Methods for treating or preventing brain infections
The invention is directed to methods of treating organ specific infections in a host organism by administering compounds that target host receptors and/or host cellular signaling molecules to prevent a pathogen from infecting the organ. For example, the administration of a compound to prevent a pathogen from crossing the blood-brain barrier to prevent a brain infection.
1. A method for treating a mammal infected by a pathogen selected from the group consisting of Cryptococcus neoformans, E. coli and Group B. Streptococcus to prevent or treat a brain infection consisting essentially of:
administering to the mammal a therapeutic amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of MK571 and montelukast that inhibits a Cys LT receptor cellular signaling molecule thereby preventing an infection by a pathogen selected from the group consisting of Cryptoccous neoformans, E. coli and Group B Streptococcus from crossing a blood-brain barrier in the mammal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic amount is from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Cys LT receptor cellular signaling molecule is selected from the group consisting of LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal in need of treatment for Cryptococcus neoformans has an immuno-compromising disease.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the immune-compromising disease is HIV or AIDS.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject for Cryptococcus neoformans has a CD4+ T cell count of less than 50 per μl.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human.