Small but mighty: targeted antifungal liposomes of a smaller size are superior in treating cryptococcal meningitis.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CME) is deadly. CME is responsible for 19% of deaths in AIDS patients, and its global mortality is greater than 60%. The recommended CME therapy requires amphotericin B (AmB), a fungicidal drug targeting fungal ergosterol. AmB also binds to the host's cholesterol and is highly toxic. Liposomal AmB (AmB-LLs), relative to deoxycholate-solubilized AmB, has lower toxicity and longer tissue retention, but it requires high doses for treatment and its efficacy in treating CME remains unsatisfactory. To improve the effectiveness of AmB-LLs, we previously developed DectiSomes-targeted AmB-LLs decorated with host dectins that recognize fungal polysaccharides. DectiSomes, relative to untargeted AmB-LLs, modestly improve efficacy against systemic cryptococcosis, in co

SUBMITTER: Pham T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11633377 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature