Albendazole and antibiotics synergize to deliver short-course anti-Wolbachia curative treatments in preclinical models of filariasis.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 114(45): E9712-E9721, 2017 11 07.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29078351
ABSTRACT
Elimination of filariasis requires a macrofilaricide treatment that can be delivered within a 7-day period. Here we have identified a synergy between the anthelmintic albendazole (ABZ) and drugs depleting the filarial endosymbiont Wolbachia, a proven macrofilaricide target, which reduces treatment from several weeks to 7 days in preclinical models. ABZ had negligible effects on Wolbachia but synergized with minocycline or rifampicin (RIF) to deplete symbionts, block embryogenesis, and stop microfilariae production. Greater than 99% Wolbachia depletion following 7-day combination of RIF+ABZ also led to accelerated macrofilaricidal activity. Thus, we provide preclinical proof-of-concept of treatment shortening using antibiotic+ABZ combinations to deliver anti-Wolbachia sterilizing and macrofilaricidal effects. Our data are of immediate public health importance as RIF+ABZ are registered drugs and thus immediately implementable to deliver a 1-wk macrofilaricide. They also suggest that novel, more potent anti-Wolbachia drugs under development may be capable of delivering further treatment shortening, to days rather than weeks, if combined with benzimidazoles.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Albendazole
/
Wolbachia
/
Filariasis
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article