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Furnica DT, Dittmer S, Scharmann U, Meis JF, Steinmann J, Rath PM, Kirchhoff L. In Vitro and In Vivo Effect of the Imidazole Luliconazole against Lomentospora prolificans and Scedosporium spp. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0513022. [PMID: 37017567 PMCID: PMC10269907 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05130-22] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections with Scedosporium spp. and Lomentospora prolificans have become a serious threat in clinical settings. The high mortality rates associated with these infections can be correlated with their multidrug resistance. The development of alternative treatment strategies has become crucial. Here, we investigate the in vitro and in vivo activity of luliconazole (LLCZ) against Scedosporium apiospermum (including its teleomorph Pseudallescheria boydii) and Lomentospora prolificans. The LLCZ MICs were determined for a total of 37 isolates (31 L. prolificans isolates, 6 Scedosporium apiospermum/P. boydii strains) according to EUCAST. Furthermore, the LLCZ antifungal activity was tested in vitro, using an XTT [2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide salt] growth kinetics assay and biofilm assays (crystal violet and XTT assay). In addition, a Galleria mellonella infection model was used for in vivo treatment assays. The MIC90 of LLCZ was determined to be 0.25 mg/L for all tested pathogens. Growth was inhibited within 6 to 48 h of the start of incubation. LLCZ inhibited biofilm formation in both preadhesion stages and late-stage adhesion. In vivo, a single dose of LLCZ increased the survival rate of the larvae by 40% and 20% for L. prolificans and Scedosporium spp., respectively. This is the first study demonstrating LLCZ activity against Lomentospora prolificans in vitro and in vivo and the first study showing the antibiofilm effect of LLCZ in Scedosporium spp. IMPORTANCE Lomentospora prolificans and S. apiospermum/P. boydii are opportunistic, multidrug-resistant pathogens causing invasive infections in immunosuppressed patients and sometimes in healthy persons. Lomentospora prolificans is panresistant against the currently available antifungals, and both species are associated with high mortality rates. Thus, the discovery of novel antifungal drugs exhibiting an effect against these resistant fungi is crucial. Our study shows the effect of luliconazole (LLCZ) against L. prolificans and Scedosporium spp. in vitro, as well as in an in vivo infection model. These data reveal the previously unknown inhibitory effect of LLCZ against L. prolificans and its antibiofilm effect in Scedosporium spp. It represents an extension of the literature regarding azole-resistant fungi and could potentially lead to the development of future treatment strategies against these opportunistic fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Tiberiu Furnica
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Silke Dittmer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Scharmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboudumc/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joerg Steinmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Peter-Michael Rath
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lisa Kirchhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Fioriti S, Cirioni O, Simonetti O, Franca L, Candelaresi B, Pallotta F, Neubauer D, Kamysz E, Kamysz W, Canovari B, Brescini L, Morroni G, Barchiesi F. In Vitro Activity of Novel Lipopeptides against Triazole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080872. [PMID: 36012859 PMCID: PMC9409728 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillosis, which is mainly sustained by Aspergillus fumigatus, includes a broad spectrum of diseases. They are usually severe in patients with co-morbidities. The first-line therapy includes triazoles, for which an increasing incidence of drug resistance has been lately described. As a consequence of this, the need for new and alternative antifungal molecules is absolutely necessary. As peptides represent promising antimicrobial molecules, two lipopeptides (C14-NleRR-NH2, C14-WRR-NH2) were tested to assess the antifungal activity against azole-resistant A. fumigatus. Antifungal activity was evaluated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), time–kill curves, XTT assay, optical microscopy, and checkerboard combination with isavuconazole. Both lipopeptides showed antifungal activity, with MICs ranging from 8 mg/L to 16 mg/L, and a dose-dependent effect was confirmed by both time–kill curves and XTT assays. Microscopy showed that hyphae growth was hampered at concentrations equal to or higher than MICs. The rising antifungal resistance highlights the usefulness of novel compounds to treat severe fungal infections. Although further studies assessing the activity of lipopeptides are necessary, these molecules could be effective antifungal alternatives that overcome the current resistances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Fioriti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Oscar Cirioni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Oriana Simonetti
- Dermatological Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Lucia Franca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, 61122 Pesaro, Italy
| | - Bianca Candelaresi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Pallotta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Damian Neubauer
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Kamysz
- Laboratory of Chemistry of Biological Macromolecules, Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Wojciech Kamysz
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Benedetta Canovari
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, 61122 Pesaro, Italy
| | - Lucia Brescini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Gianluca Morroni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0712206298; Fax: +39-0712206297
| | - Francesco Barchiesi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, 61122 Pesaro, Italy
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