Novel Antiparasitic Activity of the Antifungal Lead Occidiofungin

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 Jul 22;64(8):e00244-20. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00244-20. Print 2020 Jul 22.

Abstract

Novel antiparasitic activity was observed for the antifungal occidiofungin. It efficaciously and irreversibly inhibited the zoonotic enteric parasite Cryptosporidium parvumin vitro with limited cytotoxicity (50% effective concentration [EC50] = 120 nM versus 50% cytotoxic concentration [TC50] = 988 nM), and its application disrupted the parasite morphology. This study expands the spectrum of activity of a glycolipopeptide named occidiofungin. Occidiofungin has poor gastrointestinal tract absorption properties, supporting future investigations into its potential activities on other enteric parasites.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium parvum; cytotoxicity; efficacy; in vitro; occidiofungin; protozoan parasite.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiparasitic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cryptosporidiosis*
  • Cryptosporidium parvum*
  • Cryptosporidium*
  • Glycopeptides
  • Humans
  • Peptides, Cyclic

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antiparasitic Agents
  • Glycopeptides
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • occidiofungin