Quantitative PCR assay to measure Aspergillus fumigatus burden in a murine model of disseminated aspergillosis: demonstration of efficacy of caspofungin acetate.

ABSTRACT: Caspofungin acetate (MK-0991) is an antifungal antibiotic that inhibits the synthesis of 1,3-beta-D-glucan, an essential component of the cell wall of several pathogenic fungi. Caspofungin acetate was recently approved for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in patients who are refractory to or intolerant of other therapies. The activity of 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthesis inhibitors against Aspergillus fumigatus has been evaluated in animal models of pulmonary or disseminated disease by using prolongation of survival or reduction in tissue CFU as assay endpoints. Because these methods suffer from limited sensitivity or poor correlation with fungal growth, we have developed a quantitative PCR-based (qPCR) (TaqMan) assay to monitor disease progression and measure drug efficacy. A. fumigatus

SUBMITTER: Bowman JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC90856 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature