Amphotericin B-conjugated polypeptide hydrogels as a novel innovative strategy for fungal infections

The present work is focused on the design and development of novel amphotericin B (AmB)-conjugated biocompatible and biodegradable polypeptide hydrogels to improve the antifungal activity. Using three kinds of promoting self-assembly groups (2-naphthalene acetic acid (Nap), naproxen (Npx) and dexamethasone (Dex)) and polypeptide sequence (Phe-Phe-Asp-Lys-Tyr, FFDKY), we successfully synthesized the Nap-FFDK(AmB)Y gels, Npx-FFDK(AmB)Y gels and Dex-FFDK(AmB)Y gels. The AmB-conjugated hydrogelators are highly soluble in different aqueous solutions. The cryo-transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy micrographs of hydrogels afford nanofibres with a width of 20–50 nm. Powder X-ray diffraction analyses demonstrate that the crystalline structures of the AmB and Dex are changed into amorphous structures after the formation of hydrogels. Circular dichroism spectra of the solution of blank carriers and the corresponding drug deliveries further help elucidate the molecular arrangement in gel phase, indicating the existence of turn features. The in vitro drug releases suggest that the AmB-conjugated hydrogels are suitable as drug-controlled release vehicles for hydrophobic drugs. The antifungal effect of AmB-conjugated hydrogels significantly exhibits the antifungal activity against Candida albicans . The results of the present study indicated that the AmB-conjugated hydrogels are suitable carriers for poorly water soluble drugs and for enhancement of therapeutic efficacy of antifungal drugs.

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ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CARVACROL WITH AMPHOTERICIN B OR WITH KETOCONAZOLE

Periódico Tchê Química ◽

10.52571/ptq.v16.n31.2019.18_periodico31_pgs_12_17.pdf ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (31) ◽

pp. 12-17

Author(s):

Gustavo Lima SOARES ◽

Brenda Lavínia Calixto dos SANTOS ◽

Brenna Ravena Araújo LUZ ◽

Wylly Araújo de OLIVEIRA

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Amphotericin B ◽

Inhibitory Concentration ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Aspergillus Species ◽

Microdilution Method ◽

Broth Microdilution Method ◽

Antifungal Action

Aspergillus species are a cause of a high number of fungal infections of difficult treatment, presenting an expressive number of deaths due to the complications in the severe cases of infection. The objective was to evaluate the antifungal action of carvacrol against Aspergillus species, as well as to evaluate the interactions when associated with amphotericin B or ketoconazole. The antifungal activity of carvacrol was evaluated by the broth microdilution method. The combinations of the substances were performed by the checkerboard methodology, to determine the Index of Fractional Inhibitory Concentration. Carvacrol showed antifungal activity against all Aspergillus strains used in the trials. In combinations of substances, only a combination of carvacrol and amphotericin B presented satisfactory results. Combinations of carvacrol and ketoconazole have not shown good. It is concluded that carvacrol is a good candidate for the antifungal drug because of its good activity against Aspergillus demonstrated in the present study, as well as in other studies in the literature. Their combination in vitro with amphotericin B or ketoconazole did not present any advantages over the use of antifungal drugs alone.

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Evaluation of bisphenylthiazoles as a promising class for combating multidrug-resistant fungal infections

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0258465 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. e0258465

Author(s):

Mohamed Hagras ◽

Nader S. Abutaleb ◽

Ahmed M. Sayed ◽

Ehab A. Salama ◽

Mohamed N. Seleem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibacterial Activity ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Amphotericin B ◽

Antifungal Agent ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Candida Auris ◽

Conformationally Restricted ◽

Normal Human

To minimize the intrinsic toxicity of the antibacterial agent hydrazinyloxadiazole 1, the hydrazine moiety was replaced with ethylenediamine (compound 7). This replacement generated a potent antifungal agent with no antibacterial activity. Notably, use of a 1,2-diaminocyclohexane moiety, as a conformationally-restricted isostere for ethylenediamine, potentiated the antifungal activity in both the cis and trans forms of N-(5-(2-([1,1’-biphenyl]-4-yl)-4-methylthiazol-5-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (compounds 16 and 17). Both compounds 16 and 17 were void of any antibacterial activity; nonetheless, they showed equipotent antifungal activity in vitro to that of the most potent approved antifungal agent, amphotericin B. The promising antifungal effects of compounds 16 and 17 were maintained when assessed against an additional panel of 26 yeast and mold clinical isolates, including the Candida auris and C. krusei. Furthermore, compound 17 showed superior activity to amphotericin B in vitro against Candida glabrata and Cryptococcus gattii. Additionally, neither compound inhibited the normal human microbiota, and both possessed excellent safety profiles and were 16 times more tolerable than amphotericin B.

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Comparison of In Vitro Activities of Camptothecin and Nitidine Derivatives against Fungal and Cancer Cells

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.43.12.2862 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 43 (12) ◽

pp. 2862-2868 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Maurizio Del Poeta ◽

Shih-Fong Chen ◽

Daniel Von Hoff ◽

Christine C. Dykstra ◽

Mansukh C. Wani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Topoisomerase I ◽

Active Form ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Original Structure ◽

Camptothecin Analogs

ABSTRACT The activities of a series of camptothecin and nitidine derivatives that might interact with topoisomerase I were compared against yeast and cancer cell lines. Our findings reveal that structural modifications to camptothecin derivatives have profound effects on the topoisomerase I-drug poison complex in cells. Although the water-soluble anticancer agents topotecan and irinotecan are less active than the original structure, camptothecin, other derivatives or analogs with substitutions that increase compound solubility have also increased antifungal activities. In fact, a water-soluble prodrug appears to penetrate into the cell and release its active form; the resulting effect in complex with Cryptococcus neoformanstopoisomerase I is a fungicidal response and also potent antitumor activity. Some of the compounds that are not toxic to wild-type yeast cells are extremely toxic to the yeast cells when the C. neoformans topoisomerase I target is overexpressed. With the known antifungal mechanism of a camptothecin-topoisomerase I complex as a cellular poison, these findings indicate that drug entry may be extremely important for antifungal activity. Nitidine chloride exhibits antifungal activity against yeast cells through a mechanism(s) other than topoisomerase I and appears to be less active than camptothecin analogs against tumor cells. Finally, some camptothecin analogs exhibit synergistic antifungal activity against yeast cells in combination with amphotericin B in vitro. Our results suggest that camptothecin and/or nitidine derivatives can exhibit potent antifungal activity and that the activities of camptothecin derivatives with existing antifungal drugs may be synergistic against pathogenic fungi. These new compounds, which exhibit potent antitumor activities, will likely require further structural changes to find more selective activity against fungal versus mammalian cells to hold promise as a new class of antifungal agents.

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Linolenic acid-modified MPEG-PEI micelles for encapsulation of amphotericin B

Future Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.4155/fmc-2018-0580 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (20) ◽

pp. 2647-2662 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hongmei Xu ◽

Fangfang Teng ◽

Feilong Zhou ◽

Li Zhu ◽

Yi Wen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polyethylene Glycol ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Amphotericin B ◽

Linolenic Acid ◽

Water Solubility ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Biofilm Inhibition ◽

Comparable Activity ◽

Reduced Toxicity

Aim: To encapsulate amphotericin B (AmB) with reduced toxicity and comparable activity. Results & methodology: The α-linolenic acid (ALA)-modified monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-g-PEI-g-ALA conjugate was employed to prepare AmB-loaded micelles (AmB-M). In vitro activity and release behavior of AmB-M were investigated. AmB-M enhanced AmB's water-solubility to 1.2 mg/ml, showing good storage stability. AmB-M could achieve a sustained and slow release of AmB, low hemolysis activity and negligible kidney toxicity when compared with commercial AmB injection. Antifungal activity and biofilm inhibition experiments confirmed that the antifungal activity of AmB-M against Candida albicans was similar to that of AmB injection. Conclusion: Monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-g-PEI-g-ALA micelles could be a preferable choice to treat systemic fungal infections as an efficient drug delivery system.

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Antifungal In Vitro Activity of Pilosulin- and Ponericin-Like Peptides from the Giant Ant Dinoponera quadriceps and Synergistic Effects with Antimycotic Drugs

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics9060354 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 354 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hilania Valéria Dodou Lima ◽

Carolina Sidrim de Paula Cavalcante ◽

Gandhi Rádis-Baptista

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Antimicrobial Peptides ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Culture Medium ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Clinical Strain ◽

Onset Of Action

Venoms from ants comprise a rich source of bioactive peptides, including antimicrobial peptides. From the proteome and peptidome of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps venom, members of five known classes of antimicrobial peptides were disclosed (e.g., dermaseptin-, defensin-, ICK-, pilosulin- and ponericin-like types). Based on comparative analysis, these family members have structural determinants that indicate they could display antimicrobial activities. In previous works, pilosulin- and ponericin-like peptides were demonstrated to be active against bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Herein, the antifungal activity of ponericin- and pilosulin-like peptides were assessed, aiming at the expansion of the knowledge about AMPs in predatory ants and the development of new microbicide strategies to deal with difficult-to-treat fungal infections. Synthetic pilosulin- (Dq-2562, Dq-1503, and Dq-1319) and ponericin-like (Dq-3162) peptides were evaluated for their fungicide and fungistatic activities against different species of Candida, including a drug-resistant clinical strain. The MICs and MLCs were determined for all peptides individually and in combination with general antifungal drugs by the microdilution method. The time-kill kinetic curves were set up by means of a luminescent reagent, of which the light signal is proportional to the number of viable cells. The candicidal synergism observed by the combination of subinhibitory concentrations of peptides and general antimycotic drugs were quantified by the checkerboard test and fluorescent dye permeation assay. The influence of ergosterol on the antifungal activity was verified by supplementation of culture medium. The pilosulin- (Dq-2562 and Dq-1503) and ponericin-like (Dq-3162) were the most active peptides, displaying a broad spectrum of antifungal activity in vitro, with MICs in the range of 0.625 to 10 µM. The combination of peptides and conventional antimycotic drugs displayed a synergistic reduction in the MIC values of individual peptides and drugs, while soluble ergosterol in the culture medium increased the MICs. The fungicide and fungistatic activity of the individual peptides and peptides in combination with antimycotics were time-dependent with a rapid onset of action and long-lasting effect, which involved membrane disruption as an underlying mechanism of their action. Altogether, pilosulin- and ponericin-like peptides from the giant ant D. quadriceps venom display a broad-spectrum of candicidal activity, what allows their inclusion in the row of the antifungal peptides and gives support for further studies on the development of strategies to fight candidiasis.

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Mild Heating of Amphotericin B-Desoxycholate: Effects on Ultrastructure, In Vitro Activity and Toxicity, and Therapeutic Efficacy in Severe Candidiasis in Leukopenic Mice

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.44.6.1598-1603.2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 1598-1603 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Els W. M. van Etten ◽

Wim van Vianen ◽

Patty Roovers ◽

Peter Frederik

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽

Amphotericin B ◽

Therapeutic Efficacy ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Laser Diffraction ◽

In Vitro Activity ◽

New Approach ◽

Transmission Electron

ABSTRACT Heated (20 min at 70°C) amphotericin B-desoxycholate (hAMB-DOC) was further characterized, as was another formulation obtained after centrifugation (60 min, 3000 × g), hcAMB-DOC. Conventional AMB-DOC consisted of individual micelles (approximately 4 nm in diameter) and threadlike aggregated micelles, as revealed by cryo-transmission electron microscopy. For both hAMB-DOC and hcAMB-DOC, pleiomorphic cobweb structures were observed with a mean particle size of approximately 300 nm as determined by laser diffraction. The potent antifungal activity of AMB-DOC against Candida albicans is not reduced by heating. Effective killing of C. albicans(>99.9% within 6 h) was obtained at 0.1 mg/liter with each of the AMB formulations. For AMB-DOC, hAMB-DOC, and hcAMB-DOC, cation release (86Rb+) from C. albicans of ≥50% was observed at 0.8, 0.4, and 0.4 mg/liter, respectively. After heating of AMB-DOC, toxicity was reduced 16-fold as determined by red blood cell (RBC) lysis. For AMB-DOC, hAMB-DOC, and hcAMB-DOC, hemolysis of ≥50% was observed at 6.4, 102.4, and 102.4 mg/liter, respectively. In contrast, AMB-DOC and its derivates showed similar toxicities in terms of cation release from RBC. For AMB-DOC, hAMB-DOC, and hcAMB-DOC, cation release (86Rb+) of ≥50% was observed at 1.6, 0.8, and 0.8 mg/liter, respectively. In persistently leukopenic mice with severe invasive candidiasis, higher dosages of both hAMB-DOC and hcAMB-DOC were tolerated than those of conventional AMB-DOC (3 versus 0.8 mg/kg of body weight, respectively), resulting in significantly improved therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, this new approach of heating AMB-DOC may be of great value for further optimizing the treatment of severe fungal infections.

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Molecular typing and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of Cryptococcus spp from patients in Midwest Brazil

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.4446 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (08) ◽

pp. 1037-1043 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Olivia Cometti Favalessa ◽

Daphine Ariadne Jesus De Paula ◽

Valeria Dutra ◽

Luciano Nakazato ◽

Tomoko Tadano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amphotericin B ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Antifungal Susceptibility ◽

Cryptococcus Gattii ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

In Vitro Susceptibility ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Hiv Negative

Introduction: Cryptococcosis is a systemic fungal infection that affects humans and animals, mainly due to Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. Following the epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), fungal infections by C. neoformans have become more common among immunocompromised patients. Cryptococcus gattii has primarily been isolated as a primary pathogen in healthy hosts and occurs endemically in northern and northeastern Brazil. We to perform genotypic characterization and determine the in vitro susceptibility profile to antifungal drugs of the Cryptococcus species complex isolated from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients attended at university hospitals in Cuiabá, MT, in the Midwestern region of Brazil. Methodology: Micromorphological features, chemotyping with canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue (CGB) agar and genotyping by URA5-RFLP were used to identify the species. The antifungal drugs tested were amphotericin B, fluconazole, flucytosine, itraconazole and voriconazole. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined according to the CLSI methodology M27-A3. Results: Analysis of samples yelded C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI (17/27, 63.0%) and C. gattii AFLP6/VGII (10/27, 37.0%). The MICs ranges for the antifungal drugs were: amphotericin B (0.5-1 mg/L), fluconazole (1-16 mg/L), flucytosine (1-16 mg/L), itraconazole (0.25-0.12 mg/L) and voriconazole (0.06-0.5 mg/L). Isolates of C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI were predominant in patients with HIV/AIDS, and C. gattii VGII in HIV-negative patients. The genotypes identified were susceptible to the antifungal drugs tested. Conclusion: It is worth emphasizing that AFLP6/VGII is a predominant genotype affecting HIV-negative individuals in Cuiabá. These findings serve as a guide concerning the molecular epidemiology of C. neoformans and C. gattii in the State of Mato Grosso.

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In Vitro Activity of Novel Antifungal Olorofim against Filamentous Fungi and Comparison to Eight Other Antifungal Agents

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7050378 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 378

Author(s):

Ourania Georgacopoulos ◽

Natalie S. Nunnally ◽

Eric M. Ransom ◽

Derek Law ◽

Mike Birch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Amphotericin B ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Antifungal Susceptibility ◽

Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase ◽

Drug Classes

Olorofim is a novel antifungal drug that belongs to the orotomide drug class which inhibits fungal dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), thus halting pyrimidine biosynthesis and ultimately DNA synthesis, cell growth and division. It is being developed at a time when many invasive fungal infections exhibit antifungal resistance or have limited treatment options. The goal of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effectiveness of olorofim against a large collection of recently isolated, clinically relevant American mold isolates. In vitro antifungal activity was determined for 246 azole-susceptible Aspergillus fumigatus isolates, five A. fumigatus with TR34/L98H-mediated resistance, 19 Rhizopus species isolates, 21 Fusarium species isolates, and one isolate each of six other species of molds. Olorofim minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were compared to antifungal susceptibility testing profiles for amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, isavuconazole, itraconazole, micafungin, posaconazole, and voriconazole. Olorofim MICs were significantly lower than those of the echinocandin and azole drug classes and amphotericin B. A. fumigatus wild type and resistant isolates shared the same MIC50 = 0.008 μg/mL. In non-Aspergillus susceptible isolates (MIC ≤ 2 μg/mL), the geometric mean (GM) MIC to olorofim was 0.54 μg/mL with a range of 0.015–2 μg/mL. Olorofim had no antifungal activity (MIC ≥ 2 μg/mL) against 10% of the collection (31 in 297), including some isolates from Rhizopus spp. and Fusarium spp. Olorofim showed promising activity against A. fumigatus and other molds regardless of acquired azole resistance.

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DC-SIGN targets amphotericin B-loaded liposomes to diverse pathogenic fungi

Fungal Biology and Biotechnology ◽

10.1186/s40694-021-00126-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Suresh Ambati ◽

Tuyetnhu Pham ◽

Zachary A. Lewis ◽

Xiaorong Lin ◽

Richard B. Meagher

Keyword(s):

Amphotericin B ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Protein Isoforms ◽

Viral Pathogens ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Better Than

Abstract Background Life-threatening invasive fungal infections are treated with antifungal drugs such as Amphotericin B (AmB) loaded liposomes. Our goal herein was to show that targeting liposomal AmB to fungal cells with the C-type lectin pathogen recognition receptor DC-SIGN improves antifungal activity. DC-SIGN binds variously crosslinked mannose-rich and fucosylated glycans and lipomannans that are expressed by helminth, protist, fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens including three of the most life-threatening fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Ligand recognition by human DC-SIGN is provided by a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) linked to the membrane transit and signaling sequences. Different combinations of the eight neck repeats (NR1 to NR8) expressed in different protein isoforms may alter the orientation of the CRD to enhance its binding to different glycans. Results We prepared two recombinant isoforms combining the CRD with NR1 and NR2 in isoform DCS12 and with NR7 and NR8 in isoform DCS78 and coupled them to a lipid carrier. These constructs were inserted into the membrane of pegylated AmB loaded liposomes AmB-LLs to produce DCS12-AmB-LLs and DCS78-AmB-LLs. Relative to AmB-LLs and Bovine Serum Albumin coated BSA-AmB-LLs, DCS12-AmB-LLs and DCS78-AmB-LLs bound more efficiently to the exopolysaccharide matrices produced by A. fumigatus, C. albicans and C. neoformans in vitro, with DCS12-AmB-LLs performing better than DCS78-AmB-LLs. DCS12-AmB-LLs inhibited and/or killed all three species in vitro significantly better than AmB-LLs or BSA-AmB-LLs. In mouse models of invasive candidiasis and pulmonary aspergillosis, one low dose of DCS12-AmB-LLs significantly reduced the fungal burden in the kidneys and lungs, respectively, several-fold relative to AmB-LLs. Conclusions DC-SIGN’s CRD specifically targeted antifungal liposomes to three highly evolutionarily diverse pathogenic fungi and enhanced the antifungal efficacy of liposomal AmB both in vitro and in vivo. Targeting significantly reduced the effective dose of antifungal drug, which may reduce drug toxicity, be effective in overcoming dose dependent drug resistance, and more effectively kill persister cells. In addition to fungi, DC-SIGN targeting of liposomal packaged anti-infectives have the potential to alter treatment paradigms for a wide variety of pathogens from different kingdoms including protozoans, helminths, bacteria, and viruses which express its cognate ligands.

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Antifungal Activity of Brazilian Propolis Microparticles against Yeasts Isolated from Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1093/ecam/neq029 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Kelen Fátima Dalben Dota ◽

Marcia Edilaine Lopes Consolaro ◽

Terezinha Inez Estivalet Svidzinski ◽

Marcos Luciano Bruschi

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Amphotericin B ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Small Variation ◽

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Broth Microdilution Method ◽

Brazilian Propolis ◽

Dose Dependent

Propolis, a resinous compound produced byApis melliferaL. bees, is known to possess a variety of biological activities and is applied in the therapy of various infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate thein vitroantifungal activity of propolis ethanol extract (PE) and propolis microparticles (PMs) obtained from a sample of Brazilian propolis against clinical yeast isolates of importance in the vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). PE was used to prepare the microparticles. Yeast isolates (n=89), obtained from vaginal exudates of patients with VVC, were exposed to the PE and the PMs. Moreover, the main antifungal drugs used in the treatment of VVC (Fluconazole, Voriconazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole and Amphotericin B) were also tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined according to the standard broth microdilution method. SomeCandida albicansisolates showed resistance or dose-dependent susceptibility for the azolic drugs and Amphotericin B. Non-C. albicansisolates showed more resistance and dose-dependent susceptibility for the azolic drugs thanC. albicans. However, all of them were sensitive or dose-dependent susceptible for Amphotericin B. All yeasts were inhibited by PE and PMs, with small variation, independent of the species of yeast. The overall results provided important information for the potential application of PMs in the therapy of VVC and the possible prevention of the occurrence of new symptomatic episodes.

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