T. Walsh, N. Giri
2005
Citations
2
Influential Citations
33
Citations
Journal
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Abstract
Pradimicins are a new class of antifungal compounds currently undergoing preclinical and early phase I clinical trials. The pradimicin structure is characterized by an aglycone of dihydrobenzo (alpha) naphthacenequinone with substitutions by a D-amino acid and hexose sugar. Pradimicins prossess a novel mechanism of action consisting of a specific binding recognition to terminal D-mannosides of the cell wall ofCandida albicans, resulting in the formation of a ternary complex consisting of D-mannoside, pradimicin, and calcium that leads to disruption of the integrity of the fungal cell membrane. Pradimicin in the form of BMS-181184 has broad-spectrum in vitro antifungal activity againstCandida spp.,Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus spp., dematiaceous molds, and the Zygomycetes.Fusarium spp. are comparatively resistant to high concentrations of pradimicin. Initial in vivo studies indicate that pradimicins have antifungal activity against experimental murine disseminated candidiasis and disseminated aspergillosis. Early studies indicate an excellent therapeutic index with no major end-organ toxicity. Pradimicins warrant further investigation for treatment of opportunistic mycoses in immunocompromised hosts.