Prophylactic effect of FK463, a novel antifungal lipopeptide, against Pneumocystis carinii infection in mice.

The prophylactic effect of FK463, a new water-soluble echinocandin-like lipopeptide with inhibitory activity against 1, 3-beta-D-glucan synthase, against Pneumocystis carinii infection was investigated with the severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model. Treatment with FK463, pentamidine, and saline only was performed for 6 weeks from the day after the SCID mice were inoculated intranasally with infected lung homogenates. FK463 at 0.2 or 1.0 mg/kg of body weight, pentamidine at 4 mg/kg, or saline was subcutaneously administered daily into the backs of the SCID mice. The effects of the drugs were evaluated by detection of P. carinii cysts in mouse lung homogenates by toluidine blue O staining, lung histology, and PCR amplification of a P. carinii-specific DNA fragment from the lungs. P. carinii cysts were detected in the lungs of all mice administered saline. In contrast, no cysts were detected in mice administered both doses of FK463 and pentamidine. A specific DNA fragment was amplified from all mice administered saline and at least half or more of the mice administered FK463 and pentamidine. These results indicate that FK463 acts on cyst wall formation but not on trophozoite proliferation and is extremely effective in preventing P. carinii-associated pneumonia. These results suggest that FK463 is potentially useful as a prophylactic agent against P. carinii infection.