An amphotericin B-based drug for treating experimental Leishmania major infection

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2010 Nov;104(11):749-50. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.08.010. Epub 2010 Sep 17.

Abstract

There is an urgent need for a non-toxic and low-cost treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis. We synthesised and tested in vivo an amphotericin B-poly(methacrylic acid) drug (AmB-PMA) that had previously shown in-vitro activity against Leishmania major and L. donovani parasites. Efficacy was determined using L. major footpad infection in 30 non-healing BALB/c mice. Three subcutaneous injections of AmB-PMA at days 7, 14 and 21 post-infection resulted in a reduction of ∼80% in lesion size by day 35 post-infection in 18 treated mice compared with six untreated controls, and complete healing of lesions by day 50 with no lesion relapse seen at day 80 post-infection in six treated mice. Healing was associated with decreased IL-10 (P=0.002) and increased IFN-γ (P=0.005) in the footpad.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Leishmania major / drug effects*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / drug therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Amphotericin B