The in vitro activity of several antifungal agents (ketoconazole, miconazole, econazole, fenticonazole, itraconazole, fluconazole) in routine clinical use against Malassezia furfur infections has been studied with freshly isolated strains of M. furfur from pityriasis versicolor lesions. The results indicate that the drugs tested exert a good activity, and both ketoconazole and itraconazole appear very active (0.8 mg/l respectively). Hair samples from the beards of volunteer patients affected by pityriasis versicolor but otherwise healthy were examined to determine ketoconazole levels during oral therapy (one or two 200 mg tablets daily). It was shown that the drug progressively accumulates in the beard, reaching levels proportional to the dose administered, although blood levels did not increase in parallel. The study of drug concentration profile has evidenced a long ketoconazole persistence in the beard at therapeutic levels. In conclusion, the possibility of reaching high and lasting ketoconazole levels in the keratin layer of the epidermis indicates that systemic ketoconazole therapy could be useful for eradication of M. furfur in patients affected by pityriasis versicolor.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo and in vitro antifungal activity of the polyene derivative SPA-S-753 against encapsulated form of Cryptococcus neoformans.

The in vitro and in vivo activity of SPA-S-753 (N-dimethylaminoacetyl-partricin A 2-dimethylaminoethylamide diaspartate), a new water soluble polyene, was compared with amphotericin B against Cryptococcus neoformans in encapsulated (K) and nonencapsulated (N) morphological forms. In vitro tests against 17 isolates of C. neoformans (in K or N form) showed that SPA-S-753 activity is about ten times higher than that of amphotericin B. In direct contact tests the SPA-S-753 cytocidal action was significantly higher than that of amphotericin B; the K cells are, however, less sensitive to the cytocidal action exerted by the two polyenes even when using concentrations 4-fold higher than those used against the N cells and they present a smaller potassium ion release. The cytocidal activity of the two polyenes is favoured by a low electrolyte concentration and an acid pH. SPA-S-753 microbicidal activity by contact in vivo, in mice infected with C. neoformans N cells by i.p. route, is more powerful than that of amphotericin B. In protection tests in mice infected with 10 LD50 of C. neoformans K cells, SPA-S-753 action is again more powerful, but not to a significant degree, than that of amphotericin B. In conclusion, both substances showed a reduced in vitro and in vivo activity against C. neoformans in the K morphological form. Nevertheless our results demonstrate that SPA-S-753 exerts an antifungal overall activity that is more effective than that of amphotericin B under similar experimental conditions.

Amphotericin B↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Scanning electron microscopic study on the effect of tunicamycin on Candida albicans.

Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the effect of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation, on the morphology of Candida albicans grown in minimal essential medium Earle's base and supplemented with 0.5% N-acetyl-D-glucosamine to stimulate germ tube induction. Addition of the drug prevented development of germ tubes, development of mycelia from germ tubes and resumption of germ tube growth after drug removal. Inhibited cells increased in size during treatment and subsequently became misshapen and shrivelled with evidence of cytoplasmic spillage.

Candida albicans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Research on antibacterial and antifungal agents. IX--Synthesis and microbiological activity of new N-arylpyrroles.

The synthesis and antiblastomycete activity of new N-arylpyrrole derivatives are reported. Antimicrobial data in comparison with those obtained with pyrrolnitrin and miconazole showed that all tested compounds possess weak or poor activity. The obtained results are discussed on the basis of structure-activity relationships.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The antibacterial activity of a new 3-azinomethyl-rifamycin.

The new 3-azinomethyl-rifamycin, SPA-S-565, was shown to exert an effective antibacterial activity in vitro comparable to that of rifampicin. In fact, the antibacterial activity of SPA-S-565 against numerous Gram-positive cocci belonging to Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species as well as against 20 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was similar to that of rifampicin. In Swiss albino mice intraperitoneally infected with Staphylococcus aureus Oxford strain or Streptococcus pyogenes, the protective activity of SPA-S-565 and rifampicin was quite remarkable, and no significant difference was noted between the two antibiotics. In M. tuberculosis-infected mice treated with the antibacterial agents every seven days, the protection exerted by SPA-S-565 was significantly greater than that exerted by rifampicin.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied