The overall purpose of this research is to improve the therapy of fungal keratitis by an enhanced understanding of the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of antifungal agents as they relate to the eye. This will be accomplished by the development of the chitin assay as a specific measure of fungal growth within ocular tissues utilizing the highly sensitive technique of gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The test will be compared to a standardized histologic measure of fungal growth and then applied to studies involving the administration of several antifungal agents by different routes. The value of combined treatment with antifungal agents and immunoadjuvant therapy alone and in combination with antifungal agents will be evaluated by this assay and by standard quantitative isolate recovery techniques. The pathophysiology of experimental fungal keratitis will be explored to examine events surrounding attachment to the corneal surface and stromal invasion using histological techniques. The fungal growth enhancing effect of corticosteroids will be investigated to determine the relative roles of inflammatory cell suppression and the depression of eiconasoids and cytokines in the establishment and progression of fungal keratitis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY001621-17
Application #
3256051
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1979-04-01
Project End
1995-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37212
Braun, B R; Head, W S; Wang, M X et al. (2000) Identification and characterization of TUP1-regulated genes in Candida albicans. Genetics 156:31-44
Wang, M X; Shen, D J; Liu, J C et al. (2000) Recurrent fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis. Cornea 19:558-60
O'Day, D M; Head, W S (2000) Advances in the management of keratomycosis and Acanthamoeba keratitis. Cornea 19:681-7
O'Day, D M; Head, W S; Csank, C et al. (2000) Differences in virulence between two Candida albicans strains in experimental keratitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:1116-21
O'Day, D M; Head, W S; Robinson, R D et al. (1999) Contact lens-induced infection--a new model of Candida albicans keratitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 40:1607-11
Chang, M S; Tsai, J C; Yang, R et al. (1997) Induction of rabbit cyclooxygenase 2 in the anterior uvea following glaucoma filtration surgery. Curr Eye Res 16:1147-51
Lamps, C A; Oeltmann, T N; Collins Jr, M J et al. (1995) Development of a chitin assay for the quantification of fungus. Curr Eye Res 14:637-41
Klippenstein, K; O'Day, D M; Robinson, R D et al. (1993) The qualitative evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of subconjunctivally injected antifungal agents in rabbits. Cornea 12:512-6
O'Day, D M; Head, W S; Robinson, R D et al. (1992) The evaluation of therapeutic responses in experimental keratomycosis. Curr Eye Res 11:35-44
O'Day, D M; Head, W S; Robinson, R D et al. (1992) Ocular pharmacokinetics of saperconazole in rabbits. A potential agent against keratomycoses. Arch Ophthalmol 110:550-4

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