Repurposing approach identifies pitavastatin as a potent azole chemosensitizing agent effective against azole-resistant Candida species.

ABSTRACT: The limited number of antifungals and the rising frequency of azole-resistant Candida species are growing challenges to human medicine. Drug repurposing signifies an appealing approach to enhance the activity of current antifungal drugs. Here, we evaluated the ability of Pharmakon 1600 drug library to sensitize an azole-resistant Candida albicans to the effect of fluconazole. The primary screen revealed 44 non-antifungal hits were able to act synergistically with fluconazole against the test strain. Of note, 21 compounds, showed aptness for systemic administration and limited toxic effects, were considered as potential fluconazole adjuvants and thus were termed as "repositionable hits". A follow-up analysis revealed pitavastatin displaying the most potent fluconazole chemosensitizing activ

SUBMITTER: Eldesouky HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7200796 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature