Treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia with 1,3-beta-glucan synthesis inhibitors.

Schmatz, D M; Romancheck, M A; Pittarelli, L A; Schwartz, R E; Fromtling, R A; Nollstadt, K H; Vanmiddlesworth, F L; Wilson, K E et al. · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 1990

other · Level V

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Abstract

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a major cause of death in AIDS patients in the United States. The presently available treatments have limited use due to a high incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a safer method for treatment and prevention of this disease. Recent evidence has suggested that P. carinii is related to fungi and that the wall of the cyst form contains 1,3-beta-glucan as a major constituent. Based on this, several proposed 1,3-beta-glucan synthesis inhibitors were evaluated for their ability to control P. carinii pneumonia in vivo. Compounds from two classes of 1,3-beta-glucan synthesis inhibitors, the echinocandins and papulacandins, were found to be effective against P. carinii.

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