Modulation of key antioxidant enzymes and cell cycle arrest as a possible antifungal mode of action of cinnamaldehyde based azole derivative.

Although Candida auris was only identified in the year 2009, it has rapidly spread in more than a dozen countries and is proving more deadly and notorious. In our previous studies, we reported on the tremendous antifungal potential of a series of cinnamaldehyde based azole derivatives against fluconazole susceptible and resistant clinical isolates of Candida albicans and identified a promising lead molecule (6f). In this study, the effect of this compound on the viability and physiology of cell death in C. auris was assessed. The impact of compound 6f on cell cycle, oxidative stress enzymes and transcriptional profile of genes encoding these oxidative stress enzymes was also analysed. The results confirmed that compound 6f possessed the minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.98 µg/mL and prevented the growth and caused death in yeast cells. Furthermore, the compound at subinhibitory and inhibitory concentrations blocked the cell cycle in C. auris at S phase and G2/M phase and inhibited expression as well as activity of antioxidant enzymes that resulted in production of reactive oxygen species. Altogether, compound 6f showed potential antifungal activity against a virulent strain of C. auris and was able to induce oxidative stress and arrested cell cycle in C. auris and therefore, it can be considered as a strong candidate for antifungal drug development against C. auris.