title: Antifungal activities of diphenyl diselenide and ebselen alone and in combination with antifungal agents against Fusarium spp.
abstract: Herein, we describe the in vitro activity of a combination of the organoselenium compounds diphenyl diselenide and ebselen alone and in combination with amphotericin B, caspofungin, itraconazole, and voriconazole against 25 clinical isolates of Fusarium spp. For this analysis, we used the broth microdilution method based on the M38-A2 technique and checkerboard microdilution method. Diphenyl diselenide (MIC range = 4-32 μg/ml) and ebselen (MIC range = 2-8 μg/ml) showed in vitro activity against the isolates tested. The most effective combinations were (synergism rates): ebselen + amphotericin B (88%), ebselen + voriconazole (80%), diphenyl diselenide + amphotericin B (72%), and diphenyl diselenide + voriconazole (64%). Combination with caspofungin resulted in low rates of synergism: ebselen + caspofungin, 36%, and diphenyl diselenide + caspofungin, 28%; combination with itraconazole demonstrated indifferent interactions. Antagonistic effects were not observed for any of the combinations tested. Our findings suggest that the antifungal potential of diphenyl diselenide and ebselen deserves further investigation in in vivo experimental models, especially in combination with amphotericin B and voriconazole.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tarcieli Pozzebon
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francieli
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chassot
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Érico Silva
authors.initials: ÉS
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica Tairine
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Izabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gilson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zeni
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janio Morais
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Santurio
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil sydneyalves.ufsm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sydney Hartz
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Alves
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001393:Azoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects*; D054833:Isoindoles; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001393:Azoles; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D054833:Isoindoles; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; C061132:diphenyldiselenide; C042986:ebselen
keywords: Fusarium spp; combinations; diphenyl diselenide; ebselen; susceptibility