Evaluation of Amebicidal and Cysticidal Activities of Antifungal Drug Isavuconazonium Sulfate against Acanthamoeba T4 Strains

Abstract

Acanthamoeba species of amebae are often associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a severe corneal infection. Isavuconazonium sulfate is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. This prodrug is metabolized into the active isavuconazole moiety. Isavuconazole was previously identified to have amebicidal and cysticidal activity against Acanthamoeba T4 strains, but the activity of its prodrug, isavuconazonium sulfate, against trophozoites and cysts remains unknown. Since it is not known if isavuconazonium can be metabolized into isavuconazole in the human eye, we evaluated the activities of isavuconazonium sulfate against trophozoites and cysts of three T4 genotype strains of Acanthamoeba. Isavuconazonium displayed amebicidal activity at nanomolar concentrations as low as 1.4 nM and prevented excystation of cysts at concentrations as low as 136 μM. We also investigated the cysticidal activity of isavuconazonium sulfate in combination with a currently used amebicidal drug polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB). Although combination of isavuconazonium with PHMB did not elicit an obvious synergistic cysticidal activity, the combination did not cause an antagonistic effect on the cysts of Acanthamoeba T4 strains. Collectively, these findings suggest isavuconazonium retains potency against Acanthamoeba T4 strains and could be adapted for Acanthamoeba keratitis treatment.