In vitro activity of polyoxin D and nikkomycin Z against Encephalitozoon cuniculi

Sobottka, I; Bartscht, K; Schafer, P; Weitzel, T; Schottelius, J; Kock, N; Laufs, R

Abstract

Microsporidia of the genus Encephalitozoon are emerging protozoal agents that mainly infect immunocompromised patients with AIDS. At present, disseminated infections with members of the genus Ezzcephalitozoon can only be successfully treated with albendazole. As chitin is a basic component of the microsporidian spore, we evaluated, in vitro, the susceptibility of a human-derived strain of Encephalitozoon cuniculi to polyoxin D and nikkomycin Z, which are known competitive inhibitors of chitin synthetase enzymes. Using an in vitro assay, polyoxin D at 1, 10 and 100 mug/ml significantly reduced the number of parasitic foci on days 6, 9, and 15 post-infection. However, nikkomycin Z revealed a marked but lower reduction in the number of parasitic foci than polyoxin D. A significant reduction of parasitic foci was achieved for nikkomycin Z at 10 and 100 mug/ml up to day 9 post-infection. Polyoxin D was approximately tenfold more effective in our in vitro assay than nikkomycin Z.

Más información

Título según WOS: ID WOS:000175610600012 Not found in local WOS DB
Título de la Revista: PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
Volumen: 88
Número: 5
Editorial: Springer
Fecha de publicación: 2002
Página de inicio: 451
Página final: 453
DOI:

10.1007/s00436-002-0592-9

Notas: ISI