Host-Pathogen Interactions in Coccidioidomycosis: Prognostic Clues and Opportunities for Novel Therapies.

Host-Pathogen Interactions in Coccidioidomycosis: Prognostic Clues and Opportunities for Novel Therapies. Clin Ther. 2019 Oct 21;: Authors: Krogstad P, Johnson R, Garcia-Lloret MI, Heidari A, Butte MJ Abstract PURPOSE: Coccidioidomycosis (CM) is a systemic fungal disease caused by the dimorphic fungi Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. In its endemic areas of the United States, CM is growing as a public health challenge with a marked increase in incidence in the last 15 years. Although Coccidioides infection is asymptomatic in most cases, symptomatic pulmonary disease occurs in ~40% and disseminated coccidioidomycosis (DCM) occurs in ~1% of previously healthy children and adults. DCM is markedly more common in immunocompromised people, who often experience life-threatening disease despite use of antifungal medications. Although options for antifungal therapy have improved, lifelong therapy is needed for those who develop coccidioidal meningitis. The purpose of this article was to review the state of antifungal therapy and recent studies of host-pathogen interactions in CM in light of advances in immunomodulatory therapy. METHODS: The study included a review of PubMed and abstracts of the Coccidioidomycosis Study Group (years 2000-2019). FINDINGS: Current therapy for CM relies upon azole and polyene antifungal agents. Murine models and studies of DCM in patients with monogenic primary immunodeficiency stat...
Source: Clinical Therapeutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Clin Ther Source Type: research