Current Advances in Antifungal Targets and Drug Development

Abstract

Fungi are one of the most neglected pathogens apparent from the fact that the Amphotericin B, a polyene antibiotic, discovered way back in 1956 is still used as a 'gold standard' for antifungal therapy. Past two decades have witnessed a dramatic rise in the incidences of life threatening systemic fungal infections. This can be ascribed to the increase in the number of immuno-compromised patients due to rise in HIV infected population, cancer chemotherapy and indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Majority of clinically used antifungals suffer from various drawbacks in terms of toxicity, efficacy and cost, and their frequent use has led to the emergence of resistant strains. Hence, there is a great demand for novel antifungals belonging to wide range of structural classes, selectively acting on novel targets with fewer side effects. This article aims at reviewing recent efforts made towards discovering novel antifungal drug targets and investigational molecules acting on them.

Synthesis and Characterization of Niobium and Tantalum Complexes with Bidentate Ligand and its use in Ring Opening Polymerization of e-Caprolactone

“…According to the literature a few papers published on these metals complexes as catalysts toward polymerization of lactide, lactone or ethylene [3][4][5][6]. The use of Schiff base ligation has received more interest because of easy to prepare [7] and versatile applications of Schiff base and their complexes as biological activity, antifungal properties, anticancer properties, application in modern technologies, application in synthesis and chemical analysis [8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Current Antifungal Drug Prescribing to Treat Oral Thrush in Sulaimani City-Iraq

“…In the past three decades, invasive life-threatening fungal infections have severely increased due to several reasons including broad-spectrum antibiotics, antagonistic surgery, and the use of immunosuppressive and antineoplastic agents [1]- [5]. Until the 1940s, comparatively few antifungal agents were available for the treatment of fungal infections.…”

Antifungal Properties of Secondary Metabolites of Azadirachta Indica and Lawsonia Inermis – An in Silico Study

“…The sulfate assimilation pathway is the mechanism involved the interference of amino acid transport and cellular regulation of amino acid metabolism in the fungal organism [7]. Inhibition of induction of sulfite reductase enzyme of sulfate assimilation pathway was found to be the major cause of SA inhibition [8]. The inhibition of sulfite reductase may leads to repression of transcription of genes and interference of post-translational steps for expression of sulfite reductase activity [8].…”

“…Inhibition of induction of sulfite reductase enzyme of sulfate assimilation pathway was found to be the major cause of SA inhibition [8]. The inhibition of sulfite reductase may leads to repression of transcription of genes and interference of post-translational steps for expression of sulfite reductase activity [8].…”