Observation of a bone invasion model of Aspergillus fumigatus in vitro and analysis of the antifungal susceptibility

Abstract

Background Recently, the prevalence of invasive fungal infections has been on the rise, and one of the prevalent symptoms frequently observed is bone deterioration and bone loss. Materials and Methods This study successfully established a bone invasion model of A. fumigatus in vitro using a 24-well plate. Pathological analysis was then employed to observe the structure and distinctive features of the invading fungal elements within the bone invasion model.Meanwhile, the antifungal effects of itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and amphotericin B were evaluated. Results The pathological findings showed that in the experimental group, fungal spores and hyphae invaded the bone tissue or were observed growing in the vicinity of the bone edge tissues, as indicated by both HE and PAS staining. In contrast, no fungal elements were observed in the control group, indicating that the bone invasion model of A. fumigatus in vitro was successfully constructed. Furthermore, the findings from the antifungal sensitivity test demonstrated that the lowest effective concentrations of antifungal drugs against the bone invasion model were as follows: 4 μg/ml for itraconazole, 0.5 μg/ml for voriconazole, 2 μg/ml for posaconazole, and 2 μg/ml for amphotericin B. Discussion The successful construction of the bone invasion model of A. fumigatus has provided a solid basis for future investigations into the mechanisms underlying A. fumigatus bone invasion and the study of its virulence factors. Utilizing bone models is of utmost importance in advancing the development of novel antifungal treatment approaches, as well as in effectively preventing and treating fungal bone invasion and osteolytic diseases.