Immunotherapy based on Pythium insidiosum mycelia drives a Th1/Th17 response in mice.

Pythium insidiosum is an oomycete that affects mammals, especially humans and horses, causing a difficult-to-treat disease. Typically, surgical interventions associated with antimicrobial therapy, immunotherapy, or both are the preferred treatment choices. PitiumVac® is a therapeutic vaccine prepared from the mycelial mass of P.

Efficacy of Azithromycin and Miltefosine in Experimental Systemic Pythiosis in Immunosuppressed Mice.

We evaluated the efficacy of azithromycin (50 mg/kg, every 12 h [q12h] orally) and miltefosine (25 mg/kg, q24h orally) treatments in an experimental model of vascular/disseminated pythiosis in immunosuppressed mice. Azithromycin was the only treatment able to reduce mortality. The histopathological findings showed acute vascular inflammation, pathogen dissemination, necrotizing myositis, neuritis, and arteritis.

In vitro combination of antifungal agents against Malassezia pachydermatis.

The yeast Malassezia pachydermatis is a common commensal and occasional opportunistic pathogen of theskin microbiota of animals and humans. In this study, the susceptibility of M. pachydermatis isolates to fluconazole (FLC), itraconazole (ITZ), ketoconazole (KTZ), clotrimazole (CLZ), and miconazole (MCZ) alone and in combination with terbinafine (TRB), nystatin (NYS), and caspofungin (CSP) was evaluated in vitro based on the M27-A3 technique and the checkerboard microdilution method using Sabouraud dextrose broth with 1% tween 80 (SDB).

In vitro interactions of azoles and echinocandins against clinical strains of Aspergillus flavus.

Combinations of an azole (itraconazole, voriconazole, or posaconazole) with an echinocandin (caspofungin, micafungin, or anidulafungin) were tested against 20 clinical isolates of Aspergillus flavus according to EUCAST guidelines. The interactions were determined using two endpoints-minimal effective concentration (MEC) and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)-via calculation of the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. A higher prevalence of synergistic interactions was observed for MIC, whereas indifference was the most frequent outcome according to MEC among the 20 strains.

Avian antibodies (IgY) against Trypanosoma cruzi: Purification and characterization studies.

Trypanosoma cruzi is a flagellated protozoan belonging to the Trypanosomatidae family, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Currently, there is neither a licensed vaccine nor effective treatment, characterizing an unmet clinical need. The IgY refers to the egg yolk immunoglobulin (Y=yolk) and its production and use are subjects of many studies due to the diversity of its diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Extraction, characterization and biological activity of a (1,3)(1,6)-β-d-glucan from the pathogenic oomycete Pythium insidiosum.

Pythiosis is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by the pathogenic oomycete Pythium insidiosum. This study is the first to evaluate the P. insidiosum glucan content and its biological activities.

In vitro susceptibility of the oomycete Pythium insidiosum to metallic compounds containing cadmium, lead, copper, manganese or zinc.

Pythium insidiosum is an aquatic oomycete that causes pythiosis, an important and severe disease of difficult treatment that affects humans, domestic and wild animals. This infection is often described in horses in Brazil and humans in Thailand. In clinical practice, we have observed many cases that do not respond to available therapies, indicating the need to explore alternative therapeutic approaches.

Production, purification and therapeutic potential of egg yolk antibodies for treating Trypanosoma evansi infection.

The use of avian antibodies has aroused interest in biomedical research due to the numerous advantages compared to mammal's antibodies. Our study aimed to produce and purify IgY immunoglobulins in order to use as an alternative therapy against Trypanosoma evansi. Every 14 days, four New Hampshire chickens were immunized with trypomastigotes of T.

Susceptibility variation of Malassezia pachydermatis to antifungal agents according to isolate source.

Malassezia pachydermatis is associated with dermatomycoses and otomycosis in dogs and cats. This study compared the susceptibility of M. pachydermatis isolates from sick (G1) and healthy (G2) animals to azole and polyene antifungals using the M27-A3 protocol.

In vitro susceptibility of Pythium insidiosum isolates to aminoglycoside antibiotics and tigecycline.

This study evaluated the in vitro activity of aminoglycoside antibiotics and tigecycline against Pythium insidiosum. The susceptibility tests were carried out using the broth microdilution method in accordance with the CLSI document M38-A2. MIC values for gentamicin, neomycin, paromomycin, and streptomycin ranged from 32 to 64 mg/liter, and the minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranged from 32 to 128 mg/liter, which are incompatible with safe concentrations of these drugs in plasma in vivo.