100 cells, patients presenting with headache and male gender were reported by two or more articles as an important predictors of cryptococcal antigenemia. Conclusions Implementing a targeted screening of HIV patients with low BMI, CD4 count < 100 cells, having headache and males; and treatment for asymptomatic cryptococcal disease should be considered. Additional data is needed to better define the epidemiology of cryptococcal antigenemia and its predictors in resource limited settings in order to optimize the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awoke Derbie
- Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. .,Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. .,Department of Health Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Institute, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
| | - Daniel Mekonnen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.,Department of Health Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Institute, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Yimtubezinash Woldeamanuel
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tamrat Abebe
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Spadari CDC, Wirth F, Lopes LB, Ishida K. New Approaches for Cryptococcosis Treatment. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E613. [PMID: 32340403 PMCID: PMC7232457 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an important opportunistic infection and a leading cause of meningitis in patients with HIV infection. The antifungal pharmacological treatment is limited to amphotericin B, fluconazole and 5- flucytosine. In addition to the limited pharmacological options, the high toxicity, increased resistance rate and difficulty of the currently available antifungal molecules to cross the blood-brain barrier hamper the treatment. Thus, the search for new alternatives for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis is extremely necessary. In this review, we describe the therapeutic strategies currently available, discuss new molecules with antifungal potential in different phases of clinical trials and in advanced pre-clinical phase, and examine drug nanocarriers to improve delivery to the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina de Castro Spadari
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
| | - Fernanda Wirth
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
| | - Luciana Biagini Lopes
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Kelly Ishida
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
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Cordeiro BMPC, Carvalho Junior AR, Santos JRA, Araújo AD, Silva AG, Correia MTS, Silva MV, Napoleão TH, Silva LCN, Santos NDL, Paiva PMG. Anticryptococcal activity of hexane extract from Spondias tuberosa Arruda and associated cellular events. J Mycol Med 2020; 30:100965. [PMID: 32307255 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2020.100965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic systemic mycosis whose treatment is limited to three drugs. In this work, we evaluated the antifungal activity of a hexane extract (HE) from Spondias tuberosa leaves against Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined, and putative mechanisms were evaluated by flow cytometry. In addition, an in vivo infection assay was performed using Tenebrio molitor larvae. Treatment with HE inhibited the growth of standard and clinical isolates of C. neoformans and C. gattii (MICs ranging from 0.78 to 3.12mg/mL), significantly (P<0.05) increased mitochondrial superoxide anion levels, and induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization, loss of lysosomal membrane integrity, and phosphatidylserine externalization. The mean survival time of C. gattii-infected T. molitor larvae significantly (P<0.05) increased from 1.225 days in control to 3.067 and 3.882 days in HE-treated groups (78 and 156mg/kg, respectively). In conclusion, HE showed anticryptococcal activity, induced mitochondrial and lysosomal damage in yeast cells, and exhibited anti-infective action against C. gattii in T. molitor larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M P C Cordeiro
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - A D Araújo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - A G Silva
- Núcleo de Bioprospecção da Caatinga, Instituto Nacional do Semiárido, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil; Departamento de Antibióticos, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - M T S Correia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - M V Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Núcleo de Bioprospecção da Caatinga, Instituto Nacional do Semiárido, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - T H Napoleão
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - L C N Silva
- Universidade CEUMA, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - N D L Santos
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - P M G Paiva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
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Chemokine and Cytokine Cascade Caused by Skewing of the Th1-Th2 Balance Is Associated with High Intracranial Pressure in HIV-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis. Mediators Inflamm 2019; 2019:2053958. [PMID: 32082071 PMCID: PMC7012228 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2053958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Serum cytokines/chemokines play important roles in cryptococcal meningitis, but it is unclear whether cytokines/chemokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contribute to high intracranial pressure (HICP) in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis (HCM). Methods CSF cytokines/chemokines were assayed in 17 HIV-uninfected patients, 26 HIV-infected patients without CNS infection, and 39 HCM patients at admission. Principal component analysis and correlation and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationships between these parameters. Results The CSF Th1, Th2, and macrophage cytokines showed an obvious increase in HCM patients as compared to the HIV-uninfected patients and HIV-infected patients without CNS infection. CSF IL-6, GM-CSF, and IL-8 were positively correlated with CSF fungal burden. Serum CD4 count, CSF Th1 cytokines (TNF-α, TNF-β, IL-12, IL-1β, IL-12, IL-1α, TNF-α, TNF-β, IL-12, IL-1γ, and IL-12) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) contribute to HICP. Conclusion Overall, the present findings indicated that both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines of Th1, Th2, and macrophage origin contributed to the development of HCM. Specifically, the chemokine and cytokine cascade caused by skewing of the Th1-Th2 balance and reduced CD4 count were found to be important contributors to HICP. Summary. Our research suggested that chemokine and cytokine cascade caused by skewing of the Th1-Th2 balance in HIV-infected patients played more important role than Cryptococcus numbers and size in CSF on the development of high intracranial pressure in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis, providing a new understanding of mechanisms of HCM.
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Katende A, Mbwanji G, Faini D, Nyuri A, Kalinjuma AV, Mnzava D, Hullsiek KH, Rhein J, Weisser M, Meya DB, Boulware DR, Letang E. Short-course amphotericin B in addition to sertraline and fluconazole for treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in rural Tanzania. Mycoses 2019; 62:1127-1132. [PMID: 31461550 DOI: 10.1111/myc.12995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptococcal meningitis accounts for 15% of all AIDS mortality globally. Most cases in low- and middle-income countries are treated with fluconazole monotherapy, which is associated with a high mortality. New available therapies are needed. Short-course amphotericin B has been shown to be a safe and efficient therapeutic option. Sertraline has in vitro fungicidal activity against Cryptococcus and bi-directional synergy with fluconazole. METHODS We conducted an open-label clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of sertraline 400 mg/day and fluconazole 1200 mg/day (n = 28) vs sertraline, fluconazole and additional 5 days of amphotericin B deoxycholate 0.7-1 mg/kg (n = 18) for cryptococcal meningitis. RESULTS Two-week survival was 64% (18/28) without amphotericin and 89% (16/18) with amphotericin, and 10-week survival was 21% (6/28) vs 61% (11/18), respectively (P = .012). The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Cryptococcus clearance rate was 0.264 log10 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of CSF/day (95% CI: 0.112-0.416) without amphotericin and 0.473 log10 CFU/mL/day (95% CI: 0.344-0.60) with short-course amphotericin (P = .03). Sertraline was discontinued in one participant due to side effects. Four participants receiving amphotericin B experienced hypokalemia <2.4 mEq/L. CONCLUSIONS Short-course amphotericin substantially increased CSF clearance and 10-week survival. Adjunctive sertraline improved 2-week CSF fungal clearance but did not improve 10-week mortality compared with published data using fluconazole 1200 mg/day monotherapy (early fungicidal activity 0.15 log10 CFU/mL/day).
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Katende
- Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania
| | - Gladys Mbwanji
- Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania
| | - Diana Faini
- Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.,Muhimbili University of Health and Allied sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Amina Nyuri
- Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania
| | | | - Dorcas Mnzava
- Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania
| | - Katherine H Hullsiek
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joshua Rhein
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Maja Weisser
- Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David B Meya
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David R Boulware
- Division of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Emilio Letang
- Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Service of Infectious Diseases, Hospital del Mar, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
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50
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Garvey EP, Sharp AD, Warn PA, Yates CM, Schotzinger RJ. The novel fungal CYP51 inhibitor VT-1598 is efficacious alone and in combination with liposomal amphotericin B in a murine model of cryptococcal meningitis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2019; 73:2815-2822. [PMID: 29947783 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dky242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Annual global deaths from cryptococcal meningitis (CM) are estimated at 180 000 and mortality is as high as 30%, even with optimal therapy. VT-1598 is a novel fungal CYP51 inhibitor with potent intrinsic antifungal activity against Cryptococcus. We report here VT-1598's in vivo antifungal activity in a murine model of CM. Methods Single-dose plasma and brain pharmacokinetics in mice and MIC for Cryptococcus neoformans H99 were determined prior to efficacy studies. Short-course monotherapy and combination doses were explored with the endpoint of brain fungal burden. A survival study was also conducted using monotherapy treatment with fungal burden measured after a 6 day drug washout. Results Oral doses of VT-1598 had good plasma and brain exposure and resulted in significant (P < 0.0001) and dose-dependent reductions in brain fungal burden, reaching a 6 log10 reduction. Unlike either positive drug control (fluconazole or liposomal amphotericin B), both mid and high doses of VT-1598 reduced fungal burden to below levels measured at the start of treatment. When VT-1598 was dosed in the survival study, no VT-1598-treated animal succumbed to the infection. Whereas fluconazole showed a 2.5 log10 increase in fungal burden after the 6 day washout, the VT-1598 mid- and high-dose animals showed almost no regrowth (<0.5 log10). In a separate fungal burden study using suboptimal doses of VT-1598 and liposomal amphotericin B to probe for combination effects, each combination had a positive effect relative to corresponding monotherapies. Conclusions These pre-clinical in vivo data strongly support clinical investigation of VT-1598 as a novel therapy for this lethal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- E P Garvey
- Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - C M Yates
- Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Durham, NC, USA
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