In vitro activity of immunosuppressive agents against Cryptococcus neoformans.

Introduction: Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans are a major cause of fungal mortality in HIV-infected/AIDS patients and in those receiving organ transplants. We evaluated the in vitro activity of tacrolimus and cyclosporine in combination with amphotericin B and fluconazole against C. neoformans.

In vitro activity of immunosuppressive agents against Cryptococcus neoformans.

Introduction: Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans are a major cause of fungal mortality in HIV-infected/AIDS patients and in those receiving organ transplants. We evaluated the in vitro activity of tacrolimus and cyclosporine in combination with amphotericin B and fluconazole against C. neoformans.

In vitro combination between antifungals and diphenyl diselenide against Cryptococcus species.

Cryptococcus species are an encapsulated fungal pathogen that cause cryptococcal meningitis. There are limited therapeutic options for this infection. The management includes the use of different antifungals such as amphotericin B, flucytosine, or fluconazole, either alone or in combination.

Activity of antifungal agents alone and in combination against echinocandin-susceptible and -resistant Candida parapsilosis strains.

Background: Candida parapsilosis may acquire resistance to echinocandins, a fact that prompts the search for new therapeutic options.

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of antifungal agents, alone and in combination, against four groups of C. parapsilosis strains: (1) echinocandin-susceptible (ES) clinical isolates (MIC ≤ 2μg/ml), (2) anidulafungin-resistant strains (MIC ≥ 8μg/ml), (3) caspofungin-resistant strains (MIC ≥ 8μg/ml), and (4) micafungin-resistant strains (MIC ≥ 8μg/ml).

In vitro evaluation of antifungal combination against Cryptococcus neoformans.

This study evaluated combinations of amphotericin B with anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin against 30 clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans following the CLSI M27-A3 and the checkerboard microdilution method. The combination amphotericin B + micafungin showed 60% of synergistic effect against C. neoformans, while most of the other interactions were indifferent.

Do antibacterial and antifungal combinations have better activity against clinically relevant fusarium species? in vitro synergism.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of 20 clinical isolates of Fusarium spp. to classic antifungals [amphotericin B (AmB), itraconazole (ITR), voriconazole (VRC) and caspofungin (CAS)] and to non-antifungal agents [amiodarone (AMD), doxycycline (DOX) and moxifloxacin (MFX)] by the broth microdilution method. Combinations between these antifungal and non-antifungal agents were also evaluated to determine the fractional inhibitory concentration indices using the chequerboard technique.

Exploring the In Vitro Resistance of Candida parapsilosis to Echinocandins.

The naturally high minimum inhibitory concentration exhibited by echinocandins against Candida parapsilosis has been known since the first introduction of these antifungal agents. Despite this awareness, clinical failures have not been reported; consequently, the resistance of C. parapsilosis to echinocandins remains unexplored.

Antifungal activities of diphenyl diselenide and ebselen alone and in combination with antifungal agents against Fusarium spp.

Herein, we describe the in vitro activity of a combination of the organoselenium compounds diphenyl diselenide and ebselen alone and in combination with amphotericin B, caspofungin, itraconazole, and voriconazole against 25 clinical isolates of Fusarium spp. For this analysis, we used the broth microdilution method based on the M38-A2 technique and checkerboard microdilution method. Diphenyl diselenide (MIC range = 4-32 μg/ml) and ebselen (MIC range = 2-8 μg/ml) showed in vitro activity against the isolates tested.

In vitro interaction of antifungal and antibacterial drugs against Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii before and after capsular induction.

This study evaluated the synergistic interactions between amphotericin B (AMB) and azithromycin (AZM), daptomycin (DAP), linezolid (LNZ), minocycline (MINO), fluconazole (FLZ), flucytosine (5FC), linezolid (LZD), or tigecycline (TIG) against clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii before and after capsule induction. High synergism (>75%) was observed for the combinations, AMB+5FC, AMB+TIG, AMB+AZM, AMB+LZD and AMB+MINO but only in the strains after capsule induction.

Susceptibility of Candida spp. isolated from blood cultures as evaluated using the M27-A3 and new M27-S4 approved breakpoints.

The high mortality rates associated with candidemia episodes and the emergence of resistance to antifungal agents necessitate the monitoring of the susceptibility of fungal isolates to antifungal treatments. The new, recently approved, species-specific clinical breakpoints (SS-CBPs)(M27-S4) for evaluating susceptibility require careful interpretation and comparison with the former proposals made using the M27-A3 breakpoints, both from CLSI. This study evaluated the susceptibility of the different species of Candida that were isolated from candidemias based on these two clinical breakpoints.

Synergysm of voriconazole or itraconazole with other antifungal agents against species of Fusarium.

Background: Infections caused by Fusarium are difficult to treat because these fungi show in vitro and in vivo resistance to practically all the antifungal agents available, which explains the high mortality rates. An attempt to overcome fungal resistance is the combination of antifungal agents, especially those with different mechanisms of action.

Aims: Evaluate the in vitro interactions of combinations of voriconazole or itraconazole with other antifungal agents against 32 isolates of Fusarium spp.

Antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity and triterpenes isolated from Jatropha isabellei Müll Arg.

Jatropha isabellei Müll Arg. belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. The antioxidant capacity of this plant was evaluated by the DPPH method and inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).

In vitro synergisms obtained by amphotericin B and voriconazole associated with non-antifungal agents against Fusarium spp.

Fusarium spp is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for causing invasive hyalohyphomycosis in immunocompromised patients. Due to its susceptibility pattern with a remarkable resistance to antifungal agents the treatment failures and mortality rates are high. To overcome this situation, combination therapy may be considered which must be subjected to in vitro tests.