Novel broad spectrum antimicrobial is an effective medical sterilant and therapeutic option for treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea Medical II

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 13/09/2016 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 08:06

Venue: Hall C3

First Author: : R.Metzinger USA

Co Author(s): :    S. Killeen   R. Reimers   C. Roy              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Acanthamoeba keratitis is an emerging serious ophthalmic disease in which free amoebae invade and infect the cornea of the eye. This condition can result in visual impairment or in severe cases, permanent blindness. Currently the only therapeutic option to treating active infection, a compounded biguanide-based formulation, is hypertonic, overtly toxic to the eye, and only achieves marginal efficacy in resolving Acanthamoeba-associated infection. A chemically-distinct novel broad spectrum therapeutic has recently been developed to specifically treat hard-to-kill infectious agents such as protozoa without producing toxic effects in the target tissue.

Setting:

1Department of Ophthalmology Department of Microbiology Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 2Asepticys Inc., New Orleans, LA 3Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 4Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA

Methods:

in vitro antimicrobial stand-alone assays were performed across a wide microbial spectrum (zero colonies) against >10E+09 CFU challenge against each of the following: gm− (Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcesens), gm+ (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and various fungi (Fusarium solani, Candida albicans) in less than ten minute contact time with individual challenge inoculum. In vitro testing against multiple Acanthamoeba species is being performed

Results:

Results of in vitro antimicrobial stand-alone assays showed complete sterilization across a wide microbial spectrum (zero colonies) against >10E+09 CFU challenge against each of the following: gm− (Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcesens), gm+ (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and various fungi (Fusarium solani, Candida albicans) in less than ten minute contact time with individual challenge innoculum. Acanthamoeba testing is being performed

Conclusions:

This new formulation, which is chemically distinct from biguanide-based organic salts, holds the promise of providing a novel therapeutic option for resolution and cure of Acanthamoeba keratitis without the harmful adverse effects of unwanted tissue toxicity exerted by the current standard of care.

Financial Disclosure:

... has significant investment interest in a company producing, developing or supplying product or procedure presented, ... receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented