In vitro susceptibility of berberine combined with antifungal agents against Talaromyces marneffei

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of berberine alone or in combination with conventional antifungal drugs on Talaromyces marneffei yeast. Methods Twenty-one isolates of T. marneffei were assayed. Drug interactions were assessed with the chequerboard technique using the CLSI microdilution method (M27-A3) with minor modifications. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was used to classify drug interactions. Time-kill curves were used to confirm the synergistic interaction. Results Berberine/voriconazole and berberine/amphotericin B combination showed the highest percentage of synergic interaction (71.4%); followed by berberine/itraconazole (66.67%), berberine/fluconazole (47.62%), berberine/caspofungin (52.38%), respectively. Time-kill curves confirmed the synergistic interaction, no antagonistic or indifferent action was observed. Conclusions In vitro berberine could enhances the efficacy of antifungal agents against the yeast form of T. marneffei. The MIC value can be greatly reduced when combined with conventional antifungal drugs. The results indicated berberine might have a potential role in combination with antifungal agents in freating patients infected with T. marneffei.

Key words: Talaromyces marneffei, berberine, antifungal susceptibility, combined therapy

CLC Number:

ZHANG Xinyu, PAN Kaisu, LUO Hong, ZHENG Dongyan, ZHENG Yanqin, CAO Cunwei, LIANG Gang. In vitro susceptibility of berberine combined with antifungal agents against Talaromyces marneffei[J]. Chinese Journal of Mycology, 2021, 16(3): 176-181.

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