Synergistic antifungal interaction of N-(butylcarbamothioyl) benzamide and amphotericin B against Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract

IntroductionCryptococcus neoformans is one of the leading causes of invasive fungal infections worldwide. Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is the main challenge of antifungal therapy due to high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This can be partly attributed to the lack of specific diagnosis difficulty accessing treatment, antifungal resistance and antifungal toxicity.MethodsIn the present study, the effect of the synthetic thiourea derivative N-(butylcarbamothioyl) benzamide (BTU-01), alone and combined with amphotericin B (AmB), was evaluated in planktonic and sessile (biofilm) cells of C. neoformans.ResultsBTU-01 alone exhibited a fungistatic activity with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 31.25 to 62.5 μg/mL for planktonic cells; and sessile MICs ranging from 125.0 to 1000.0 μg/mL. BTU-01 caused a concentration-dependent inhibitory activity on cryptococcal urease and did not interfere with plasma membrane fluidity. Molecular docking was performed on Canavalia ensiformis urease, and BTU-01 showed relevant interactions with the enzyme. The combination of BTU-01 and AmB exhibited synergistic fungicidal activity against planktonic and sessile cells of C. neoformans. Microscopic analysis of C. neoformans treated with BTU-01, alone or combined with AmB, revealed a reduction in cell and capsule sizes, changes in the morphology of planktonic cells; a significant decrease in the number of cells within the biofilm; and absence of exopolymeric matrix surrounding the sessile cells. Neither hemolytic activity nor cytotoxicity to mammalian cells was detected for BTU-01, alone or combined with AmB, at concentrations that exhibited antifungal activity. BTU-01 also displayed drug-likeness properties.ConclusionThese results indicate the potential of BTU-01, for the development of new strategies for controlling C. neoformans infections.

Novel combinatorial approach: Harnessing HIV protease inhibitors to enhance amphotericin B’s antifungal efficacy in cryptococcosis

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Antiprotozoal Activity of Benzoylthiourea Derivatives against Trypanosoma cruzi: Insights into Mechanism of Action

“…In this context, thiourea is a relevant class of sulfur-bearing substances with notable synthetic and biological versatility. Thiourea derivatives have shown promising pharmaceutical potential due to their diverse pharmacological activities, including antitumoral [ 11 ], antioxidant [ 12 ], antidiabetic [ 13 ], and antimicrobial [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ] properties. Notably, the thiourea moiety has been identified in several compounds with potential for the development of new therapeutic compounds to treat diseases caused by trypanosomatid species [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

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