In Vitro Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of AgPWO Composites against Species.

Fungal infections pose a serious threat to human health. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are metal-oxygen clusters with potential application in the control of microbial infections. Herein, the AgPWO composites have been synthesized and verified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The antifungal activities of AgPWO were screened in 19 species strains through the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the microdilution checkerboard technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of AgPWO are 2~32 μg/mL to the species. The MIC value of AgPWO to resistant clinical isolates HL963 is 8 μg/mL, which is lower than the positive control, fluconazole (FLC). The mechanism against HL963 results show that AgPWO can decrease the ergosterol content. The expressions of ERG1, ERG7, and ERG11, which impact on the synthesis of ergosterol, are all prominently upregulated by AgPWO. It indicates that AgPWO is a candidate in the development of new antifungal agents.