Roles for Stress Response and Cell Wall Biosynthesis Pathways in Caspofungin Tolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans.

ABSTRACT: Limited antifungal diversity and availability are growing problems for the treatment of fungal infections in the face of increasing drug resistance. The echinocandins, one of the newest classes of antifungal drugs, inhibit production of a crucial cell wall component. However, these compounds do not effectively inhibit the growth of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, despite potent inhibition of the target enzyme in vitro Therefore, we performed a forward genetic screen to identify cellular processes that mediate the relative tolerance of this organism to the echinocandin drug caspofungin. Through these studies, we identified 14 genetic mutants that enhance caspofungin antifungal activity. Rather than directly affecting caspofungin antifungal activity,

SUBMITTER: Pianalto KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6727808 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature