Molecular targeted treatments for fungal infections: the role of drug combinations.
Invasive mycoses are associated with a high mortality rate, and their incidence is increased in immunologically deficient patients. From a diagnostic and therapeutic perspective, these infections represent a significant challenge to medicine. In addition to new antifungal agents, drug combinations are an important therapeutic resource, which might be exploited clinically, owing to the multiplicity of fungal targets against which currently available agents are active. In this review, we examine the experimental data regarding the combination of conventional antifungal agents with cytokines, antibacterial agents, calcineurin inhibitors and drugs under development characterized by novel mechanisms of action.
Lupetti
Antonella
A
Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental Pathology, Medical Biotechnologies, Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Nibbering
Peter H
PH
Campa
Mario
M
Del Tacca
Mario
M
Danesi
Romano
R
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases