1
|
Dib Ferreira Gremião I, Pereira-Oliveira GR, Pereira SA, Corrêa ML, Borba-Santos LP, Viçosa AL, Garg A, Haranahalli K, Dasilva D, Pereira de Sa N, Matos GS, Silva V, Lazzarini C, Fernandes CM, Miranda K, Artunduaga Bonilla JJ, Nunes AL, Nimrichter L, Ojima I, Mallamo J, McCarthy JB, Del Poeta M. Combination therapy of itraconazole and an acylhydrazone derivative (D13) for the treatment of sporotrichosis in cats. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0396723. [PMID: 38647345 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03967-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Acylhydrazone (AH) derivatives represent a novel category of anti-fungal medications that exhibit potent activity against Sporothrix sp., both in vitro and in a murine model of sporotrichosis. In this study, we demonstrated the anti-fungal efficacy of the AH derivative D13 [4-bromo-N'-(3,5-dibromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-benzohydrazide] against both planktonic cells and biofilms formed by Sporothrix brasiliensis. In a clinical study, the effect of D13 was then tested in combination with itraconazole (ITC), with or without potassium iodide, in 10 cats with sporotrichosis refractory to the treatment of standard of care with ITC. Improvement or total clinical cure was achieved in five cases after 12 weeks of treatment. Minimal abnormal laboratory findings, e.g., elevation of alanine aminotransferase, were observed in four cats during the combination treatment and returned to normal level within a week after the treatment was ended. Although highly encouraging, a larger and randomized controlled study is required to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of this new and exciting drug combination using ITC and D13 for the treatment of feline sporotrichosis. IMPORTANCE This paper reports the first veterinary clinical study of an acylhydrazone anti-fungal (D13) combined with itraconazole against a dimorphic fungal infection, sporotrichosis, which is highly endemic in South America in animals and humans. Overall, the results show that the combination treatment was efficacious in ~50% of the infected animals. In addition, D13 was well tolerated during the course of the study. Thus, these results warrant the continuation of the research and development of this new class of anti-fungals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Dib Ferreira Gremião
- Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonoses in Domestic Animals, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Reis Pereira-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonoses in Domestic Animals, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sandro Antonio Pereira
- Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonoses in Domestic Animals, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Lopes Corrêa
- Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonoses in Domestic Animals, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Alessandra Lifsitch Viçosa
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacotechnics, Institute of Drug Technology - Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ashna Garg
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Krupanandan Haranahalli
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Deveney Dasilva
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Nivea Pereira de Sa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Gabriel S Matos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Vanessa Silva
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Cristina Lazzarini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Caroline Mota Fernandes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Kildare Miranda
- Laboratory of Cellular Ultrastructure Hertha Meyer, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jhon Jhamilton Artunduaga Bonilla
- Laboratory of Eukaryotic Glycobiology (LaGE), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anna Letícia Nunes
- Laboratory of Eukaryotic Glycobiology (LaGE), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Laboratory of Eukaryotic Glycobiology (LaGE), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Iwao Ojima
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - John Mallamo
- MicroRid Technologies Inc., Dix Hills, New York, USA
| | | | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- MicroRid Technologies Inc., Dix Hills, New York, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brauer VS, Querobino SM, Matos GS, Dasilva D, Del Poeta M. Vaccine Strategies for Cryptococcus neoformans. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2775:411-422. [PMID: 38758334 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3722-7_28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans infections are a major worldwide concern as current treatment strategies are becoming less effective in alleviating the infection. The most extreme and fatal cases are those of immunocompromised individuals. Clinical treatments for cryptococcosis are limited to a few classes of approved drugs, and due to a rise in drug resistance, these drugs are becoming less effective. Therefore, it is essential to develop innovative ways to control this infection. Vaccinations have emerged as a safe, viable, and cost-effective solution to treat a number of diseases over the years. Currently, there are no clinically available vaccines to treat cryptococcal infections, but a number of studies have shown promising results in animal models. Here, we present step-by-step experimental protocols using live-attenuated or heat-killed C. neoformans cells as a vaccination strategy in a preventive or in a therapeutic murine model of cryptococcosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gabriel Soares Matos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Deveney Dasilva
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (ICB&DD), Stony Brook, NY, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Matos GS, Madeira JB, Fernandes CM, Dasilva D, Masuda CA, Del Poeta M, Montero-Lomelí M. Regulation of sphingolipid synthesis by the G1/S transcription factor Swi4. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2021; 1866:158983. [PMID: 34062255 PMCID: PMC8512607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2021.158983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
SBF (Swi4/Swi6 Binding Factor) complex is a crucial regulator of G1/S transition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we show that SBF complex is required for myriocin resistance, an inhibitor of sphingolipid synthesis. This phenotype was not shared with MBF complex mutants nor with deletion of the Swi4p downstream targets, CLN1/CLN2. Based on data mining results, we selected putative Swi4p targets related to sphingolipid metabolism and studied their gene transcription as well as metabolite levels during progression of the cell cycle. Genes which encode key enzymes for the synthesis of long chain bases (LCBs) and ceramides were periodically transcribed during the mitotic cell cycle, having a peak at G1/S, and required SWI4 for full transcription at this stage. In addition, HPLC-MS/MS data indicated that swi4Δ cells have decreased levels of sphingolipids during progression of the cell cycle, particularly, dihydrosphingosine (DHS), C24-phytoceramides and C24-inositolphosphoryl ceramide (IPC) while it had increased levels of mannosylinositol phosphorylceramide (MIPC). Furthermore, we demonstrated that both inhibition of de novo sphingolipid synthesis by myriocin or SWI4 deletion caused partial arrest at the G2/M phase. Importantly, our lipidomic data demonstrated that the sphingolipid profile of WT cells treated with myriocin resembled that of swi4Δ cells, with lower levels of DHS, IPC and higher levels of MIPC. Taken together, these results show that SBF complex plays an essential role in the regulation of sphingolipid homeostasis, which reflects in the correct progression through the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel S Matos
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana B Madeira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Deveney Dasilva
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Claudio A Masuda
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Veteran Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA; MicroRid Technologies Inc., Dix Hills, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, NY, USA
| | - Monica Montero-Lomelí
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|