Structural degeneration of Aspergillus fumigatus after exposure to saperconazole.
Saperconazole is a newly synthesized triazole antifungal with potent activity against Aspergillus fumigatus. Exposure of spores inoculated into BHI agar medium to saperconazole doses as low as 35 ng ml-1, resulted in complete suppression of germination (hyphal outgrowth) when treatment started simultaneously with inoculation. Cultures which were grown for 24 or 48 h in the absence of drug and were then exposed to saperconazole showed a block in the development of hyphae, sporophores, vesicles, sterigmata and spores. Moreover, a substantial proportion of the pre-existent hyphae became necrotic during exposure to the drug. The latter was most obvious with the 70 ng ml-1 dose. Although treatment with lower doses yielded severely altered but non-necrotic cells, an abolishment of further outgrowth and differentiation was achieved.
Borgers
M
M
Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium.
Van de Ven
M A
MA
Van Cutsem
J
J
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001393:Azoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008857:Microscopy, Interference
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001393:Azoles; C060571:saperconazole