title: In vitro and in vivo antifungal susceptibilities of the Mucoralean fungus Cunninghamella.
abstract: We have determined the in vitro activities of amphotericin B (AMB), voriconazole, posaconazole (PSC), itraconazole (ITC), ravuconazole, terbinafine, and caspofungin against five strains of Cunninghamella bertholletiae and four of Cunninghamella echinulata. The best activity was shown by terbinafine against both species (MIC range = 0.3 to 0.6 μg/ml) and PSC against Cunninghamella bertholletiae (MIC = 0.5 μg/ml). We have also evaluated the efficacies of PSC, ITC, and AMB in neutropenic and diabetic murine models of disseminated infection by Cunninghamella bertholletiae. PSC at 40, 60, or 80 mg/kg of body weight/day was as effective as AMB at 0.8 mg/kg/day in prolonging survival and reducing the fungal tissue burden in neutropenic mice. PSC at 80 mg/kg/day was more effective than AMB at 0.8 mg/kg/day in reducing the fungal load in brain and lung of diabetic mice. Histological studies revealed an absence of fungal elements in organs of mice treated with either AMB at 0.8 mg/kg/day or PSC at 60 or 80 mg/kg/day in both models. ITC showed limited efficacy in both models. PSC could be a therapeutic option for the treatment of systemic infections caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Carrer Sant Llorenç. 21, Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Mery
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruíz-Cendoya
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mayayo
authors.forename: Deanna A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guarro
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077336:Caspofungin; D020093:Cunninghamella / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065819:Voriconazole
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013844:Thiazoles; D014230:Triazoles; D017964:Itraconazole; C101425:posaconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B; C104066:ER 30346; D000077336:Caspofungin; D065819:Voriconazole
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