Epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance in fungi. 2019

Zanetta Chang, and Vikas Yadav, and Soo Chan Lee, and Joseph Heitman
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

The emergence of drug-resistant fungi poses a continuously increasing threat to human health. Despite advances in preventive care and diagnostics, resistant fungi continue to cause significant mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients. Therapeutic resources are further limited by current usage of only four major classes of antifungal drugs. Resistance against these drugs has already been observed in pathogenic fungi requiring the development of much needed newer antifungal drugs. Epigenetic changes such as DNA or chromatin modifications alter gene expression levels in response to certain stimuli, including interaction with the host in the case of fungal pathogens. These changes can confer resistance to drugs by altering the expression of target genes or genes encoding drug efflux pumps. Multiple pathogens share many of these epigenetic pathways; thus, targeting epigenetic pathways might also identify drug target candidates for the development of broad-spectrum antifungal drugs. In this review, we discuss the importance of epigenetic pathways in mediating drug resistance in fungi as well as in the development of anti-fungal drugs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005658 Fungi A kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live parasitically as saprobes, including MUSHROOMS; YEASTS; smuts, molds, etc. They reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have life cycles that range from simple to complex. Filamentous fungi, commonly known as molds, refer to those that grow as multicellular colonies. Fungi, Filamentous,Molds,Filamentous Fungi,Filamentous Fungus,Fungus,Fungus, Filamentous,Mold
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000076722 Drug Development The entire process of bringing a new drug to the market. It includes both preclinical and clinical testing, and regulatory approval. Computational Prediction of Drug-Target Interactions,Drug Target Prediction,Medication Development,Pharmaceutical Development,Development, Drug,Development, Medication,Development, Pharmaceutical,Drug Target Predictions,Prediction, Drug Target,Target Prediction, Drug
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
D042421 Histone Code The specific patterns of changes made to HISTONES, that are involved in assembly, maintenance, and alteration of chromatin structural states (such as EUCHROMATIN and HETEROCHROMATIN). The changes are made by various histone modification processes that include ACETYLATION; METHYLATION; PHOSPHORYLATION; and UBIQUITINATION. Histone Marks,Histone Modifications,Code, Histone,Histone Mark,Mark, Histone,Marks, Histone,Modifications, Histone
D044127 Epigenesis, Genetic A genetic process by which the adult organism is realized via mechanisms that lead to the restriction in the possible fates of cells, eventually leading to their differentiated state. Mechanisms involved cause heritable changes to cells without changes to DNA sequence such as DNA METHYLATION; HISTONE modification; DNA REPLICATION TIMING; NUCLEOSOME positioning; and heterochromatization which result in selective gene expression or repression. Epigenetic Processes,Epigenetic Process,Epigenetics Processes,Genetic Epigenesis,Process, Epigenetic,Processes, Epigenetic,Processes, Epigenetics
D054884 Host-Pathogen Interactions The interactions between a host and a pathogen, usually resulting in disease. Host Pathogen Interaction,Host-Pathogen Relations,Pathogen-Host Interaction,Pathogen-Host Interactions,Host Pathogen Interactions,Host Pathogen Relations,Host-Pathogen Interaction,Host-Pathogen Relation,Interaction, Host Pathogen,Interaction, Host-Pathogen,Interaction, Pathogen-Host,Interactions, Host Pathogen,Interactions, Host-Pathogen,Interactions, Pathogen-Host,Pathogen Host Interaction,Pathogen Host Interactions,Pathogen Interaction, Host,Pathogen Interactions, Host,Relation, Host-Pathogen,Relations, Host-Pathogen
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

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