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The development of the fetal immune system during pregnancy is a well-orchestrated process with important consequences for fetal and neonatal health, but prenatal factors that affect immune activation are poorly understood. We hypothesized that chronic fetal inflammation may lead to alterations in development of the fetal immune system. To test this hypothesis, we examined neonates with gastroschisis, a congenital abdominal wall defect that leads to exposure of the fetal intestines to amniotic fluid, with resultant intestinal inflammation. We determined that patients with gastroschisis show high systemic levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as eotaxin, as well as earlier activation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) effector and memory T cells in the cord blood compared with controls. Additionally, increased numbers of T cells and eosinophils infiltrate the serosa and mucosa of the inflamed intestines. Using a mouse model of gastroschisis, we observed higher numbers of eosinophils and both type 2 and type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2 and ILC3), specifically in the portion of organs exposed to the amniotic fluid. Given the role of IL-5 produced by ILC2 in regulating eosinophil development and survival, we determined that maternal or fetal administration of the anti-IL-5 neutralizing Ab, or a depleting Ab against ILCs, can both effectively reduce intestinal eosinophilia. Thus, a congenital anomaly causing chronic inflammation can alter the composition of circulating and tissue-resident fetal immune cells. Given the high rate of prenatal and neonatal complications in these patients, such changes have clinical significance and might become targets for fetal therapy.

Treatment options for Exserohilum rostratum meningoencephalitis and other causes of phaeohyphomycosis of the central nervous system (CNS) are limited, while mortality and morbidity remain high. We therefore evaluated isavuconazole, a new antifungal triazole in comparison to liposomal amphotericin B (LAMB), in vitro and in the rabbit model of Exserohilum rostratum meningoencephalitis. We hypothesized that isavuconazole alone or in combination with LAMB or micafungin may be alternative options for treatment of CNS phaeohyphomycosis. We therefore investigated the in vitro antifungal activity of isavuconazole alone or in combination with amphotericin B deoxycholate (DAMB) or micafungin and efficacy of treatment with isavuconazole and LAMB in a rabbit model of experimental E. rostratum meningoencephalitis. Combination checkerboard plates were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations, minimal lethal concentrations, fractional inhibitory concentration indices, and Bliss surface analysis of isavuconazole and amphotericin B deoxycholate (DAMB), either alone or in combination. As there were no in vitro synergistic or antagonistic interactions for either combination of antifungal agents against the E. rostratum isolates, in vivo studies were conducted with isavuconazole and LAMB as monotherapies. Rabbits were divided in following groups: treated with isavuconazole at 60 mg/kg/d (ISAV60), LAMB at 5.0 (LAMB5), 7.5 (LAMB7.5), and 10 mg/kg/d (LAMB10), and untreated controls (UC). In ISAV60-, LAMB5-, LAMB7.5-, and LAMB10-treated rabbits, significant reductions of fungal burden of E. rostratum in cerebral, cerebellar, and spinal cord tissues (P  < 0.01) were demonstrated in comparison to those of UC. These antifungal effects correlated with significant reduction of CSF (1→3)-β-D-glucan levels vs UC (P  < 0.05). These data establish new translational insights into treatment of CNS phaeohyphomycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combination therapy may be an alternative therapeutic approach for difficult-to-treat Candida infections with the aim of increasing efficacy of antifungal therapy. Whether isavuconazole, an extended-spectrum triazole, possesses synergistic activity in combination therapy with echinocandins or polyenes for the treatment of invasive candidiasis has not been studied. We used Bliss independence drug interaction analysis and timekill assays to examine the in vitro interactions of isavuconazole with amphotericin B or micafungin, an echinocandin, against strains of Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei. The Bliss independence-based drug interactions modeling showed that the combination of isavuconazole and micafungin resulted in synergistic interactions against C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei. The degree of synergy ranged from 1.8% to 16.7% (mean %ΔE value) with the highest synergy occurring against C. albicans (ΣSYN% = 8.8%110%). Time-kill assays showed that the isavuconazole-micafungin combination demonstrated concentrationdepended synergy against C. albicans and C. parapsilosis. The combined interaction by Bliss analysis between isavuconazole and amphotericin B was indifferent for C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis while for C. glabrata was antagonistic (-2% to -6%) and C. krusei synergistic (3.4% to 7%). The combination of isavuconazole-amphotericin B by time-kill assay was antagonistic against C. krusei and C. glabrata. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that combinations of isavuconazole andmicafungin are synergistic against Candida spp., while those of isavuconazole and amphotericin B are indifferent in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether isavuconazole, an extended-spectrum triazole, possesses synergistic activity in combination therapy with echinocandins or amphotericin B for the treatment of invasive molds infections has not been studied. Our in vitro combination studies showed that isavuconazole and micafungin are synergistically active against Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, and Cunninghamella bertholletiae. These results suggest that isavuconazole, in combination with micafungin, may have a role in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and warrants further investigation., (Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)