The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor indinavir directly affects the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
Elisabetta BlasiRachele Neglia

Abstract

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), that includes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors (PIs), has been remarkably efficacious including against some opportunistic infections. In this report we investigated the effect(s) of the PI indinavir on protease activity by Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for recurrent meningoencephalitis in AIDS patients. Indinavir was also tested for potential effects on other parameters, such as fungal viability, growth ability and susceptibility to immune effector cells. It was found that indinavir impaired cryptococcal protease activity in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The phenomenon was similarly detectable in ATCC/laboratory strains and clinical isolates. C. neoformans growth rate was also significantly reduced upon exposure to indinavir, while fungal viability was not affected and mitochondrial toxicity not detected. Furthermore, as assessed by an in vitro infection model, indinavir significantly and consistently augmented C. neoformans susceptibility to microglial cell-mediated phagocytosis and killing. Overall, by providing the first evidence that indinavir directly affects C. neoformans, these data add new in vitro insights...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1992·Journal of Neuroscience Research·V BocchiniH Kettenmann
May 1, 1990·Journal of Neuroimmunology·E BlasiF Bistoni
Nov 1, 1987·The Journal of Infectious Diseases·A CassoneL Agatensi
May 1, 1995·Infection and Immunity·F De BernardisR Calderone
Dec 1, 1994·Mycopathologia·S AokiV Vidotto
Apr 1, 1995·Infection and Immunity·E BlasiF Bistoni
Jan 1, 1993·Critical Reviews in Biotechnology·D M Ogrydziak
Sep 1, 1996·Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology·L C ChenA Casadevall
Jan 7, 1998·Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology : Official Publication of the International Retrovirology Association·N G PakkerP T Schellekens
Mar 21, 1998·Emerging Infectious Diseases·K L Buchanan, J W Murphy
May 1, 1998·The New England Journal of Medicine·C Flexner
Sep 19, 1998·The New England Journal of Medicine·Z Barzilay, G Paret
Dec 9, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D L GoldmanA Casadevall
Jul 9, 1999·The Journal of Infectious Diseases·A CassoneR Cauda
Oct 16, 2001·Medical Microbiology and Immunology·E BlasiR Neglia
Oct 30, 2001·European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·E BlasiF Baldelli
Aug 27, 2002·The Journal of Infectious Diseases·Fabrice ChrétienFrançoise Dromer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 16, 2005·International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents·Dianella SavoiaPier-Angelo Tovo
Oct 2, 2007·The Journal of Infection·Elio CenciAnna Vecchiarelli
Oct 11, 2015·Eukaryotic Cell·Fausto AlmeidaArturo Casadevall
Aug 4, 2005·Retina·Daniel E GoldbergWilliam R Freeman
Aug 9, 2005·Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology·Agostino PuglieseDonato Torre
Mar 19, 2016·Cellular Microbiology·Carolina Coelho, Arturo Casadevall
Apr 28, 2006·Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes : JAIDS·Rula AzzamSuzanne M Crowe

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Candida albicans

Candida albicans is an opportunistic, fungal pathogen of humans that frequently causes superficial infections of oral and vaginal mucosal surfaces of debilitated and susceptible individuals. Discover the latest research on Candida albicans here.

Antifungals

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Antifungals (ASM)

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a common fungal infection caused by Candida and it can affect many parts for the body including mucosal membranes as well as the gastrointestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts. Here is the latest research.

Candidiasis (ASM)

Candidiasis is a common fungal infection caused by Candida and it can affect many parts for the body including mucosal membranes as well as the gastrointestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts. Here is the latest research.