Brilacidin, a host defense peptide mimetic, potentiates ibrexafungerp antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.

Dos Reis TF, Diehl C, Pinzan CF, de Castro PA, Goldman GH

Microbiology spectrum9 Jul 2024Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID38980033PMCIDPMC11302226DOI10.1128/spectrum.00888-24PepBankPUB-38980033

Summary

Aspergillus fumigatus is the primary etiological agent of aspergillosis. Here, we show that the host defense peptide mimetic brilacidin (BRI) can potentiate ibrexafungerp (IBX) against clinical isolates of A. fumigatus. BRI + IBX can inhibit the growth of A. fumigatus voriconazole- and caspofungin-resistant clinical isolates. BRI is a small molecule host defense peptide mimetic that has previously exhibited broad-spectrum immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory activity against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In vitro, combination of BRI + IBX plays a fungicidal role, increases the fungal cell permeability, decreases the fungal survival in the presence of A549 epithelial cells, and appears as a promising antifungal therapeutic alternative against A. fumigatus.ImportanceInvasive fungal infections have a high mortality rate causing more deaths annually than tuberculosis or malaria. Aspergillus fumigatus causes a series of distinct invasive fungal infections have a high mortality rate causing more deaths annually than tuberculosis or malaria. A. fumigatus causes a spectrum of distinct clinical entities named aspergillosis, which the most severe form is the invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. There are few therapeutic options for treating aspergillosis and searching for new antifungal agents against this disease is very important. Here, we present brilacidin (BRI) as a synergizer o fibrexafungerp (IBX) against A. fumigatus. BRI is a small molecule host defense peptide mimetic that has previously exhibited broad-spectrum immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory activity against bacteria and viruses. We propose the combination of BRI and IBX as a new antifungal combinatorial treatment against aspergillosis.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone5

In this study, Brilacidin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Brilacidin.

01LabNot a test of Brilacidin aloneIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
In A. fumigatus laboratory tests, brilacidin with ibrexafungerp potentiated ibrexafungerp activity against clinical isolates.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, brilacidin with ibrexafungerp enhanced ibrexafungerp activity against Aspergillus fumigatus clinical isolates.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
IncreaseIbrexafungerp potentiation
Study
Aspergillus fumigatusn: not reported in source
Aspergillus fumigatus clinical isolates
Outcome group
Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection
Source sentences
Summary
Here, we show that the host defense peptide mimetic brilacidin (BRI) can potentiate ibrexafungerp (IBX) against clinical isolates of A. fumigatus.
In this study, Brilacidin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Brilacidin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3898003301
02LabNot a test of Brilacidin aloneIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
In laboratory tests, brilacidin plus ibrexafungerp inhibited growth of voriconazole- and caspofungin-resistant A. fumigatus clinical isolates.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, brilacidin plus ibrexafungerp inhibited growth of drug-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus clinical isolates.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
DecreaseResistant-isolate growth inhibition
Study
Aspergillus fumigatusn: not reported in source
Aspergillus fumigatus clinical isolates
Outcome group
Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection
Source sentences
Summary
BRI + IBX can inhibit the growth of A. fumigatus voriconazole- and caspofungin-resistant clinical isolates.
In this study, Brilacidin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Brilacidin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3898003302
03LabNot a test of Brilacidin aloneIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
In A. fumigatus laboratory tests, brilacidin plus ibrexafungerp showed fungicidal activity.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, brilacidin plus ibrexafungerp killed Aspergillus fumigatus.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
Not applicableFungicidal activity
Study
Aspergillus fumigatusn: not reported in source
Aspergillus fumigatus clinical isolates
Outcome group
Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection
Source sentences
Summary
In vitro, combination of BRI + IBX plays a fungicidal role, increases the fungal cell permeability, decreases the fungal survival in the presence of A549 epithelial cells, and appears as a promising antifungal therapeutic alternative against A. fumigatus.
In this study, Brilacidin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Brilacidin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3898003303
04LabNot a test of Brilacidin aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In A. fumigatus laboratory tests, brilacidin plus ibrexafungerp increased fungal cell permeability.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, brilacidin plus ibrexafungerp increased Aspergillus fumigatus cell permeability.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
IncreaseFungal cell permeability
Study
Aspergillus fumigatusn: not reported in source
Aspergillus fumigatus clinical isolates
Outcome group
Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection
Source sentences
Summary
In vitro, combination of BRI + IBX plays a fungicidal role, increases the fungal cell permeability, decreases the fungal survival in the presence of A549 epithelial cells, and appears as a promising antifungal therapeutic alternative against A. fumigatus.
In this study, Brilacidin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Brilacidin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3898003304
05LabNot a test of Brilacidin aloneIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
In laboratory tests with A549 epithelial cells, brilacidin plus ibrexafungerp decreased A. fumigatus survival.
In plain wordsIn lab tests with epithelial cells, brilacidin plus ibrexafungerp decreased Aspergillus fumigatus survival.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
DecreaseFungal survival with epithelial cells
Study
Aspergillus fumigatusn: not reported in source
Aspergillus fumigatus with A549 epithelial cells
Outcome group
Infection and antimicrobial activity · Infection
Source sentences
Summary
In vitro, combination of BRI + IBX plays a fungicidal role, increases the fungal cell permeability, decreases the fungal survival in the presence of A549 epithelial cells, and appears as a promising antifungal therapeutic alternative against A. fumigatus.
In this study, Brilacidin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Brilacidin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3898003305

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Keywords

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.