title: Caspofungin susceptibility in Aspergillus and non-Aspergillus molds: inhibition of glucan synthase and reduction of beta-D-1,3 glucan levels in culture.
abstract: Caspofungin inhibits synthesis of beta-D-1,3 glucan, essential to cell walls in Candida and Aspergillus spp., but activity against less common molds is largely uncharacterized. We demonstrate that caspofungin inhibits beta-D-1,3 glucan synthesis and reduces in vitro growth of clinical isolates from the genera Alternaria, Curvularia, Scedosporium, Acremonium, Bipolaris, and Trichoderma.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Research, Merck and Co., Rahway, NJ 07065-0900, USA. jennifer_nielsen_kahn@merck.com
authors.forename: Jennifer Nielsen
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Ming-Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Racine
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacobbe
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motyl
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000077336:Caspofungin; D054714:Echinocandins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D047071:beta-Glucans; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C040232:glucan synthase; D000077336:Caspofungin