Abstract
Synthetic peptides with sequences identical to fragments of the constant region of different classes (IgG, IgM, IgA) of antibodies (Fc-peptides) exerted a fungicidal activity in vitro against pathogenic yeasts, such as Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Malassezia furfur, including caspofungin and triazole resistant strains. Alanine-substituted derivatives of fungicidal Fc-peptides, tested to evaluate the critical role of each residue, displayed unaltered, increased or decreased candidacidal activity in vitro. An Fc-peptide, included in all human IgGs, displayed a therapeutic effect against experimental mucosal and systemic candidiasis in mouse models. It is intriguing to hypothesize that some Fc-peptides may influence the antifungal immune response and constitute the basis for devising new antifungal agents.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies / chemistry*
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Antibodies / metabolism
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Antifungal Agents / chemistry
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Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
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Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
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Candida albicans / drug effects
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Candidiasis / drug therapy
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Caspofungin
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Cryptococcus neoformans / drug effects
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Disease Models, Animal
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Drug Resistance, Fungal / drug effects
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Echinocandins / pharmacology
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Erythrocytes / drug effects
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Female
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Hemolysis
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin A / chemistry
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Immunoglobulin A / metabolism
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Immunoglobulin Constant Regions
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Immunoglobulin G / chemistry
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Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
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Immunoglobulin M / chemistry
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Immunoglobulin M / metabolism
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Lipopeptides
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Malassezia / drug effects
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Peptides / chemistry
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Peptides / pharmacology*
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Peptides / therapeutic use
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Triazoles / pharmacology
Substances
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Antibodies
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Antifungal Agents
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Echinocandins
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Immunoglobulin A
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Immunoglobulin Constant Regions
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Immunoglobulin G
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Immunoglobulin M
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Lipopeptides
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Peptides
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Triazoles
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Caspofungin