Occidiofungin: Actin Binding as a Novel Mechanism of Action in an Antifungal Agent
The identification and development of natural products into novel antimicrobial agents is crucial to combat the rise of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Clinical fungal isolates have been identified, which have shown resistance to all current clinical antifungals, highlighting a significant need...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Antibiotics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/9/1143 |
| _version_ | 1797491884224937984 |
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| author | Nopakorn Hansanant Leif Smith |
| author_facet | Nopakorn Hansanant Leif Smith |
| author_sort | Nopakorn Hansanant |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The identification and development of natural products into novel antimicrobial agents is crucial to combat the rise of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Clinical fungal isolates have been identified, which have shown resistance to all current clinical antifungals, highlighting a significant need to develop a novel antifungal agent. One of the natural products produced by the bacterium <i>Burkholderia contaminans</i> MS14 is the glycolipopeptide occidiofungin. Occidiofungin has demonstrated in vitro activity against a multitude of fungal species, including multidrug-resistant <i>Candida auris</i> strains, and in vivo effectiveness in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis. Characterization of occidiofungin revealed the mechanism of action as binding to actin to disrupt higher-order actin-mediated functions leading to the induction of apoptosis in fungal cells. Occidiofungin is the first small molecule capable of disrupting higher-order actin functions and is a first-in-class compound that is able to circumvent current antifungal resistant mechanisms by fungal species. Anticancer properties and antiparasitic activities, against <i>Cryptosporidium parvum</i>, have also been demonstrated in vitro. The novel mechanism of action and wide spectrum of activity highlights the potential of occidiofungin to be developed for clinical use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:55:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4aef4b57804e4edca31424f02fcbed37 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:55:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4aef4b57804e4edca31424f02fcbed372023-11-23T14:43:46ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822022-08-01119114310.3390/antibiotics11091143Occidiofungin: Actin Binding as a Novel Mechanism of Action in an Antifungal AgentNopakorn Hansanant0Leif Smith1Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USAThe identification and development of natural products into novel antimicrobial agents is crucial to combat the rise of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Clinical fungal isolates have been identified, which have shown resistance to all current clinical antifungals, highlighting a significant need to develop a novel antifungal agent. One of the natural products produced by the bacterium <i>Burkholderia contaminans</i> MS14 is the glycolipopeptide occidiofungin. Occidiofungin has demonstrated in vitro activity against a multitude of fungal species, including multidrug-resistant <i>Candida auris</i> strains, and in vivo effectiveness in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis. Characterization of occidiofungin revealed the mechanism of action as binding to actin to disrupt higher-order actin-mediated functions leading to the induction of apoptosis in fungal cells. Occidiofungin is the first small molecule capable of disrupting higher-order actin functions and is a first-in-class compound that is able to circumvent current antifungal resistant mechanisms by fungal species. Anticancer properties and antiparasitic activities, against <i>Cryptosporidium parvum</i>, have also been demonstrated in vitro. The novel mechanism of action and wide spectrum of activity highlights the potential of occidiofungin to be developed for clinical use.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/9/1143natural productsdrug discoveryantimicrobial targetsantifungalmechanism of action |
| spellingShingle | Nopakorn Hansanant Leif Smith Occidiofungin: Actin Binding as a Novel Mechanism of Action in an Antifungal Agent Antibiotics natural products drug discovery antimicrobial targets antifungal mechanism of action |
| title | Occidiofungin: Actin Binding as a Novel Mechanism of Action in an Antifungal Agent |
| title_full | Occidiofungin: Actin Binding as a Novel Mechanism of Action in an Antifungal Agent |
| title_fullStr | Occidiofungin: Actin Binding as a Novel Mechanism of Action in an Antifungal Agent |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occidiofungin: Actin Binding as a Novel Mechanism of Action in an Antifungal Agent |
| title_short | Occidiofungin: Actin Binding as a Novel Mechanism of Action in an Antifungal Agent |
| title_sort | occidiofungin actin binding as a novel mechanism of action in an antifungal agent |
| topic | natural products drug discovery antimicrobial targets antifungal mechanism of action |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/9/1143 |
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