Combinatory Treatment with Oseltamivir and Itraconazole Targeting Both Virus and Host Factors in Influenza A Virus Infection

Influenza virus infections and their associated morbidity and mortality are a major threat to global health. Vaccination is an effective influenza prevention measure; however, the effectiveness is challenged by the rapid changes in the influenza virus genome leading to viral adaptation. Emerging vir...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sebastian Schloer, Jonas Goretzko, Stephan Pleschka, Stephan Ludwig, Ursula Rescher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/7/703
_version_ 1797563804876275712
author Sebastian Schloer
Jonas Goretzko
Stephan Pleschka
Stephan Ludwig
Ursula Rescher
author_facet Sebastian Schloer
Jonas Goretzko
Stephan Pleschka
Stephan Ludwig
Ursula Rescher
author_sort Sebastian Schloer
collection DOAJ
description Influenza virus infections and their associated morbidity and mortality are a major threat to global health. Vaccination is an effective influenza prevention measure; however, the effectiveness is challenged by the rapid changes in the influenza virus genome leading to viral adaptation. Emerging viral resistance to the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir limits the treatment of acute influenza infections. Targeting influenza virus-host interactions is a new and emerging field, and therapies based on the combination of virus- and host-directed drugs might significantly improve treatment success. We therefore assessed the combined treatment with oseltamivir and the repurposed antifungal drug itraconazole on infection of polarized broncho-epithelial Calu-3 cells with pdm09 or Panama influenza A virus strains. We detected significantly stronger antiviral activities in the combined treatment compared to monotherapy with oseltamivir, permitting lower concentrations of the drug than required for the single treatments. Bliss independence drug interaction analysis indicated that both drugs acted independently of each other. The additional antiviral effect of itraconazole might safeguard patients infected with influenza virus strains with heightened oseltamivir resistance.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T18:48:21Z
format Article
id doaj.art-62f9580c45304b9bbf68cacee7b704da
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1999-4915
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T18:48:21Z
publishDate 2020-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Viruses
spelling doaj.art-62f9580c45304b9bbf68cacee7b704da2023-11-20T05:20:49ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152020-06-0112770310.3390/v12070703Combinatory Treatment with Oseltamivir and Itraconazole Targeting Both Virus and Host Factors in Influenza A Virus InfectionSebastian Schloer0Jonas Goretzko1Stephan Pleschka2Stephan Ludwig3Ursula Rescher4Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation and “Cells in Motion” Interfaculty Centre, University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, GermanyInstitute of Medical Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation and “Cells in Motion” Interfaculty Centre, University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, GermanyInstitute of Medical Virology, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Schuberststr. 81, D-35392 Gießen, GermanyInstitute of Virology (IVM) and “Cells in Motion” Interfaculty Centre, University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, GermanyInstitute of Medical Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation and “Cells in Motion” Interfaculty Centre, University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, GermanyInfluenza virus infections and their associated morbidity and mortality are a major threat to global health. Vaccination is an effective influenza prevention measure; however, the effectiveness is challenged by the rapid changes in the influenza virus genome leading to viral adaptation. Emerging viral resistance to the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir limits the treatment of acute influenza infections. Targeting influenza virus-host interactions is a new and emerging field, and therapies based on the combination of virus- and host-directed drugs might significantly improve treatment success. We therefore assessed the combined treatment with oseltamivir and the repurposed antifungal drug itraconazole on infection of polarized broncho-epithelial Calu-3 cells with pdm09 or Panama influenza A virus strains. We detected significantly stronger antiviral activities in the combined treatment compared to monotherapy with oseltamivir, permitting lower concentrations of the drug than required for the single treatments. Bliss independence drug interaction analysis indicated that both drugs acted independently of each other. The additional antiviral effect of itraconazole might safeguard patients infected with influenza virus strains with heightened oseltamivir resistance.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/7/703influenza A virusoseltamiviritraconazolehost-directed therapydrug repurposingcombination therapy
spellingShingle Sebastian Schloer
Jonas Goretzko
Stephan Pleschka
Stephan Ludwig
Ursula Rescher
Combinatory Treatment with Oseltamivir and Itraconazole Targeting Both Virus and Host Factors in Influenza A Virus Infection
Viruses
influenza A virus
oseltamivir
itraconazole
host-directed therapy
drug repurposing
combination therapy
title Combinatory Treatment with Oseltamivir and Itraconazole Targeting Both Virus and Host Factors in Influenza A Virus Infection
title_full Combinatory Treatment with Oseltamivir and Itraconazole Targeting Both Virus and Host Factors in Influenza A Virus Infection
title_fullStr Combinatory Treatment with Oseltamivir and Itraconazole Targeting Both Virus and Host Factors in Influenza A Virus Infection
title_full_unstemmed Combinatory Treatment with Oseltamivir and Itraconazole Targeting Both Virus and Host Factors in Influenza A Virus Infection
title_short Combinatory Treatment with Oseltamivir and Itraconazole Targeting Both Virus and Host Factors in Influenza A Virus Infection
title_sort combinatory treatment with oseltamivir and itraconazole targeting both virus and host factors in influenza a virus infection
topic influenza A virus
oseltamivir
itraconazole
host-directed therapy
drug repurposing
combination therapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/7/703
work_keys_str_mv AT sebastianschloer combinatorytreatmentwithoseltamiviranditraconazoletargetingbothvirusandhostfactorsininfluenzaavirusinfection
AT jonasgoretzko combinatorytreatmentwithoseltamiviranditraconazoletargetingbothvirusandhostfactorsininfluenzaavirusinfection
AT stephanpleschka combinatorytreatmentwithoseltamiviranditraconazoletargetingbothvirusandhostfactorsininfluenzaavirusinfection
AT stephanludwig combinatorytreatmentwithoseltamiviranditraconazoletargetingbothvirusandhostfactorsininfluenzaavirusinfection
AT ursularescher combinatorytreatmentwithoseltamiviranditraconazoletargetingbothvirusandhostfactorsininfluenzaavirusinfection