Caryophyllenes from a fungal culture of Chrysosporium pilosum.

Four new caryophyllene derivatives, Sch 725432 (1), Sch 601253 (2), Sch 601254 (3), and Sch 725434 (4), were isolated from the fungal fermentation broth of Chrysosporium pilosum by reversed-phase HPLC purification. The structure elucidation of trioxygenated caryophyllenes 1-4 was accomplished on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. Sch 725434 (4) possesses a dihydrofuran-3-one ring, forming a tricyclic ring skeleton, which represents an unprecedented ring skeleton for the caryophyllene-type of sesquiterpenes.

Posaconazole (Noxafil, SCH 56592), a new azole antifungal drug, was a discovery based on the isolation and mass spectral characterization of a circulating metabolite of an earlier lead (SCH 51048).

Posaconazole (SCH 56592) is a novel triazole antifungal drug that is marketed in Europe and the United States under the trade name 'Noxafil' for prophylaxis against invasive fungal infections. SCH 56592 was discovered as a possible active metabolite of SCH 51048, an earlier lead. Initial studies have shown that serum concentrations determined by a microbiological assay were higher than those determined by HPLC from animals dosed with SCH 51048.

Interaction between posaconazole and caspofungin in concomitant treatment of mice with systemic Aspergillus infection.

The interaction of posaconazole and caspofungin was evaluated in concomitant treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus (two strains) or A. flavus (one strain) systemic infections in immunocompetent mice. Survival curves for mice treated with the combinations were compared statistically with those for mice treated with the component monotherapies.

A new 5-alkenylresorcinol sch 725681 from Aspergillus sp.

A new 5-alkenylresorcinol Sch725681 (1) was isolated and identified from the culture of an Aspergillus sp. The structure elucidation of 1 was accomplished based on extensive NMR spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 showed inhibitory activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PM503) and Candida albicans (C43) with MICs of 16 and 64 microg/ml, respectively.

In vitro activities of posaconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B against a large collection of clinically important molds and yeasts.

The in vitro activity of the novel triazole antifungal agent posaconazole (Noxafil; SCH 56592) was assessed in 45 laboratories against approximately 19,000 clinically important strains of yeasts and molds. The activity of posaconazole was compared with those of itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B against subsets of the isolates. Strains were tested utilizing Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution methods using RPMI 1640 medium (except for amphotericin B, which was frequently tested in antibiotic medium 3).

Structure elucidation of Sch 725674 from Aspergillus sp.

A new macrolide Sch725674 (1) was isolated and identified from the culture of an Aspergillus sp. The structure elucidation of 1 was accomplished based on extensive NMR spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 showed inhibitory activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PM503) and Candida albicans (C43) with MICs of 8 and 32 microg/ml, respectively.

Posaconazole therapy for systemic coccidioidomycosis in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes): a case report.

Systemic coccidioidomycosis was diagnosed in a 4-year-old male chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) with ascites and failure to thrive. Physical examination, laboratory and radiological studies, and exploratory laparotomy showed signs of systemic fungal infection that included penetration into the central nervous system (CNS). Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) titres, along with ascites cytology findings, confirmed the presence of Coccidioides immitis.

Hydroxylated analogues of the orally active broad spectrum antifungal, Sch 51048 (1), and the discovery of posaconazole [Sch 56592; 2 or (S,S)-5].

As part of a detailed study, the syntheses, biological activities, and pharmacokinetic properties of hydroxylated analogues of the previously described broad spectrum antifungal agents, Sch 51048 (1), Sch 50001 (3), and Sch 50002 (4), are described. Based on an overall superior profile, one of the alcohols, Sch 56592 (2), was selected for clinical studies.

In vitro activities of new and established triazoles against opportunistic filamentous and dimorphic fungi.

The in vitro activities of three new triazoles were determined and compared to those of itraconazole and fluconazole against 306 clinical isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis, Cladophialophora carrionii, Coccidioides immitis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Fusarium spp., Histoplasma capsulatum, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Pseudallescheria boydii and Sporothrix schenckii. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by a broth macrodilution method of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards M38-A procedure.

New antibiotic Sch 725424 and its dehydration product Sch 725428 from Kitasatospora sp.

A new microbial metabolite Sch 725424 (1) was isolated from the culture of Kitasatospora sp. The structure elucidation of 1 was accomplished based on NMR spectroscopic analyses as well as extensive structure elucidation of its dehydration product Sch 725428 (2). Compound 1 showed inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values 1-2 microg/ml, and also displayed weak antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PM503) with an MIC 32 microg/ml.

Interaction between posaconazole and amphotericin B in concomitant treatment against Candida albicans in vivo.

The interaction of posaconazole and amphotericin B was evaluated in concomitant treatment of Candida albicans systemic infections in immunocompetent mice by using four strains of C. albicans with different susceptibilities to fluconazole. Posaconazole and amphotericin B were each tested at four dose levels alone and in all possible combinations against each C.

Antifungal activities of posaconazole and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor ex vivo and in mice with disseminated infection due to Scedosporium prolificans.

Invasive infection due to Scedosporium prolificans is characterized by drug resistance and a high rate of mortality. The effects of posaconazole (POS), an investigational antifungal triazole, murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and their combination against S. prolificans were evaluated ex vivo and in a newly developed murine model of disseminated infection due to this organism.

Posaconazole is a potent inhibitor of sterol 14alpha-demethylation in yeasts and molds.

Posaconazole (POS; SCH 56592) is a novel triazole that is active against a wide variety of fungi, including fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans isolates and fungi that are inherently less susceptible to approved azoles, such as Candida glabrata. In this study, we compared the effects of POS, itraconazole (ITZ), fluconazole (FLZ), and voriconazole (VOR) on sterol biosynthesis in strains of C. albicans (both azole-sensitive and azole-resistant strains), C.

Effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor combination therapy on efficacy of posaconazole (SCH56592) in an inhalation model of murine pulmonary aspergillosis.

Using an inhalation model of pulmonary aspergillosis, we observed modest differences in the survival rates of mice treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and posaconazole (POS) and those treated with POS alone. This finding is in contrast to a previous report that suggested that G-CSF had a significant antagonistic effect on the antifungal activity of POS.

Posaconazole therapy of disseminated phaeohyphomycosis in a murine model.

Immunocompetent (nu/+) and athymic (nu/nu) BALB/c mice were infected intravenously with Wangiella dermatitidis and treated with posaconazole. Posaconazole reduced the counts in tissues and prolonged survival. Of particular interest, posaconazole reduced the counts of this neurotropic pathogen in the brain.

Application of real-time quantitative PCR to molecular analysis of Candida albicans strains exhibiting reduced susceptibility to azoles.

Real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure expression levels of genes encoding efflux pumps, ERG11 and two control genes, ACT1 and PMA1, in a collection of 14 fluconazole-susceptible Candida albicans isolates. For each gene, average expression levels and variations within the population were determined. These values were then used as reference points to make predictions about the molecular basis of resistance in 38 clinical isolates (the majority of which were resistant to fluconazole) obtained from 18 patients treated with posaconazole for refractory oropharyngeal candidiasis.

Activity of posaconazole combined with amphotericin B against Aspergillus flavus infection in mice: comparative studies in two laboratories.

Posaconazole and/or amphotericin B was given to mice pretreated with a steroid and then infected by inhalation of Aspergillus flavus conidia. Two laboratories conducted studies using almost identical protocols to evaluate both survival and lung tissue burdens 8 days after infection. The results of the in vivo studies performed at both laboratories were consistent.

Three-dimensional models of wild-type and mutated forms of cytochrome P450 14alpha-sterol demethylases from Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans provide insights into posaconazole binding.

The cytochrome P450 sterol 14alpha-demethylase enzyme (CYP51) is the target of azole antifungals. Azoles block ergosterol synthesis, and thereby fungal growth, by binding in the active-site cavity of the enzyme and ligating the iron atom of the heme cofactor through a nitrogen atom of the azole. Mutations in and around the CYP51 active site have resulted in azole resistance.

Pharmacodynamics of a new triazole, posaconazole, in a murine model of disseminated candidiasis.

Previous in vivo studies have characterized the pharmacodynamic characteristics of two triazole compounds, fluconazole and ravuconazole. These investigations demonstrated that the 24-h area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)/MIC ratio is the critical pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) parameter associated with treatment efficacy. Further analysis demonstrated that a free-drug triazole 24-h AUC/MIC ratio of 20 to 25 was predictive of treatment success in both experimental models and clinical trials.

Changes in susceptibility to posaconazole in clinical isolates of Candida albicans.

Objectives: To characterize the molecular mechanisms responsible for reduced susceptibility to azoles in Candida albicans clinical isolates.

Materials And Methods: Seven sequential C. albicans isolates were cultured from an AIDS patient treated with posaconazole for refractory oropharyngeal candidiasis.