Enhancing the efficacy of topical antifungal nail medicines, by treating the individual fungus as well as the community of micro-organisms

Sudaxshina Murdan (primary)
School of Pharmacy
University College London
Sanjib Bhakta (secondary)
Biological Sciences
Birkbeck

Abstract

Fungally-infected nails are colonised by a complex microbial community, rather than an individual causative fungus.  We therefore hypothesise that medicines should be prepared and their efficacies tested against such microbial communities (rather than against one fungus).  In this project, the student will examine onychomycotic nails to identify the most common types of microbial communities.  They will then develop assays which will enable the measurement of anti-microbial susceptibility of individual, as well as communities, of micro-organisms.  Finally, the student will prepare medicine formulations using mixtures of appropriate anti-microbial agents and assess their efficacies against onychomycotic nails.


References

  1. Thomas, J., et al. Toenail onychomycosis: an important global disease burden J. Clin. Pharm. Ther., 2010. 35, 5, 497-519.
  2. Lubeck, D.P., et al. Quality-of-life of persons with onychomycosis. Qual. Life Res., 1993. 2, 5, 341-348
  3. Jublia Patient leaflet. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/203567s000lbl.pdf
  4. Kerydin Patient leaflet http://www.anacor.com/pdf/Kerydin%20labeling.pdf
  5. Rizi, K., et al., Development of a rapid, reliable and quantitative method – “SPOTi” for testing antifungal efficacy. J. Microbiol. Methods, 2015. 117, 36-40

BBSRC Area
Genes, development and STEM* approaches to biology
Area of Biology
Microbiology
Techniques & Approaches
ChemistryGeneticsImage ProcessingMathematics / StatisticsMicroscopy / Electrophysiology