Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal Toolbox
Fungal infections impact the lives of at least 12 million people every year, killing over 1.5 million. Wide-spread use of fungicides and prophylactic antifungal therapy have driven resistance in many serious fungal pathogens, and there is an urgent need to expand the current antifungal arsenal. Rece...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/4/482 |
| _version_ | 1827599670334980096 |
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| author | Aidan Kane Dee A. Carter |
| author_facet | Aidan Kane Dee A. Carter |
| author_sort | Aidan Kane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fungal infections impact the lives of at least 12 million people every year, killing over 1.5 million. Wide-spread use of fungicides and prophylactic antifungal therapy have driven resistance in many serious fungal pathogens, and there is an urgent need to expand the current antifungal arsenal. Recent research has focused on improving azoles, our most successful class of antifungals, by looking for synergistic interactions with secondary compounds. Synergists can co-operate with azoles by targeting steps in related pathways, or they may act on mechanisms related to resistance such as active efflux or on totally disparate pathways or processes. A variety of sources of potential synergists have been explored, including pre-existing antimicrobials, pharmaceuticals approved for other uses, bioactive natural compounds and phytochemicals, and novel synthetic compounds. Synergy can successfully widen the antifungal spectrum, decrease inhibitory dosages, reduce toxicity, and prevent the development of resistance. This review highlights the diversity of mechanisms that have been exploited for the purposes of azole synergy and demonstrates that synergy remains a promising approach for meeting the urgent need for novel antifungal strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:19:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc1d97a21c5b4d5eb8b4adf2352ce2e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:19:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc1d97a21c5b4d5eb8b4adf2352ce2e42023-12-03T13:49:51ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472022-04-0115448210.3390/ph15040482Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal ToolboxAidan Kane0Dee A. Carter1School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney ID, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, AustraliaSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney ID, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, AustraliaFungal infections impact the lives of at least 12 million people every year, killing over 1.5 million. Wide-spread use of fungicides and prophylactic antifungal therapy have driven resistance in many serious fungal pathogens, and there is an urgent need to expand the current antifungal arsenal. Recent research has focused on improving azoles, our most successful class of antifungals, by looking for synergistic interactions with secondary compounds. Synergists can co-operate with azoles by targeting steps in related pathways, or they may act on mechanisms related to resistance such as active efflux or on totally disparate pathways or processes. A variety of sources of potential synergists have been explored, including pre-existing antimicrobials, pharmaceuticals approved for other uses, bioactive natural compounds and phytochemicals, and novel synthetic compounds. Synergy can successfully widen the antifungal spectrum, decrease inhibitory dosages, reduce toxicity, and prevent the development of resistance. This review highlights the diversity of mechanisms that have been exploited for the purposes of azole synergy and demonstrates that synergy remains a promising approach for meeting the urgent need for novel antifungal strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/4/482antifungalazolesynergymycosisresistance<i>Candida</i> |
| spellingShingle | Aidan Kane Dee A. Carter Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal Toolbox Pharmaceuticals antifungal azole synergy mycosis resistance <i>Candida</i> |
| title | Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal Toolbox |
| title_full | Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal Toolbox |
| title_fullStr | Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal Toolbox |
| title_full_unstemmed | Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal Toolbox |
| title_short | Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal Toolbox |
| title_sort | augmenting azoles with drug synergy to expand the antifungal toolbox |
| topic | antifungal azole synergy mycosis resistance <i>Candida</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/4/482 |
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