title: Combined antifungal therapy against systemic murine infections by rare Cryptococcus species.
abstract: Cryptococcus albidus and Cryptococcus laurentii are uncommon species of this genus that in recent decades have increasingly caused opportunistic infections in humans, mainly in immunocompromised patients; the best therapy for such infection being unknown. Using a murine model of systemic infection by these fungi, we have evaluated the efficacy of amphotericin B (AMB) at 0.8 mg/kg, administered intravenously, fluconazole (FLC) or voriconazole (VRC), both administered orally, at 25 mg/kg and the combination of AMB plus VRC against three C. albidus and two C. laurentii strains. All the treatments significantly reduced the fungal burden in all the organs studied. The combination showed a synergistic effect in the reduction in fungal load, working better than both monotherapies. The histopathological study confirmed the efficacy of the treatments.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, IISPV; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Unitat d'Anatomia Patològica, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, IISPV; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mayayo
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, IISPV; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Loida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: López-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, IISPV; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7839-7568
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guarro
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, IISPV; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0765-6403
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capilla
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D065819:Voriconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D065819:Voriconazole
keywords: Cryptococcus albidus; Cryptococcus laurentii; animal model; antifungal agents; combined therapy