Niclosamide Is Active In Vitro against Mycetoma Pathogens

Redox-active drugs are the mainstay of parasite chemotherapy. To assess their repurposing potential for eumycetoma, we have tested a set of nitroheterocycles and peroxides in vitro against two isolates of Madurella mycetomatis, the main causative agent of eumycetoma in Sudan. All the tested compounds were inactive except for niclosamide, which had minimal inhibitory concentrations of around 1 µg/mL. Further tests with niclosamide and niclosamide ethanolamine demonstrated in vitro activity not only against M. mycetomatis but also against Actinomadura spp., causative agents of actinomycetoma, with minimal inhibitory concentrations below 1 µg/mL. The experimental compound MMV665807, a related salicylanilide without a nitro group, was as active as niclosamide, indicating that the antimycetomal action of niclosamide is independent of its redox chemistry (which is in agreement with the complete lack of activity in all other nitroheterocyclic drugs tested). Based on these results, we propose to further evaluate the salicylanilides, niclosamidein particular, as drug repurposing candidates for mycetoma.

Comparison of disc diffusion, E-Test and a modified CLSI broth microdilution method for in vitro susceptibility testing of itraconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole against Madurella mycetomatis

For many fungal infections, in vitro susceptibility testing is used to predict if an isolate is resistant or susceptible to the antifungal agent used to treat the fungal infection. For Madurella mycetomatis , the main causative agent of mycetoma, in vitro susceptibility testing currently is not performed on a routine basis. The current in vitro susceptibility testing method is labor intensive and sonication must be done to generate a hyphal inoculum. For endpoint visualization, expensive viability dyes are needed. Here we investigated if the currently used in vitro susceptibility method could be adapted to make it amendable for use in a routine setting which can be used in low income countries, where mycetoma is endemic. First, we developed a methodology in which hyphal fragments can be generated without the need for sonication, by comparing different bead beating methodologies. Next, in vitro susceptibility was assessed using standard broth microdilution assays as well as disc diffusion, E-testing and VIPcheck™ methodologies. We demonstrate that after a hyphal suspension is generated by glass bead beating, disc diffusion, E-testing and VIPcheck™ can be used to determine susceptibility towards itraconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole of Madurella mycetomatis . The MICs found with the E-test were comparable to those obtained with our modified CLSI-based broth microdilution in vitro susceptibility assay for itraconazole and posaconazole. Furthermore, we found an inverse relationship between the zone of inhibition and MIC obtained with E-test and the modified CLSI broth microdilution technique.

The synthetic synergistic cinnamon oil CIN-102 is active against Madurella mycetomatis, the most common causative agent of mycetoma

Mycetoma is a devastating neglected tropical infection of the subcutaneous tissue and most commonly caused by the fungus Madurella mycetomatis. Treatment of mycetoma consists of a combination of a long term antifungal treatment with itraconazole and surgery. However, treatment is associated with low success rates. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel treatments for mycetoma. CIN-102 is a synthetic partial copy of cinnamon oils with activity against many pathogenic bacteria and fungi. In this study we determined the in vitro activity of CIN-102 against 21 M. mycetomatis isolates and its in vivo efficacy in a M. mycetomatis infected Galleria mellonella larval model. In vitro, CIN-102 was active against M. mycetomatis with MICs ranging from 32 μg/mL to 512 μg/mL. 128 μg/mL was needed to inhibit the growth in 50% of tested isolated. In vivo, concentrations below the MIC of 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg CIN-102 prolonged larval survival, but higher concentrations of CIN-102 did not.

Pulmonary Madurella mycetomatis mycetoma secondary to knee eumycetoma, Senegal

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease which is endemic in Senegal. Although this subcutaneous mycosis is most commonly found on the foot, extrapodal localisations have also been found, including on the leg, knee, thigh, hand, and arm. To our knowledge, no case of blood-spread eumycetoma has been reported in Senegal. Here, we report a case of pulmonary mycetoma secondary to a Madurella mycetomatis knee eumycetoma. The patient was a 41-year-old farmer living in Louga, Senegal, where the Sudano-Sahelian climate is characterised by a short and unstable rainy season and a steppe vegetation. He suffered a trauma to the right more than 20 years previously and had received treatment for more than 10 years with traditional medicine. He consulted at Le Dantec University Hospital in Dakar for treatment of a right knee mycetoma which had been diagnosed more than 10 years ago. He had experienced a chronic cough for more than a year; tuberculosis documentation was negative. Grains collected from the knee and the sputum isolated M. mycetomatis, confirmed by the rRNA gene ITS regions nucleotide sequence analysis. An amputation above the knee was performed, and antibacterial and antifungal therapy was started with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and terbinafine. The patient died within a month of his discharge from hospital.

The development of a novel diagnostic PCR for Madurella mycetomatis using a comparative genome approach

Background Eumycetoma is a neglected tropical disease most commonly caused by the fungus Madurella mycetomatis. Identification of eumycetoma causative agents can only be reliably performed by molecular identification, most commonly by species-specific PCR. The current M. mycetomatis specific PCR primers were recently discovered to cross-react with Madurella pseudomycetomatis. Here, we used a comparative genome approach to develop a new M. mycetomatis specific PCR for species identification. Methodology Predicted-protein coding sequences unique to M. mycetomatis were first identified in BLASTCLUST based on E-value, size and presence of orthologues. Primers were then developed for 16 unique sequences and evaluated against 60 M. mycetomatis isolates and other eumycetoma causing agents including the Madurella sibling species. Out of the 16, only one was found to be specific to M. mycetomatis. Conclusion We have discovered a predicted-protein coding sequence unique to M. mycetomatis and have developed a new species-specific PCR to be used as a novel diagnostic marker for M. mycetomatis.

Development and validation of an in vitro resazurin-based susceptibility assay against Madurella mycetomatis

We here present an in vitro susceptibility assay for Madurella mycetomatis hyphae using resazurin for endpoint-reading. Using this assay, reproducible minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were obtained for amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, terbinafine and micafungin. Results were comparable with XTT-based susceptibility assay. Lowest MICs were obtained for itraconazole and posaconazole (MIC50 of 0.016 μg/mL) followed by voriconazole (MIC50 of 0.063 μg/mL). Amphotericin B, micafungin, and terbinafine appeared much less effective.

A Short Tandem Repeat Assay for Studying Genetic Variation in Madurella mycetomatis (MmySTR)

Introduction: Madurella mycetomatis is the major causative agent of eumycetoma, a neglected tropical infection characterized by painless subcutaneous lesions, inflammation and grains draining from multiple sinuses. To study the epidemiology of mycetoma, a robust discriminatory typing technique is needed. We describe the use of a Short Tandem Repeats assay (MmySTR) for genotyping of M. mycetomatis isolates predominantly from Sudan. Methods: Eleven microsatellite markers (3 dinucleotides, 4 trinucleotide repeats and 4 tetranucleotide repeats) were selected from the M. mycetomatis MM55 genome using the Tandem Repeats Finder software. PCR amplification primers were designed for each microsatellite marker using primer3 software and amplified in a multicolor multiplex PCR approach. To establish the extent of genetic variation within the population, a collection of 120 clinical isolates from different regions was genotyped with this assay. Results: The 11 selected MmySTR markers showed a large genotypic heterogeneity. From a collection of 120 isolates, 108 different genotypes were obtained. The Simpsons’ diversity index (D) value for individual markers ranged from 0.081-0.881, the combined panel displayed an overall D value of 0.997. The MmySTR assay demonstrated high stability, reproducibility and specificity. Conclusion: The MmySTR assay is a promising new typing technique that can be used to genotype isolates of M. mycetomatis. Apart from the possible contribution of host factors, the genetic diversity observed among this group of isolates might contribute to the different clinical manifestations of mycetoma. We recommend the MmySTR assay to be used to establish a global reference database for future study of M. mycetomatis isolates.