Mechanisms of Antifungal Drug Resistance. 2014

Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.

Antifungal therapy is a central component of patient management for acute and chronic mycoses. Yet, treatment choices are restricted because of the sparse number of antifungal drug classes. Clinical management of fungal diseases is further compromised by the emergence of antifungal drug resistance, which eliminates available drug classes as treatment options. Once considered a rare occurrence, antifungal drug resistance is on the rise in many high-risk medical centers. Most concerning is the evolution of multidrug- resistant organisms refractory to several different classes of antifungal agents, especially among common Candida species. The mechanisms responsible are mostly shared by both resistant strains displaying inherently reduced susceptibility and those acquiring resistance during therapy. The molecular mechanisms include altered drug affinity and target abundance, reduced intracellular drug levels caused by efflux pumps, and formation of biofilms. New insights into genetic factors regulating these mechanisms, as well as cellular factors important for stress adaptation, provide a foundation to better understand the emergence of antifungal drug resistance.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009181 Mycoses Diseases caused by FUNGI. Fungus Diseases,Fungal Diseases,Fungal Infections,Fungus Infections,Disease, Fungal,Disease, Fungus,Diseases, Fungal,Diseases, Fungus,Fungal Disease,Fungal Infection,Fungus Disease,Fungus Infection,Infection, Fungal,Infection, Fungus,Infections, Fungal,Infections, Fungus
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000935 Antifungal Agents Substances that destroy fungi by suppressing their ability to grow or reproduce. They differ from FUNGICIDES, INDUSTRIAL because they defend against fungi present in human or animal tissues. Anti-Fungal Agents,Antifungal Agent,Fungicides, Therapeutic,Antibiotics, Antifungal,Therapeutic Fungicides,Agent, Antifungal,Anti Fungal Agents,Antifungal Antibiotics
D018441 Biofilms Encrustations formed from microbes (bacteria, algae, fungi, plankton, or protozoa) embedded in an EXTRACELLULAR POLYMERIC SUBSTANCE MATRIX that is secreted by the microbes. They occur on body surfaces such as teeth (DENTAL DEPOSITS); inanimate objects, and bodies of water. Biofilms are prevented from forming by treating surfaces with DENTIFRICES; DISINFECTANTS; ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS; and anti-fouling agents. Biofilm
D020871 RNA Stability The extent to which an RNA molecule retains its structural integrity and resists degradation by RNASE, and base-catalyzed HYDROLYSIS, under changing in vivo or in vitro conditions. RNA Decay,mRNA Decay,mRNA Transcript Degradation,RNA Degradation,RNA Instability,mRNA Degradation,mRNA Instability,mRNA Stability,Decay, RNA,Decay, mRNA,Degradation, RNA,Degradation, mRNA,Degradation, mRNA Transcript,Instability, RNA,Instability, mRNA,Stability, RNA,Stability, mRNA,Transcript Degradation, mRNA
D025141 Drug Resistance, Fungal The ability of fungi to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents, antifungal agents, or antibiotics. This resistance may be acquired through gene mutation. Antibiotic Resistance, Fungal,Antifungal Drug Resistance,Resistance, Antifungal Drug

Related Publications

Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
May 2009, Expert review of anti-infective therapy,
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
September 2015, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
January 2023, npj antimicrobials and resistance,
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
October 2005, Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology],
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
February 2023, Current opinion in microbiology,
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
October 2018, Current opinion in microbiology,
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
January 2021, Mikrobiyoloji bulteni,
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
August 2006, Eukaryotic cell,
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
January 1994, Journal of medical and veterinary mycology : bi-monthly publication of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology,
Leah E Cowen, and Dominique Sanglard, and Susan J Howard, and P David Rogers, and David S Perlin
June 2010, Future microbiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!