title: Potential Antifungal Targets against a Candida Biofilm Based on an Enzyme in the Arachidonic Acid Cascade-A Review.
abstract: Candida is an important opportunistic fungal pathogen, especially in biofilm associated infections. The formation of a Candida biofilm can decrease Candida sensitivity to antifungal drugs and cause drug resistance. Although many effective antifungal drugs are available, their applications are limited due to their high toxicity and cost. Seeking new antifungal agents that are effective against biofilm-associated infection is an urgent need. Many research efforts are underway, and some progress has been made in this field. It has been shown that the arachidonic acid cascade plays an important role in fungal morphogenesis and pathogenicity. Notably, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can promote the formation of a Candida biofilm. Recently, the inhibition of PGE2has received much attention. Studies have shown that cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and indomethacin, combined with fluconazole can significantly reduce Candida adhesion and biofilm development and increase fluconazole susceptibility; the MIC of fluconazole can be decrease from 64 to 2 μg/ml when used in combination with ibuprofen. In addition,in vivostudies have also confirmed the antifungal activities of these inhibitors. In this article, we mainly review the relationship between PGE2and Candida biofilm, summarize the antifungal activities of COX inhibitors and analyze the possible antifungal activity of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (MPGES-1) inhibitors; additionally, other factors that influence PGE2production are also discussed. Hopefully this review can disclose potential antifungal targets based on the arachidonic acid cascade and provide a prevailing strategy to alleviateCandida albicansbiofilm formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Taishan Medical University Taian, China.
authors.forename: Xinning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Taishan Medical University Taian, China.
authors.forename: Decai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Respiration Medicine, Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Cuixiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University Jinnan, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: General Practice, Shandong Provincial Hospital Jinnan, China.
authors.forename: Jianqiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Department, Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University Jinnan, China.
authors.forename: Shujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
keywords: Candida albicans; antifungal; arachidonic acid cascade; mPGES-1; prostaglandin E2