Targeting Candida albicans filamentation for antifungal drug development.
Candida albicans remains the main etiological agent of candidiasis, as this otherwise normal commensal of humans is capable of causing active infection in immune- and medically-compromised patients. The high morbidity and mortality rates associated with candidiasis, coupled with the emergence of drug resistance demand the development of novel therapeutic strategies. However, there is a paucity of selective targets that can be exploited in the development of new antifungals. Contrary to conventional antibiotics that kill or curtail growth, specifically targeting virulence mechanisms represents an attractive option for antifungal drug development. In C. albicans, a growing body of research over the last few decades has provided important insights into its virulence factors and their contribution to the pathogenesis of candidiasis. Of these, filamentation is the one that has received the most attention and perhaps shows the most promise as a target for new anti-virulence strategies to combat C. albicans infections.
a Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases , The University of Texas at San Antonio , San Antonio , TX , USA.
Taissa
T
Vila
a Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases , The University of Texas at San Antonio , San Antonio , TX , USA.
Jesus A
JA
Romo
b Department of Biology , University of the Incarnate Word , San Antonio , TX , USA.
Christopher G
CG
Pierce
c Department of Chemistry and Center for Innovative Drug Discovery , The University of Texas at San Antonio , San Antonio , TX , USA.
Stanton F
SF
McHardy
a Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases , The University of Texas at San Antonio , San Antonio , TX , USA.
Stephen P
SP
Saville
a Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases , The University of Texas at San Antonio , San Antonio , TX , USA.
José L
JL
Lopez-Ribot
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D025301:Hyphae / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D037521:Virulence Factors
Candida albicans; anti-virulence therapeutics; candidiasis; filamentation