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Wang HC, Hsieh MI, Choi PC, Wu WL, Wu CJ. Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of clinical Aspergillus isolates: A multicentre study in Taiwan, 2016-2020. Mycoses 2023. [PMID: 37186489 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological knowledge is important to guide antifungal therapy. OBJECTIVE This multicentre study aimed to investigate the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus isolates in Taiwan. METHOD Four hundred and ninety-two clinical Aspergillus isolates, collected during 2016-2020, were identified by calmodulin sequencing and tested for antifungal susceptibility using CLSI M38-A3. The Cyp51A sequences of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus isolates were analysed. RESULTS This collection comprised 30 species from eight Aspergillus sections-Flavi (33.5%), Nigri (26.0%), Fumigati (24.2%), Terrei (10.0%), Nidulantes (5.1%), Circumdati (0.8%), Restricti (0.2%) and Aspergillus (0.2%). Sections Fumigati, Flavi and Terrei were primarily represented by A. fumigatus (99.2%), A. flavus (95.8%) and A. terreus (100%), respectively. Section Nigri comprised nine species, mostly A. welwitschiae (60.2%), A. niger (12.5%), A. brunneoviolaceus (10.9%) and A. tubingensis (10.2%). A. fumigatus (39.6%) and A. flavus (26.4%) predominated among 53 isolates from lower respiratory samples, whereas section Nigri species (46.2%) and A. terreus (29.2%) predominated among 65 isolates from ear samples. Reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) > 1 μg/mL) was noted in A. flavus (7.0%), A. terreus (6.1%), A. nidulans and section Circumdati (A. flocculosus, A. subramanianii and A. westerdijkiae) isolates. Acquired azole resistance was observed in seven A. fumigatus (5.9%), all of which carried TR34 /L98H or TR34 /L98H/S297T/F495I mutation, and three A. flavus (1.9%), one of which carried G441S mutation. Reduced susceptibility to itraconazole (MIC >1 μg/mL) was noted in 55.5% of section Nigri isolates, mainly in A. welwitschiae, A. niger and A. tubingensis, whereas A. brunneoviolaceus, A. aculeatinus and A. japonicus were hypersusceptible to azoles. Anidulafungin was active against all isolates except for one isolate. CONCLUSIONS This study depicted the molecular epidemiology and species-specific characteristics of Aspergillus in Taiwan, which aids in appropriate antifungal therapy and underlines the need of speciation and susceptibility testing of disease-causing Aspergillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Chen Wang
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-I Hsieh
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pui-Ching Choi
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Lin Wu
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Jung Wu
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Punia A, Choudhary P, Sharma N, Dahiya S, Gulia P, Chhillar AK. Therapeutic Approaches for Combating Aspergillus Associated Infection. Curr Drug Targets 2022; 23:1465-1488. [PMID: 35748549 DOI: 10.2174/1389450123666220623164548] [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: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Now-a-days fungal infection emerges as a significant problem to healthcare management systems due to high frequency of associated morbidity, mortality toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and resistance of the antifungal agents. Aspergillus is the most common mold that cause infection in immunocompromised hosts. It's a hyaline mold that is cosmopolitan and ubiquitous in nature. Aspergillus infects around 10 million population each year with a mortality rate of 30-90%. Clinically available antifungal formulations are restricted to four classes (i.e., polyene, triazole, echinocandin, and allylamine), and each of them have their own limitations associated with the activity spectrum, the emergence of resistance, and toxicity. Consequently, novel antifungal agents with modified and altered chemical structures are required to combat these invasive fungal infections. To overcome these limitations, there is an urgent need for new antifungal agents that can act as potent drugs in near future. Currently, some compounds have shown effective antifungal activity. In this review article, we have discussed all potential antifungal therapies that contain old antifungal drugs, combination therapies, and recent novel antifungal formulations, with a focus on the Aspergillus associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aruna Punia
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India
| | - Pooja Choudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India
| | - Namita Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India
| | - Sweety Dahiya
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India
| | - Prity Gulia
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India
| | - Anil K Chhillar
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India
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3
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GR-2397: Review of the Novel Siderophore-like Antifungal Agent for the Treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8090909. [PMID: 36135634 PMCID: PMC9502624 DOI: 10.3390/jof8090909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
GR-2397 (previously VL-2397, ASP2397) is a first-in-class antifungal agent for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis. This siderophore-like molecule resembles ferrichrome; however, it is differentiated by three amino acid changes and an aluminum rather than iron chelate. GR-2397 is transported into fungal cells via the Sit1 transporter, which is not found in humans, leading to fungal specificity. Although the precise mechanism of action is currently unknown, GR-2397 is active against Aspergillus spp. including azole-resistant strains, Fusarium solani, and Candida glabrata in addition to other organisms. Efficacy has been demonstrated in several animal models of invasive aspergillosis, including a 24 h delayed-treatment model where rapid fungicidal activity was observed. Phase 1 single- and multiple-ascending intravenous dose studies showed that GR-2397 was safe and well-tolerated in humans. No signs of GR-2397 accumulation were observed following IV infusions of 300, 600, and 1200 mg every 24 h (q24h) for 7 days. The favorable safety, tolerability and drug–drug interaction profile, along with good tissue distribution, support further development of GR-2397 as a new treatment option for patients with invasive aspergillosis. This systematic review summarizes the published findings of GR-2397.
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4
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Wiederhold NP. Pharmacodynamics, Mechanisms of Action and Resistance, and Spectrum of Activity of New Antifungal Agents. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080857. [PMID: 36012845 PMCID: PMC9410397 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several new antifungals are currently in late-stage development, including those with novel pharmacodynamics/mechanisms of action that represent new antifungal classes (manogepix, olorofim, ATI-2307, GR-2397). Others include new agents within established classes or with mechanisms of action similar to clinically available antifungals (ibrexafungerp, rezafungin, oteseconazole, opelconazole, MAT2203) that have been modified in order to improve certain characteristics, including enhanced pharmacokinetics and greater specificity for fungal targets. Many of the antifungals under development also have activity against Candida and Aspergillus strains that have reduced susceptibility or acquired resistance to azoles and echinocandins, whereas others demonstrate activity against species that are intrinsically resistant to most clinically available antifungals. The tolerability and drug–drug interaction profiles of these new agents also appear to be promising, although the number of human subjects that have been exposed to many of these agents remains relatively small. Overall, these agents have the potential for expanding our antifungal armamentarium and improving clinical outcomes in patients with invasive mycoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P Wiederhold
- Fungus Testing Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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5
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Asai Y, Hiratsuka T, Ueda M, Kawamura Y, Asamizu S, Onaka H, Arioka M, Nishimura S, Yoshida M. Differential Biosynthesis and Roles of Two Ferrichrome-Type Siderophores, ASP2397/AS2488053 and Ferricrocin, in Acremonium persicinum. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:207-216. [PMID: 35000376 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Ferrichromes are a family of fungal siderophores with cyclic hexapeptide structures. Most fungi produce one or two ferrichrome-type siderophores. Acremonium persicinum MF-347833 produces ferrichrome-like potent Trojan horse antifungal antibiotics ASP2397 and AS2488053, the aluminum- and iron-chelating forms of AS2488059, respectively. Here, we show by gene sequencing followed by gene deletion experiments that A. persicinum MF-347833 possesses two nonribosomal peptide synthetase genes responsible for AS2488059 and ferricrocin assembly. AS2488059 was produced under iron starvation conditions and excreted into the media to serve as a defense metabolite and probably an iron courier. In contrast, ferricrocin was produced under iron-replete conditions and retained inside the cells, likely serving as an iron-sequestering molecule. Notably, the phylogenetic analyses suggest the different evolutionary origin of AS2488059 from that of conventional ferrichrome-type siderophores. Harnessing two ferrichrome-type siderophores with distinct biological properties may give A. persicinum a competitive advantage for surviving the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiki Asai
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Tomoshige Hiratsuka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Miyu Ueda
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yumi Kawamura
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Shumpei Asamizu
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Onaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Manabu Arioka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Shinichi Nishimura
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Minoru Yoshida
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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6
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Heard SC, Wu G, Winter JM. Antifungal natural products. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 69:232-241. [PMID: 33640596 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Natural products are specialized small molecules produced in Nature and play pivotal roles in many cellular processes. These compounds possess exquisite chemical diversity and represent some of the most important pharmaceutical agents in human health care. With the rampant rise of fungal pathogens that are becoming resistant to nearly all clinically available antibiotics, there is an increased urgency to find new antifungal therapies with novel modes of action. To meet this need, we must be able to quickly identify new bioactive chemical scaffolds within complex natural extracts, determine their mechanisms of action, and generate appreciable yields for preclinical studies. In this review, we will highlight naturally derived antifungal agents of clinical importance as well as those with strong potential as leads in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C Heard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Guangwei Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Jaclyn M Winter
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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7
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Vahedi-Shahandashti R, Lass-Flörl C. Novel Antifungal Agents and Their Activity against Aspergillus Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:E213. [PMID: 33050302 PMCID: PMC7711508 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a need for new antifungal agents, mainly due to increased incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFI), high frequency of associated morbidity and mortality and limitations of the current antifungal agents (e.g., toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and resistance). The clinically available antifungals for IFI are restricted to four main classes: polyenes, flucytosine, triazoles, and echinocandins. Several antifungals are hampered by multiple resistance mechanisms being present in fungi. Consequently, novel antifungal agents with new targets and modified chemical structures are required to combat fungal infections. This review will describe novel antifungals, with a focus on the Aspergillus species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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8
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Howard KC, Dennis EK, Watt DS, Garneau-Tsodikova S. A comprehensive overview of the medicinal chemistry of antifungal drugs: perspectives and promise. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:2426-2480. [PMID: 32140691 DOI: 10.1039/c9cs00556k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of new fungal pathogens makes the development of new antifungal drugs a medical imperative that in recent years motivates the talents of numerous investigators across the world. Understanding not only the structural families of these drugs but also their biological targets provides a rational means for evaluating the merits and selectivity of new agents for fungal pathogens and normal cells. An equally important aspect of modern antifungal drug development takes a balanced look at the problems of drug potency and drug resistance. The future development of new antifungal agents will rest with those who employ synthetic and semisynthetic methodology as well as natural product isolation to tackle these problems and with those who possess a clear understanding of fungal cell architecture and drug resistance mechanisms. This review endeavors to provide an introduction to a growing and increasingly important literature, including coverage of the new developments in medicinal chemistry since 2015, and also endeavors to spark the curiosity of investigators who might enter this fascinatingly complex fungal landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlind C Howard
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0596, USA.
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9
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Fungal Infections and ABPA. Respir Med 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-42382-7_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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10
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Dietl AM, Misslinger M, Aguiar MM, Ivashov V, Teis D, Pfister J, Decristoforo C, Hermann M, Sullivan SM, Smith LR, Haas H. The Siderophore Transporter Sit1 Determines Susceptibility to the Antifungal VL-2397. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:e00807-19. [PMID: 31405865 PMCID: PMC6761561 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00807-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
VL-2397 (previously termed ASP2397) is an antifungal, aluminum-chelating cyclic hexapeptide with a structure analogous to that of ferrichrome-type siderophores, whereby replacement of aluminum by iron was shown to decrease the antifungal activity of this compound. Here, we found that inactivation of an importer for ferrichrome-type siderophores, termed Sit1, renders Aspergillus fumigatus resistant to VL-2397. Moreover, expression of the endogenous sit1 gene under the control of a xylose-inducible promoter (to uncouple sit1 expression from iron repression) combined with C-terminal tagging with a fluorescent protein demonstrated localization of Sit1 in the plasma membrane and xylose-dependent VL-2397 susceptibility. This underlines that Sit1-mediated uptake is essential for VL-2397 susceptibility. Under xylose-induced sit1 expression, VL-2397 also retained antifungal activity after replacing aluminum with iron, which demonstrates that VL-2397 bears antifungal activity independent of cellular aluminum importation. Analysis of sit1 expression indicated that the reduced antifungal activity of the iron-chelated VL-2397 is caused by downregulation of sit1 expression by the imported iron. Furthermore, we demonstrate that defects in iron homeostatic mechanisms modulate the activity of VL-2397. In contrast to A. fumigatus and Candida glabrata, Saccharomyces cerevisiae displays intrinsic resistance to VL-2397 antifungal activity. However, expression of sit1 from A. fumigatus, or its homologue from C. glabrata, resulted in susceptibility to VL-2397, which suggests that the intrinsic resistance of S. cerevisiae is based on lack of uptake and that A. fumigatus, C. glabrata, and S. cerevisiae share an intracellular target for VL-2397.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Dietl
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Matthias Misslinger
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mario M Aguiar
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Vasyl Ivashov
- Division Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - David Teis
- Division Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Joachim Pfister
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Clemens Decristoforo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martin Hermann
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | | | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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ASP2397 Is a Novel Natural Compound That Exhibits Rapid and Potent Fungicidal Activity against Aspergillus Species through a Specific Transporter. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.02689-18. [PMID: 31405853 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02689-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Current therapies against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) have a limited cure rate. Given that a delay in treatment initiation may be fatal, a new drug with rapid-onset and potent fungicidal activity is needed. The novel cyclic hexapeptide ASP2397 (currently known as VL-2397) exhibited antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus (including azole-sensitive and azole-resistant isolates), A. terreus, and A. flavus at an MIC range of 1 to 4 μg/ml in human serum. Time-kill curve experiments showed that ASP2397 reduced germinated conidia of A. fumigatus by more than 1 log10 CFU within 6 h. In addition, ASP2397 inhibited hyphal elongation from germinated conidia of A. fumigatus, A. terreus, and A. flavus more rapidly than voriconazole. Under conditions of delayed treatment initiation in an IPA mouse model, ASP2397 had efficacy superior to that of posaconazole, with 100% survival and over 1 log10 CFU/g reduction in lung fungal burden. Histopathological investigation of lungs also showed that ASP2397 markedly suppressed disease progression. To clarify its mechanism of action, we generated a UV-induced mutant of A. fumigatus with low susceptibility to ASP2397. The mutant had a point mutation in the siderophore transporter gene sit1, which is absent in mammalian cells. These findings suggest that ASP2397 may improve clinical treatment options for IPA.
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12
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Zeng Q, Zhang Z, Chen P, Long N, Lu L, Sang H. In vitro and in vivo Efficacy of a Synergistic Combination of Itraconazole and Verapamil Against Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1266. [PMID: 31231346 PMCID: PMC6567931 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of aspergillosis continues to rise sharply, while the progress made in expanding the antifungal drug arsenal remains extremely slow, indicating an urgent need for new strategies. Previous studies have shown that the calcium signaling pathway, which is evolutionarily conserved in mammals and fungi, is involved in regulating the tolerance of azoles in fungi. In this study, we performed a preliminary screening among various combinations of different clinical calcium channel blockers and different antifungal drugs. We found that the combination of itraconazole and verapamil showed the best synergistic effect against Aspergillus fumigatus. Thereafter, using the checkboard assays we observed synergistic effects of the combination treatment against most of the A. fumigatus strains tested, including itraconazole-sensitive and itraconazole-resistant strains, with a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) < 0.5. Furthermore, we showed that verapamil strongly decreased the cytosolic calcium transients following itraconazole stimulation by an aequorin-mediated method. Moreover, verapamil influenced the efflux of rhodamine 6G, an azole mimic substance. An ergosterol assay revealed that verapamil alone had no effect on ergosterol biosynthesis, but the combination of itraconazole and verapamil treatment decreased the ergosterol level. Further murine assays were performed using a luciferase-probed bioluminescence imaging method. Drug combination therapy reduced lung burden and improved survival rate. In conclusion, verapamil is a promising candidate to enhance the antifungal activity of itraconazole against A. fumigatus. In addition, our study suggests the effectiveness of an emerging approach based on bioluminescence imaging in monitoring the efficacy of drug combination therapy for invasive aspergillosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuqiong Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peiying Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Nanbiao Long
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Sang
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Zhao P, Xue Y, Li X, Li J, Zhao Z, Quan C, Gao W, Zu X, Bai X, Feng S. Fungi-derived lipopeptide antibiotics developed since 2000. Peptides 2019; 113:52-65. [PMID: 30738838 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lipopeptide antibiotics have linear or cyclic structures with one or more hydrocarbon tails linked to the N-terminus of a short oligopeptide that may be chemically modified and/or contain unusual amino acid residues in their structures. They possess huge potential as pharmaceutical drugs and biocontrol agents, and ˜30 representative genera of fungi are known to produce them. Some chemically synthesised derivatives have already been developed into commercial products or subjected to clinical trials, including cilofungin, caspofungin, micafungin, anidulafungin, rezafungin, emodepside, fusafungine and destruxins. This review summarizes 200 fungi-derived compounds reported since 2000, including 95 cyclic depsipeptides, 67 peptaibiotics (including 35 peptaibols, eight lipoaminopeptides, and five lipopeptaibols), and 38 non-depsipeptide and non-peptaibiotic lipopeptides. Their sources, structural sequences, antibiotic activities (e.g. antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimycobacterial, antimycoplasmal, antimalarial, antileishmanial, insecticidal, antitrypanosomal and nematicidal), structure-activity relationships, mechanisms of action, and specific relevance are discussed. These compounds have attracted considerable interest within the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengchao Zhao
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Yun Xue
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China.
| | - Xin Li
- Life Science College, Yuncheng University, Yuncheng, 044000, China
| | - Jinghua Li
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Zhanqin Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Chunshan Quan
- Department of Life Science, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian, 116600, China
| | - Weina Gao
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Xiangyang Zu
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Xuefei Bai
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Shuxiao Feng
- College of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, China
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Jenks JD, Hoenigl M. Treatment of Aspergillosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:jof4030098. [PMID: 30126229 PMCID: PMC6162797 DOI: 10.3390/jof4030098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Aspergillus spp. remain associated with high morbidity and mortality. While mold-active antifungal prophylaxis has led to a decrease of occurrence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in those patients most at risk for infection, breakthrough IA does occur and remains difficult to diagnose due to low sensitivities of mycological tests for IA. IA is also increasingly observed in other non-neutropenic patient groups, where clinical presentation is atypical and diagnosis remains challenging. Early and targeted systemic antifungal treatment remains the most important predictive factor for a successful outcome in immunocompromised individuals. Recent guidelines recommend voriconazole and/or isavuconazole for the primary treatment of IA, with liposomal amphotericin B being the first alternative, and posaconazole, as well as echinocandins, primarily recommended for salvage treatment. Few studies have evaluated treatment options for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), where long-term oral itraconazole or voriconazole remain the treatment of choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Jenks
- Department of Medicine, University of California⁻San Diego, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.
| | - Martin Hoenigl
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California⁻San Diego, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine and Division of Pulmonology, Medical University of Graz, Graz 8036, Austria.
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McCarthy MW, Walsh TJ. Galactomannan antigenemia as a biomarker for therapeutic response of invasive aspergillosis: implications for clinical trial design and patient care. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2018; 18:601-604. [PMID: 29897826 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2018.1488589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clinical trials for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a potentially lethal mold infection, are complex investigations that require protracted time and extensive resources, delaying the development of new antifungal agents for this important disease. Areas covered: In this paper, the authors examine a novel approach to study invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in humans, with a focus on the potentials and pitfalls of surrogate end points such as galactomannan antigenemia to evaluate therapeutic response to novel compounds. Expert commentary: The authors believe the use of serum galactomannan as a primary end point in clinical trials may allow for development studies that could be accomplished with fewer resources. It is widely appreciated that serum galactomannan values strongly correlate with outcome of invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic cancer and may be applicable to other at-risk patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W McCarthy
- a Weill Cornell Medical College, Division of General Internal Medicine , New York-Presbyterian Hospital , New York , NY , USA
| | - Thomas J Walsh
- b Weill Cornell Medical College, Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program , Weill Cornell Medical College/New York-Presbyterian Hospital , New York , NY , USA
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16
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Martinez-Rossi NM, Bitencourt TA, Peres NTA, Lang EAS, Gomes EV, Quaresemin NR, Martins MP, Lopes L, Rossi A. Dermatophyte Resistance to Antifungal Drugs: Mechanisms and Prospectus. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1108. [PMID: 29896175 PMCID: PMC5986900 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dermatophytes comprise pathogenic fungi that have a high affinity for the keratinized structures present in nails, skin, and hair, causing superficial infections known as dermatophytosis. A reasonable number of antifungal drugs currently exist on the pharmaceutical market to control mycoses; however, their cellular targets are restricted, and fungi may exhibit tolerance or resistance to these agents. For example, the stress caused by antifungal and cytotoxic drugs in sub-inhibitory concentrations promotes compensatory stress responses, with the over-expression of genes involved in cellular detoxification, drug efflux, and signaling pathways being among the various mechanisms that may contribute to drug tolerance. In addition, the ATP-binding cassette transporters in dermatophytes that are responsible for cellular efflux can act synergistically, allowing one to compensate for the absence of the other, revealing the complexity of drug tolerance phenomena. Moreover, mutations in genes coding for target enzymes could lead to substitutions in amino acids involved in the binding of antifungal agents, hindering their performance and leading to treatment failure. The relevance of each one of these mechanisms of resistance to fungal survival is hard to define, mainly because they can act simultaneously in the cell. However, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the resistance/tolerance processes, the identification of new antifungal targets, as well as the prospective of new antifungal compounds among natural or synthetic products, are expected to bring advances and new insights that facilitate the improvement or development of novel strategies for antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilce M Martinez-Rossi
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Tamires A Bitencourt
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Nalu T A Peres
- Department of Morphology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Elza A S Lang
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Eriston V Gomes
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Natalia R Quaresemin
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maíra P Martins
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Lucia Lopes
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Antonio Rossi
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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17
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A Novel Polyaminocarboxylate Compound To Treat Murine Pulmonary Aspergillosis by Interfering with Zinc Metabolism. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:AAC.02510-17. [PMID: 29632009 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02510-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus can cause pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients and is associated with a high mortality rate due to a lack of reliable treatment options. This opportunistic pathogen requires zinc in order to grow and cause disease. Novel compounds that interfere with fungal zinc metabolism may therefore be of therapeutic interest. We screened chemical libraries containing 59,223 small molecules using a resazurin assay that compared their effects on an A. fumigatus wild-type strain grown under zinc-limiting conditions and on a zinc transporter knockout strain grown under zinc-replete conditions to identify compounds affecting zinc metabolism. After a first screen, 116 molecules were selected whose inhibitory effects on fungal growth were further tested by using luminescence assays and hyphal length measurements to confirm their activity, as well as by toxicity assays on HeLa cells and mice. Six compounds were selected following a rescreening, of which two were pyrazolones, two were porphyrins, and two were polyaminocarboxylates. All three groups showed good in vitro activity, but only one of the polyaminocarboxylates was able to significantly improve the survival of immunosuppressed mice suffering from pulmonary aspergillosis. This two-tier screening approach led us to the identification of a novel small molecule with in vivo fungicidal effects and low murine toxicity that may lead to the development of new treatment options for fungal infections by administration of this compound either as a monotherapy or as part of a combination therapy.
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18
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Fuentefria AM, Pippi B, Dalla Lana DF, Donato KK, de Andrade SF. Antifungals discovery: an insight into new strategies to combat antifungal resistance. Lett Appl Microbiol 2017; 66:2-13. [PMID: 29112282 DOI: 10.1111/lam.12820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Revised: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Undeniably, new antifungal treatments are necessary against pathogenic fungi. Fungal infections have significantly increased in recent decades, being highlighted as important causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Five main antifungal classes are used: (i) azoles, (ii) echinocandins, (iii) polyenes, (iv) allylamines and (v) pyrimidine analogues. Moreover, the treatment of mycoses has several limitations, such as undesirable side effects, narrow activity spectrum, a small number of targets and fungal resistance, which are still of major concern in clinical practice. The discovery of new antifungals is mostly achieved by the screening of natural or synthetic/semisynthetic chemical compounds. The most recent discoveries in drug resistance mechanism and their avoidance were explored in a review, focusing on different antifungal targets, as well as new agents or strategies, such as combination therapy, that could improve antifungal therapy. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The failure to respond to antifungal therapy is complex and is associated with microbiological resistance and increased expression of virulence in fungal pathogens. Thus, this review offers an overview of current challenges in the treatment of fungal infections associated with increased antifungal drug resistance and the formation of biofilms in these opportunistic pathogens. Furthermore, the most recent and potential strategies to combat fungal pathogens are explored here, focusing on new agents as well as innovative approaches, such as combination therapy between antifungal drugs or with natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Fuentefria
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - B Pippi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - D F Dalla Lana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - K K Donato
- MackGraphe (Graphene and Nano-Material Research Center), Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - S F de Andrade
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Salci TP, Negri M, R Abadio AK, Bonfim-Mendonça P, Capoci I, Caparroz-Assef SM, Donatti L, S Felipe MS, Kioshima ES, Svidzinski TIE. A new small-molecule KRE2 inhibitor against invasive Candida parapsilosis infection. Future Microbiol 2017; 12:1283-1295. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the antifungal activity of MOL3, a small molecule that was selected by virtual screening, against Candida spp. Materials & methods: The antifungal activity of MOL3 was evaluated using standard strains and clinical isolates. Activity was evaluated in both in vitro tests and animal models. Results: The minimum fungicidal concentration of MOL3 against Candida spp. ranged from 16 to 128 mg/l. MOL3 at the sub-minimum fungicidal concentration inhibited hyphal elongation. The remaining yeast cells presented morphological changes and were metabolically inactive. MOL3 was toxicologically inert both in vitro and in the animal model. MOL3 also reduced experimental systemic infection by C. parapsilosis in mice. Conclusion: The selection of MOL3 by virtual screening was successful, revealing a promising antifungal candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tânia P Salci
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Medical Mycology, Av Colombo, 5790 – Zona 7, Maringá – PR 87020-900, Brazil
- Faculdade Integrado, Department of Pharmacy – Campo Mourão, Av José C de Oliveira, 1325 – Centro, Campo Mourão, PR 87300-020, Brazil
| | - Melyssa Negri
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Medical Mycology, Av Colombo, 5790 – Zona 7, Maringá – PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Karina R Abadio
- Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Department of Biology, Av dos Ingás, 3001 – Jardim Imperial, Sinop – MT 78555-000, Brazil
| | - P Bonfim-Mendonça
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Medical Mycology, Av Colombo, 5790 – Zona 7, Maringá – PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Isis Capoci
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Medical Mycology, Av Colombo, 5790 – Zona 7, Maringá – PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Silvana M Caparroz-Assef
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Av Colombo, 5790 – Zona 7, Maringá – PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Lucélia Donatti
- Universidade Federal do Paraná, Department of Cellular Biology, Rua XV de Novembro, 1299 – Centro, Curitiba – PR 80060-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Sueli S Felipe
- Universidade de Brasília, Department of Cellular Biology, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília – DF 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Erika S Kioshima
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Medical Mycology, Av Colombo, 5790 – Zona 7, Maringá – PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Terezinha IE Svidzinski
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Medical Mycology, Av Colombo, 5790 – Zona 7, Maringá – PR 87020-900, Brazil
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A Cationic Polymer That Shows High Antifungal Activity against Diverse Human Pathogens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.00204-17. [PMID: 28739790 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00204-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal diseases are generally difficult to treat and often fatal. The therapeutic agents available to treat fungi are limited, and there is a critical need for new agents to combat these deadly infections. Antifungal compound development has been hindered by the challenge of creating agents that are highly active against fungal pathogens but not toxic to the host. Host defense peptides (HDPs) are produced by eukaryotes as a component of the innate immune response to pathogens and have served as inspiration for the development of many new antibacterial compounds. HDP mimics, however, have largely failed to exhibit potent and selective antifungal activity. Here, we present an HDP-like nylon-3 copolymer that is effective against diverse fungi while displaying only mild to moderate toxicity toward mammalian cells. This polymer is active on its own and in synergy with existing antifungal drugs against multiple species of Candida and Cryptococcus, reaching levels of efficacy comparable to those of the clinical agents amphotericin B and fluconazole in some cases. In addition, the polymer acts synergistically with azoles against different species of Aspergillus, including some azole-resistant strains. These findings indicate that nylon-3 polymers are a promising lead for development of new antifungal therapeutic strategies.
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McCarthy MW, Kontoyiannis DP, Cornely OA, Perfect JR, Walsh TJ. Novel Agents and Drug Targets to Meet the Challenges of Resistant Fungi. J Infect Dis 2017; 216:S474-S483. [PMID: 28911042 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of drug-resistant fungi poses a major threat to human health. Despite advances in preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions, resistant fungal infections continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients with compromised immunity, underscoring the urgent need for new antifungal agents. In this article, we review the challenges associated with identifying broad-spectrum antifungal drugs and highlight novel targets that could enhance the armamentarium of agents available to treat drug-resistant invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W McCarthy
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | | | - Oliver A Cornely
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Department I of Internal Medicine, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), University of Cologne, Germany
| | - John R Perfect
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Thomas J Walsh
- Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
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McCarthy MW, Walsh TJ. Drugs currently under investigation for the treatment of invasive candidiasis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2017; 26:825-831. [PMID: 28617137 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2017.1341488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The widespread implementation of immunosuppressants, immunomodulators, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and solid organ transplantation in clinical practice has led to an expanding population of patients who are at risk for invasive candidiasis, which is the most common form of fungal disease among hospitalized patients in the developed world. The emergence of drug-resistant Candida spp. has added to the morbidity associated with invasive candidiasis and novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Areas covered: In this paper, we explore investigational agents for the treatment of invasive candidiasis, with particular attention paid to compounds that have recently entered phase I or phase II clinical trials. Expert opinion: The antifungal drug development pipeline has been severely limited due to regulatory hurdles and a systemic lack of investment in novel compounds. However, several promising drug development strategies have recently emerged, including chemical screens involving Pathogen Box compounds, combination antifungal therapy, and repurposing of existing agents that were initially developed to treat other conditions, all of which have the potential to redefine the treatment of invasive candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W McCarthy
- a Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center , Division of General Internal Medicine , New York , NY , USA
| | - Thomas J Walsh
- b Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Medical Mycology Research Laboratory, Medicine, Pediatrics, and Microbiology & Immunology Weill Cornell Medical Center , Henry Schueler Foundation Scholar, Sharpe Family Foundation Scholar in Pediatric Infectious Diseases , New York , NY , USA
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McCarthy MW, Petraitis V, Walsh TJ. Combination therapy for the treatment of pulmonary mold infections. Expert Rev Respir Med 2017; 11:481-489. [PMID: 28467730 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2017.1325322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pulmonary mold infections are caused by ubiquitous organisms found in soil, water, and decaying vegetation, including Aspergillus spp., the Mucormycetes, hyaline molds, and dematiaceous (black) molds. Areas covered: These infections are often a challenge to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Recently, antifungal combination therapy has emerged as a promising strategy to treat some forms of invasive mycoses, including pulmonary mold infections. Historically, this approach has been limited due to non-uniform interpretation criteria, variations in pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic properties of antifungals used in combination, and an inability to predict clinical success based on in vitro data and animal models. However, recent advances have helped mitigate some of these challenges. Expert commentary: In this paper, we explore what is known about the antifungal combination therapy in the treatment of pulmonary mold infections and explore how it may impact clinical practice. We pay particular attention to novel combinations and the challenges associated with the development of new antifungal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew William McCarthy
- a Hospital Medicine , Joan and Sanford I Weill Medical College of Cornell University , New York , NY , USA
| | - Vidmantas Petraitis
- b Transplantation-Oncology, Infectious Diseases Program , Weill Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University , New York , NY , USA
| | - Thomas J Walsh
- c Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program , Weill Cornell Medical Center , New York , NY , USA
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Panthee S, Paudel A, Hamamoto H, Sekimizu K. Advantages of the Silkworm As an Animal Model for Developing Novel Antimicrobial Agents. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:373. [PMID: 28326075 PMCID: PMC5339274 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The demand for novel antibiotics to combat the global spread of multi drug-resistant pathogens continues to grow. Pathogenic bacteria and fungi that cause fatal human infections can also kill silkworms and the infected silkworms can be cured by the same antibiotics used to treat infections in the clinic. As an invertebrate model, silkworm model is characterized by its convenience, low cost, no ethical issues. The presence of conserved immune response and similar pharmacokinetics compared to mammals make silkworm infection model suitable to examine the therapeutic effectiveness of antimicrobial agents. Based on this, we utilized silkworm bacterial infection model to screen the therapeutic effectiveness of various microbial culture broths and successfully identified a therapeutically effective novel antibiotic, lysocin E, which has a novel mode of action of binding to menaquinone, thus leading to membrane damage and bactericidal activity. The similar approach to screen potential antibiotics resulted in the identification of other therapeutically effective novel antibiotics, such as nosokomycin and ASP2397 (VL-2397). In this regard, we propose that the silkworm antibiotic screening model is very effective for identifying novel antibiotics. In this review, we summarize the advantages of the silkworm model and propose that the utilization of silkworm infection model will facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutically effective antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Panthee
- Institute of Medical Mycology, Teikyo University Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atmika Paudel
- Institute of Medical Mycology, Teikyo University Tokyo, Japan
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Osherov N, Kontoyiannis DP. The anti-Aspergillus drug pipeline: Is the glass half full or empty? Med Mycol 2017; 55:118-124. [PMID: 27562862 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myw060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillosis has emerged as important human mycoses, in view of the ever expanding population at risk. The emergence of resistance to the most commonly used drugs for aspergillosis, the azoles, the mediocre activity, and frequent toxicity of the current antifungal armamentarium, support the need for development of novel antifungals for treatment of this disease. In this minireview, we describe recent efforts by small drug companies and University research labs to develop novel therapies for invasive aspergillus infections. We specifically discuss four small-molecule antifungals (T-2307, E1210/APX001, ASP2397, and F901318) with novel modes-of-action, which are currently entering phase I clinical trials. In addition, we provide a nonexhaustive discussion of some interesting, yet early developments in the quest for improved therapeutic strategies such as (i) novel formulations of amphotericin B including AMB nanoparticle suspensions and AMB-arabinogalactan or AMB-PEG conjugates that show low toxicity and high efficacy in preclinical animal models, (ii) repurposed drugs that synergize with existing antifungals (clozafimine, trichostatin A, MGCD290, geldanamycin, tacrolimus, cyclosporin), (iii) natural products (psoriasin, humidimycin), and (iv) immunotherapy using adoptive transfer of activated immune cells with antifungal activity. We argue that despite the plethora of candidates, the extremely low success rates of drug development leading to clinically useful drugs reinforces the need for continued clinical reliance on mainstream antifungals and their improved derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nir Osherov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv Israel
| | - Dimitrios P Kontoyiannis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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27
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Lockhart SR, Berkow EL. Hot topics in antifungal susceptibility testing: A new drug, a bad bug, sweeping caspofungin testing under the rug, and solving the ECV shrug. CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY NEWSLETTER 2016; 38:103-108. [PMID: 29545657 PMCID: PMC5849271 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
There are several new hot topics in antifungals and antifungal susceptibility testing. In this review, four topics of general interest to the clinical microbiology community are discussed. The first topic is the introduction of isavuconazole, a new triazole approved for clinical use in the US. The second is triazole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus isolates. A specific set of mutations are being found with greater frequency in isolates globally, including the US. The third topic of interest is a word of caution about antifungal susceptibility testing for caspofungin in Candida isolates; some laboratories have reported susceptible isolates with high MIC values that would be interpreted as resistant. The final topic is an introduction to epidemiological cutoff values and their use in the clinical mycology laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn R Lockhart
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Elizabeth L Berkow
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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28
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Hayes GE, Novak-Frazer L. Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis-Where Are We? and Where Are We Going? J Fungi (Basel) 2016; 2:jof2020018. [PMID: 29376935 PMCID: PMC5753080 DOI: 10.3390/jof2020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is estimated to affect 3 million people worldwide making it an under recognised, but significant health problem across the globe, conferring significant morbidity and mortality. With variable disease forms, high levels of associated respiratory co-morbidity, limited therapeutic options and prolonged treatment strategies, CPA is a challenging disease for both patients and healthcare professionals. CPA can mimic smear-negative tuberculosis (TB), pulmonary histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis. Cultures for Aspergillus are usually negative, however, the detection of Aspergillus IgG is a simple and sensitive test widely used in diagnosis. When a fungal ball/aspergilloma is visible radiologically, the diagnosis has been made late. Sometimes weight loss and fatigue are predominant symptoms; pyrexia is rare. Despite the efforts of the mycology community, and significant strides being taken in optimising the care of these patients, much remains to be learnt about this patient population, the disease itself and the best use of available therapies, with the development of new therapies being a key priority. Here, current knowledge and practices are reviewed, and areas of research priority highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma E Hayes
- The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
- National Aspergillosis Centre, 2nd Floor Education and Research Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, UK.
| | - Lilyann Novak-Frazer
- The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.
- The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, 2nd Floor Education and Research Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, UK.
- Mycology Reference Centre, Manchester, 2nd Floor Education and Research Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, UK.
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