title: Immune stimulating and therapeutic potential of tuftsin-incorporated nystatin liposomes against Cryptococcus neoformans in leukopenic BALB/C mice.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans infection is a common fungal infection in persons infected with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) or those with defective cell-mediated immunity. Since treatment of cryptococcal meningitis poses a big challenge, the present study aimed to develop a novel liposomal therapeutic formulation against cryptococcosis. Treatment with tuftsin-incorporated liposomes increased the anti-cryptococcal activity of murine peritoneal macrophages. Prophylactic treatment of mice with tuftsin-incorporated liposomes reduced the dissemination of C. neoformans to brain tissues. Moreover, the co-administration of tuftsin with nystatin liposomes augmented the anti-cryptococcal activity of nystatin, as mice treated with tuftsin-incorporated nystatin liposomes showed the highest survival and least fungal burden in their brain tissues. The results of the present study favour the use of immune-stimulating molecules along with antifungal agents in the treatment of opportunistic fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, India.
authors.forename: Masood Alam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aljarbou
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009761:Nystatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014405:Tuftsin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008081:Liposomes; D009761:Nystatin; D014405:Tuftsin