AI Article Synopsis
- Cryptococcosis, a severe fungal infection mainly caused by Cryptococcus gattii and C. neoformans, is currently treated with limited antifungal medications, prompting researchers to explore drug repurposing for better treatment options.
- In this study, duloxetine hydrochloride (DH), typically used as an antidepressant, demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of various strains of C. neoformans and C. gattii at low concentrations and showed fungicidal properties.
- DH was particularly effective against biofilms, significantly reducing their biomass by 85% and metabolic activity by 99%, suggesting its potential as a novel antifungal therapy that deserves further investigation.
Article Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an invasive mycosis caused mainly by Cryptococcus gattii and C. neoformans and is treated with amphotericin B (AMB), fluconazole and 5-fluorocytosine. However, antifungal resistance, limited and toxic antifungal arsenal stimulate the search for therapeutic strategies such as drug repurposing. Among the repurposed drugs studied, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have shown activity against Cryptococcus spp. However, little is known about the antifungal effect of duloxetine hydrochloride (DH), a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI), against C. neoformans and C. gattii. In this study, DH inhibited the growth of several C. neoformans and C. gattii strains at concentrations ranging from 15.62 to 62.50 µg/mL. In addition, DH exhibited fungicidal activity ranging from 15.62 to 250 µg/mL. In biofilm, DH treatment reduced Cryptococcus spp. biomass at a level comparable to AMB, with a significant reduction (85%) for C. neoformans biofilms. The metabolic activity of C. neoformans and C. gattii biofilms decreased significantly (99%) after treatment with DH. Scanning electron micrographs confirmed the anti-biofilm activity of DH, as isolated cells could be observed after treatment. In conclusion, DH showed promising antifungal activity against planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans and C. gattii, opening perspectives for further studies with DH in vivo.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12223-024-01164-1 | DOI Listing |
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