Immunomodulatory effects of antimicrobial agents. Part II: antiparasitic and antifungal agents

Abstract

Antiparasitic and antifungal drugs have not received the same high level of recognition as antimicrobial drugs. They are comparatively few in number, the great majority of them were developed more than a century ago, they have many adverse side effects and are subject to the emergence of drug resistance. The second part of the review, devoted to the immunomodulatory effects of antimicrobial agents, addresses the interference of antiparasitic and antifungal agents with the host natural defenses and the deleterious or beneficial consequences of these properties.

Immunomodulation and infection: back to the future

“…Bourinbaiar et al report the earliest recorded reference related to immunotherapy in TB and discuss the clinical experience from modern trials in this context [10]. I have presented how anti microbial drugs can modulate the host immune response, focusing on two aspects, immune (toxic or immunotoxic) adverse events and direct modulation of immune functions [11,12]. Potential clinical relevance has been demonstrated, particularly in the case of cyclines, macrolides, antimalarials, and new avenues are in the limelight.…”

Immune modulatory strategies: a playground with a swing and a seesaw

“…Prior inflammatory events can modulate immunity to subsequent infections and host genetics and (in particular MHC haplotypes) can dictate whether or not the host survives. Even treatments for inflammatory diseases may modify aspects of innate or adaptive immunity [1,2]. This issue of Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy contains reviews and debates detailing recent developments in immune modulation in all of these areas.…”