Improved Broad Spectrum Antifungal Drug Synergies with Cryptomycin, a Cdc50-Inspired Antifungal Peptide.

ABSTRACT: Fungal infections in humans are difficult to treat, with very limited drug options. Due to a confluence of factors, there is an urgent need for innovation in the antifungal drug space, particularly to combat increasing antifungal drug resistance. Our previous studies showed that Cdc50, a subunit of fungal lipid translocase (flippase), is essential for Cryptococcus neoformans virulence and required for antifungal drug resistance, suggesting that fungal lipid flippase could be a novel drug target. Here, we characterized an antifungal peptide, Cryptomycinamide (KKOO-NH₂), derived from a 9-amino acid segment of the C. neoformans Cdc50 protein. A fungal killing assay indicated that KKOO-NH₂ is fungicidal against C. neoformans. The peptide has antifunga

SUBMITTER: Tancer RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11555678 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature