In vitro assessment of the growth and plasma membrane H -ATPase inhibitory activity of ebselen and structurally related selenium- and sulfur-containing compounds in Candida albicans.

Ebselen (EB, compound 1) is an investigational organoselenium compound that reduces fungal growth, in part, through inhibition of the fungal plasma membrane H -ATPase (Pma1p). In the present study, the growth inhibitory activity of EB and of five structural analogs was assessed in a fluconazole (FLU)-resistant strain of Candida albicans (S2). While none of the compounds were more effective than EB at inhibiting fungal growth (IC  ∼ 18 μM), two compounds, compounds 5 and 6, were similar in potency.