The Antifungal Drug Isavuconazole Is both Amebicidal and Cysticidal against Acanthamoeba castellanii
Brian Shing, Seema Singh, Larissa M. Podust, James H. McKerrow, Anjan Debnath
Abstract
Current treatments for Acanthamoeba keratitis rely on a combination of chlorhexidine gluconate, propamidine isethionate, and polyhexamethylene biguanide. These disinfectants are nonspecific and inherently toxic, which limits their effectiveness. Furthermore, in 10% of cases, recurrent infection ensues due to the difficulty in killing both trophozoites and double-walled cysts. Therefore, development of efficient, safe, and target-specific drugs which are capable of preventing recurrent Acanthamoeba infection is a critical unmet need for averting blindness.
Topics & Concepts
AcanthamoebaAcanthamoeba keratitisPosaconazoleMicrobiologyBiologyKeratitisAntifungal drugPharmacologyAntifungalAmphotericin BGeneticsLegionella and Acanthamoeba researchHeme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon MonoxideNeutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms