title: Immunomodulator tuftsin augments anti-fungal activity of amphotericin B against experimental murine candidiasis.
abstract: In the present study, we report the potential of an immunomodulator tuftsin in increasing the efficacy of liposomised Amphotericin B (Amp B) against drug sensitive as well as drug resistant experimental murine candidiasis. The Amp B containing liposomes demonstrated strong potential of eliminating systemic candidiasis (70% survival) in animals infected with Amp B sensitive strain of Candida albicans (C. albicans). The same liposomal formulation was found to be ineffective in treatment of animals infected with drug resistant C. albicans. However, the co-administration of liposomal formulation of Amp B along with an immunomodulator tuftsin, was found to be competent enough in curing even the drug resistant candidiasis. In contrast, none of the animals survived in the control groups, which were treated with free or liposomised Amp B (without tuftsin). Further, the effect of liposomised tuftsin, on T-cell proliferation as well as antibody production reveals that tuftsin elicits strong immunopotentiating effects as well. The pretreatment with liposomised tuftsin prior to challenging the animals with drug resistant C. albicans infection has also been effective and shows an extra edge in prophylactic perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Faisal
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owais
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000941:Antigens / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008081:Liposomes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D014405:Tuftsin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000941:Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008081:Liposomes; D000666:Amphotericin B; D010047:Ovalbumin; D014405:Tuftsin