Evaluation of the efficacy of a posaconazole and anidulafungin combination in a murine model of pulmonary aspergillosis due to infection with Aspergillus fumigatus

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Vol. 90; no. 1; pp. 40 - 43
• Main Authors: Bedin Denardi, Laura, Pantella Kunz de Jesus, Francielli, Keller, Jéssica Tairine, Weiblen, Carla, de Azevedo, Maria Isabel, Oliveira, Vanessa, Morais Santurio, Janio, Hartz Alves, Sydney
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Anidulafungin; Aspergillus fumigatus; Combination therapy; Posaconazole; Anidulafungin; Aspergillus fumigatus; Combination therapy; Posaconazole
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2017.10.004

Posaconazole (PSC) in combination with anidulafungin (AFG) was evaluated in a murine model of pulmonary aspergillosis. Immunosuppressed animals were infected via the nasal cavity with 2 different A. fumigatus strains. The animals received PSC (oral, 20mg/kg per day) and/or AFG (i.p., 10mg/kg per day) for 7days. On Day 8, the mice were euthanized and fungal burdens were determined from the lungs. Survival curves were constructed for mortality analysis. Compared to untreated groups, groups singly treated with PSC or AFG showed a reduced fungal burden in the lungs (P=0.0001–0.006) and prevention of mortality (66.66–83.33% of survival). Combination treatment with PSC and AFG significantly reduced the fungal burden (or sterilized the lungs) compared to the findings in the untreated and monotherapy groups and improved the survival rate to 100%. The PSC and AFG combination therapy was highly effective and should be evaluated in larger-scale experiments. •Combined antifungal activity of posaconazole and anidulafungin is proposed.•Murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a reproducible method.•Posaconazole and anidulafungin in combination are more effective than alone.