Exploring the Arsenal of Novel Antifungal Drug Targets for Combating Fungal Infections.

Curr Pharm Biotechnol

Department of Pharmacology, Parul Institute of Pharmacy, Parul University, Limda, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

Published: September 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • *There is increasing concern over antifungal resistance, as more than 10% of Candida bloodstream cases show resistance to common treatments like fluconazole, highlighting the need for more accessible and affordable new antifungal medications.
  • *Fungi are adaptable organisms that absorb nutrients through their filamentous hyphae, utilizing complex metabolic pathways and displaying both sexual and asexual reproduction, which enhances their survival across various environments.

Article Abstract

Fungal infections contribute to over 1.5 million fatalities each year, with cutaneous mycoses standing as prominent global infections. The spectrum of these mycoses varies widely, encompassing enduring afflictions like ringworm, localized infections such as tinea capitis, recurrent instances like vaginal candidiasis, and potentially fatal systemic infections impacting multiple organ systems. The escalating recognition of the health and socioeconomic ramifications associated with fungal pathogens underscores their importance in contemporary discourse. On a global scale, projections indicate that over 300 million individuals experience significant fungal infections annually, resulting in a mortality rate exceeding 1.5 million deaths per year. Alarmingly, resistance to commonly used antifungal drugs was on the rise, with some reports suggesting that over 10% of Candida bloodstream isolates worldwide were resistant to fluconazole, a commonly prescribed antifungal medication. Therefore, there is an immediate need to increase the accessibility of new antifungal medications while minimizing their costs and adverse effects. Fungi, as heterotrophic organisms, acquire nutrients through absorption. Their filamentous structure, composed of hyphae, facilitates efficient nutrient uptake by secreting enzymes that break down complex organic matter into simpler compounds. These organisms exhibit remarkable adaptability in responding to environmental cues, adjusting growth rates, and altering morphological features. Fungi regulate their metabolism intricately, undergoing various metabolic pathways for energy production and utilizing diverse substrates for respiration. Additionally, they exhibit distinctive reproductive strategies, employing both sexual and asexual modes of reproduction, contributing to their genetic diversity and resilience in diverse ecosystems. We now have more information than ever on the origins of infection as well as the physiology of fungi cells, giving us the chance to use it to produce new generations of antifungals. This review includes various novel antifungal drug targets showing their possible effects via different mechanisms aiming at vital functions like GPI synthesis, cell wall synthesis, hyphal growth, and other essential pathways responsible for fungal growth.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0113892010304880240828075411DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

fungal infections
12
novel antifungal
8
antifungal drug
8
drug targets
8
infections
6
antifungal
5
fungal
5
exploring arsenal
4
arsenal novel
4
targets combating
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!