title: Immunomodulator tuftsin increases the susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans to liposomal amphotericin B in immunocompetent BALB/c mice.
abstract: The co-administration of immunomodulators and antibiotics has been proved very successful for treatment of opportunistic infectious diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the combination of liposomal amphotericin B (lip-Amp B) and immunomodulator tuftsin to cure Cryptococcus neoformans infection in BALB/c mice. Mice infected with C. neoformans were treated with Amp B deoxycholate and tuftsin free or tuftsin-loaded Amp B liposomes. The results of the present study demonstrated higher efficacy of tuftsin-loaded Amp B liposomes against experimental murine cryptococcosis, in terms of enhanced survival rate and reduced fungal burden in organs (lungs and brain) of the treated mice. Interestingly, pre-treatment of mice with liposomal tuftsin before challenging them with the C. neoformans infection resulted in 100% survival of the treated animals followed by treatment with lip-Amp B. Immunomodulator-based therapy seems likely to be more beneficial for treatment of fungal infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Aligarh Muslim University, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh 202002, India.
authors.forename: Masood A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owais
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008081:Liposomes; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D014405:Tuftsin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008081:Liposomes; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B; D014405:Tuftsin