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Improving treatment of chromoblastomycosis: the potential of COP1T-HA and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy against Fonsecaea monophora in vitro

Summary

Chromoblastomycosis is a stubborn skin fungal infection that is difficult to treat with current medications and often comes back after treatment. Researchers tested a new treatment using a special light-activated compound called COP1T-HA combined with blue light, which successfully killed the fungus in laboratory tests. The treatment worked quickly and at low doses, showing promise as a potential new therapy for this challenging infection.

Background

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic granulomatous skin disease caused by dematiaceous fungi, with Fonsecaea monophora being the main pathogenic fungus in southern China. Current treatment options include systemic antifungal drugs, cryotherapy, and surgical excision, but complete cure remains challenging with high recurrence rates. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) shows promise as an alternative treatment for CBM.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of COP1T-HA, a porous organic cage photosensitizer, and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy against Fonsecaea spp. in vitro. The study aimed to assess both time-dependent and concentration-dependent antifungal activities of COP1T-HA aPDT.

Results

COP1T-HA aPDT significantly inhibited fungal growth in a time-dependent manner, with effective inhibition within 5 minutes of treatment. At 100 μg/mL concentration with 5 minutes exposure, COP1T-HA effectively inhibited nearly all three Fonsecaea species tested. Morphological observations showed thinning of fungal hyphae, blurring of septa, mycelial shrinkage, and conidia shedding in treated samples.

Conclusion

COP1T-HA demonstrated significant fungicidal effects against Fonsecaea spp. in vitro with concentration-dependent antifungal activity. While aPDT holds promise as a potential therapeutic approach for managing CBM, further research is needed to explore nanoplatform-based photosensitizers for improved efficacy both in vitro and in vivo.
  • Published in:Mycology,
  • Study Type:In vitro experimental study,
  • Source: 10.1080/21501203.2024.2383640; PMID: 40083402; PMCID: PMC11899202
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