scholarly journals Therapeutic potential of Fosmanogepix (APX001) for intra-abdominal candidiasis: from lesion penetration to efficacy in a mouse model

Author(s):  
Annie Lee ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
Claire L. Carter ◽  
Matthew Zimmerman ◽  
Véronique Dartois ◽  
...  

Intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) is one of the most common yet underappreciated form of invasive candidiasis. IAC is difficult to treat, and therapeutic failure and drug resistant breakthrough infections are common in some institutions despite the use of echinocandins as first line agents. Fosmanogepix (FMGX, formerly APX001) is a first-in-class antifungal prodrug that can be administered both intravenously and orally. FMGX is currently in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of life-threatening invasive fungal infections. To explore the pharmacological property and therapeutic potential of FMGX for IAC, we evaluated both drug penetration and efficacy of the active moiety manogepix (MGX, formerly APX001A) in infected liver tissues in a clinically relevant IAC mouse model due to C. albicans. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) and laser capture microdissection (LCM)-directed absolute drug quantitation were employed to evaluate drug penetration into liver abscess lesions both spatially and quantitatively. The partitioning of MGX into lesions occurred slowly after a single dose; however robust accumulation in the lesion was achieved after 3 days of repeated dosing. Associated with this drug penetration pattern, reduction in fungal burden and clearance in the liver were observed in mice receiving the multi-day FMGX regimen. In comparison, administration of micafungin resulted in marginal reduction in fungal burden at the end of 4 days of treatment. These results suggest that FMGX is a promising candidate for the treatment of IAC.

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Lee ◽  
Brendan Prideaux ◽  
Matthew Zimmerman ◽  
Claire Carter ◽  
Stephen Barat ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Ibrexafungerp (IBX), formerly SCY-078, is a novel, oral and intravenous, semisynthetic triterpenoid glucan synthase inhibitor in clinical development for treating multiple fungal infections, including invasive candidiasis. Intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) is one of the most common types of invasive candidiasis associated with high mortality largely due to poor drug exposure in infected lesions. To better understand the potential of IBX to treat such infections, we investigated its penetration at the site of infection. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) and laser capture microdissection (LCM)-directed high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we investigated tissue distribution and lesion-specific drug exposure of IBX in a clinically relevant IAC mouse model. After a single-dose treatment, IBX quickly distributed into tissues and efficiently accumulated within lesions. Drug concentrations of IBX within the liver abscesses were almost 100-fold higher than the serum concentration. In addition, drug penetration after repeated treatment of IBX was compared with micafungin. IBX exhibited robust and long-lasting lesion penetration after repeated treatment. These data indicate that IBX penetrates into intra-abdominal abscesses highly efficiently and holds promise as a potential therapeutic option for IAC patients.


2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 422-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carly G. Dennis ◽  
William R. Greco ◽  
Yseult Brun ◽  
Richard Youn ◽  
Harry K. Slocum ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder of the NADPH oxidase characterized by recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. We characterized the effects of single and combination antifungal therapy on survival, histopathology, and laboratory markers of fungal burden in experimental aspergillosis in the p47 phox − / − knockout mouse model of CGD. CGD mice were highly susceptible to intratracheal Aspergillus fumigatus challenge, whereas wild-type mice were resistant. CGD mice were challenged intratracheally with a lethal inoculum (1.25 × 104 CFU/mouse) of A. fumigatus and received one of the following regimens daily from day 0 to 4 after challenge (n = 19 to 20 per treatment group): (i) vehicle, (ii) amphotericin B (intraperitoneal; 1 mg/kg of body weight), (iii) micafungin (intravenous; 10 mg/kg), or (iv) amphotericin B plus micafungin. The rank order of therapeutic efficacy based on prolonged survival, from highest to lowest, was as follows: amphotericin B plus micafungin, amphotericin B alone, micafungin alone, and the vehicle. Lung histology showed pyogranulomatous lesions and invasive hyphae, but without hyphal angioinvasion or coagulative necrosis. Treatment with micafungin alone or combined with amphotericin B produced swelling of invasive hyphae that was not present in mice treated with the vehicle or amphotericin B alone. Assessment of lung fungal burden by quantitative PCR showed no significant difference between treatment groups. Serum galactomannan levels were at background despite documentation of invasive aspergillosis by histology. Our findings showed the superior efficacy of the amphotericin B and micafungin combination compared to either agent alone after A. fumigatus challenge and also demonstrated unique features of CGD mice as a model for experimental aspergillosis.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faustino ◽  
Pinheiro

Amphotericin B (AmB), a broad-spectrum polyene antibiotic in the clinic for more than fifty years, remains the gold standard in the treatment of life-threatening invasive fungal infections and visceral leishmaniasis. Due to its poor water solubility and membrane permeability, AmB is conventionally formulated with deoxycholate as a micellar suspension for intravenous administration, but severe infusion-related side effects and nephrotoxicity hamper its therapeutic potential. Lipid-based formulations, such as liposomal AmB, have been developed which significantly reduce the toxic side effects of the drug. However, their high cost and the need for parenteral administration limit their widespread use. Therefore, delivery systems that can retain or even enhance antimicrobial efficacy while simultaneously reducing AmB adverse events are an active area of research. Among those, lipid systems have been extensively investigated due to the high affinity of AmB for binding lipids. The development of a safe and cost-effective oral formulation able to improve drug accessibility would be a major breakthrough, and several lipid systems for the oral delivery of AmB are currently under development. This review summarizes recent advances in lipid-based systems for targeted delivery of AmB focusing on non-parenteral nanoparticulate formulations mainly investigated over the last five years and highlighting those that are currently in clinical trials.


mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey R. Odom

ABSTRACT New antifungals are needed, particularly in the developing world, to treat life-threatening fungal infections, such as cryptococcosis. Drug repurposing is one strategy to identify new drug-like compounds, but it is often difficult to identify a mechanism of action. Here we discuss the outstanding effort by Butts et al. to identify calmodulin as an antifungal target of repurposed estrogen receptor antagonists [A. Butts, K. Koselny, Y. Chabrier-Roselló, C. P. Semighini, Y. C. S. Brown, et al., mBio 5(1):e00765-13, 2014, doi:10.1128/mBio.00765-13]. The authors show that these compounds bind to and directly inhibit fungal calmodulin and also reduce fungal burden in an animal disease model. These studies thus establish both the key preclinical efficacy and the antifungal mechanism of action, which will allow these compounds to progress toward development of novel antifungal therapies.


2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 2374-2378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brahm H. Segal ◽  
Nobuaki Sakamoto ◽  
Mayur Patel ◽  
Kosei Maemura ◽  
Andrew S. Klein ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder of the NADPH oxidase in which phagocytes are defective in generating superoxide and downstream microbicidal reactive oxidants, leading to recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. Xanthine oxidase (XO) is another enzyme known to produce superoxide in many tissues. Using the p47 phox−/− mouse model of CGD, we evaluated the residual antibacterial activity of XO. Clearance of Burkholderia cepacia, a major pathogen in CGD, was reduced in p47 phox−/− mice compared to that in wild-type mice and was further inhibited in p47 phox−/− mice by pretreatment with the specific XO inhibitor allopurinol. Hepatic B. cepaciaburden was similar in the two genotypes, but allopurinol significantly reduced net hepatic killing and killing efficiency only in p47 phox−/− mice. Clearance and killing of intravenous Escherichia coli was intact in p47 phox−/− mice and was unaffected by pretreatment with allopurinol. In CGD, XO may contribute to host defense against a subset of reactive oxidant-sensitive pathogens.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Martha Perez Gutierrez ◽  
Alethia Muñiz-Ramirez ◽  
Abraham Heriberto Garcia Campoy ◽  
Jose Maria Mota Flores ◽  
Sergio Odin Flores

Background: The health benefits of edible plants have been widely investigated and disseminated. However, only polyphenols have been found to have sufficient therapeutic potential to be considered in clinical trials. Fewer manuscripts have other applications such as prospective health benefits and disease treatment. Other components of edible plants are responsible for a range of other benefits including antimalarial, burns, flu, cancer, inflammation, diabetes, glycation, antimicrobial, prevention of neurodegeneration, analgesic, antimigraine activity, sedative activities, etc. Accordingly, the public needs to be informed of the potential edible plants have to act on different targets and maintain better control over diabetes compared to commercial drugs which can be toxic, have side effects, do not have the capacity to maintain blood glucose at normal levels, and do not protect the patient from the complications of diabetes over time. Consequently, edible plants, such as Apium graveolen, which have therapeutic targets on AGEs formation, are potentially a better alternative treatment for diabetes.Methods: The leaves of celery were extracted with methanol (CM). Polyphenols contents in CM were investigated by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass. The ability of the compounds to inhibit formation of AGEs was evaluated in vitro models using formation of AGE fluorescence intensity, level of fructosamine, Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), methylglyoxal (MG)-derived protein, and formation of amyloid cross β structure. Protein-oxidation was determined by thiol group and protein carbonyl content. Inhibition of MG-derived AGEs and MG-trapping ability were also measured. Additionally, insulin production was determined in methylglyoxal-treated pancreatic RINm5F cells assay. Results: Apigenin, kaempferol, apiin, rutin, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, coumaroylquinic acid, and p-coumaric acid were the major polyphenols contained in CM. In all the model tests CM displayed potent AGE inhibitory activity, suggesting that CM delayed the three stages of glycation. Accordingly, the mechanisms of action of celery involving dicarbonyl trapping and breaking the crosslink structure in the AGEs formed may contribute to the protection of pancreatic RINm5F cells against MG conditions.Conclusion: These findings indicate that CM have an excellent anti-glycation effect which may be beneficial for future development of antiglycating agents for the treatment of diabetes.Keywords: Apium graveolens, anti-glycation, polyphenols methylglyoxal, insulin, pancreatic cells


2020 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 106905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirhossein Davoodvandi ◽  
Maryam Darvish ◽  
Sarina Borran ◽  
Majid Nejati ◽  
Samaneh Mazaheri ◽  
...  

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 3005
Author(s):  
Kanchan Bhardwaj ◽  
Ana Sanches Silva ◽  
Maria Atanassova ◽  
Rohit Sharma ◽  
Eugenie Nepovimova ◽  
...  

Conifers have long been recognized for their therapeutic potential in different disorders. Alkaloids, terpenes and polyphenols are the most abundant naturally occurring phytochemicals in these plants. Here, we provide an overview of the phytochemistry and related commercial products obtained from conifers. The pharmacological actions of different phytochemicals present in conifers against bacterial and fungal infections, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are also reviewed. Data obtained from experimental and clinical studies performed to date clearly underline that such compounds exert promising antioxidant effects, being able to inhibit cell damage, cancer growth, inflammation and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, an attempt has been made with the intent to highlight the importance of conifer-derived extracts for pharmacological purposes, with the support of relevant in vitro and in vivo experimental data. In short, this review comprehends the information published to date related to conifers’ phytochemicals and illustrates their potential role as drugs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
Georgios Karavalakis ◽  
Evangelia Yannaki ◽  
Anastasia Papadopoulou

Despite the availability of a variety of antifungal drugs, opportunistic fungal infections still remain life-threatening for immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation or solid organ transplantation. Suboptimal efficacy, toxicity, development of resistant variants and recurrent episodes are limitations associated with current antifungal drug therapy. Adjunctive immunotherapies reinforcing the host defense against fungi and aiding in clearance of opportunistic pathogens are continuously gaining ground in this battle. Here, we review alternative approaches for the management of fungal infections going beyond the state of the art and placing an emphasis on fungus-specific T cell immunotherapy. Harnessing the power of T cells in the form of adoptive immunotherapy represents the strenuous protagonist of the current immunotherapeutic approaches towards combating invasive fungal infections. The progress that has been made over the last years in this field and remaining challenges as well, will be discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 654
Author(s):  
Ka Young Kim ◽  
Keun-A Chang

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Several treatments for PD have focused on the management of physical symptoms using dopaminergic agents. However, these treatments induce various adverse effects, including hallucinations and cognitive impairment, owing to non-targeted brain delivery, while alleviating motor symptoms. Furthermore, these therapies are not considered ultimate cures owing to limited brain self-repair and regeneration abilities. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) using magnetic nanoparticles in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD mouse model. We used the Maestro imaging system and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for in vivo tracking after transplantation of magnetic nanoparticle-loaded hASCs to the PD mouse model. The Maestro imaging system revealed strong hASCs signals in the brains of PD model mice. In particular, MRI revealed hASCs distribution in the substantia nigra of hASCs-injected PD mice. Behavioral evaluations, including apomorphine-induced rotation and rotarod performance, were significantly recovered in hASCs-injected 6-OHDA induced PD mice when compared with saline-treated counterparts. Herein, we investigated whether hASCs transplantation using magnetic nanoparticles recovered motor functions through targeted brain distribution in a 6-OHDA induced PD mice. These results indicate that magnetic nanoparticle-based hASCs transplantation could be a potential therapeutic strategy in PD.


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