Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis
09:52

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis

Published on: March 9, 2018

Invasive aspergillosis: adjunctive combination therapy

Sonam Ruhil1, Meenakshi Balhara, Sandeep Dhankhar

  • 1Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.

Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
|May 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Invasive aspergillosis treatment is challenging due to high mortality and limited antifungal efficacy. Combination therapy with adjunctive agents offers a promising strategy to improve outcomes for this serious opportunistic infection.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Invasive aspergillosis is a severe opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients, including those with hematological malignancies and transplant recipients.
  • High mortality rates persist due to diagnostic challenges and limited efficacy of current antifungal monotherapies.
  • Existing antifungal drugs target cell wall/membrane, necessitating novel approaches for improved treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on combination therapy for invasive aspergillosis.
  • To assess the potential use of adjunctive agents targeting separate cellular pathways.
  • To evaluate combination therapy as a valuable alternative to monotherapy against Aspergillus spp.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating combination antifungal therapy.
  • Analysis of adjunctive agents targeting distinct cellular pathways in Aspergillus spp.
  • Assessment of treatment efficacy and usability in clinical settings.

Main Results:

  • Combination therapy strategies are being explored to enhance antifungal efficacy.
  • Adjunctive agents targeting different cellular pathways show potential in preclinical and clinical studies.
  • Evidence suggests combination therapy may overcome limitations of monotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Combination therapy represents a promising strategy to improve outcomes for invasive aspergillosis.
  • Further research is needed to optimize combination regimens and establish definitive clinical guidelines.
  • Targeting separate cellular pathways with adjunctive agents could be key to maximizing treatment efficacy.

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism01:27

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Pneumonia IV: Management01:28

Pneumonia IV: Management

The treatment of pneumonia varies based on its severity and the causative pathogen. Here is a structured approach to managing pneumonia, integrating pharmaceutical and supportive care strategies.
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
Endocarditis III: Medical Management01:18

Endocarditis III: Medical Management

Infective endocarditis management involves a multifaceted approach encompassing infection prevention, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological therapy, and surgical management.Infection Prevention:Hand Hygiene: Thorough handwashing is crucial to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene should be performed regularly, especially before and after using the restroom.Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene is essential. It includes brushing teeth immediately after waking up and before bed, flossing...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis V01:28

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Various treatment strategies for Crohn's disease are employed, such as immunomodulatory agents, glucocorticoids, and biologics or anti-TNF therapy. Azathioprine (Imuran), a commonly used immunomodulatory drug for Crohn's disease, is converted in the body to mercaptopurine, which inhibits purine biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Both are utilized in severe cases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease...