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The potential of respiration inhibition as a new approach to combat human fungal pathogens

Duvenage, Lucian, Munro, Carol, Gourlay, Campbell W. (2019) The potential of respiration inhibition as a new approach to combat human fungal pathogens. Current Genetics, 65 . pp. 1347-1353. ISSN 0172-8083. E-ISSN 1432-0983. (doi:10.1007/s00294-019-01001-w) (KAR id:74308)

Abstract

The respiratory chain has been proposed as an attractive target for the development of new therapies to tackle human fungal pathogens. This arises from the presence of fungal-specific electron transport chain components and links between respiration and the control of virulence traits in several pathogenic species. However, as the physiological roles of mitochondria remain largely undetermined with respect to pathogenesis, its value as a potential new drug target remains to be determined. The use of respiration inhibitors as fungicides is well developed but has been hampered by the emergence of rapid resistance to current inhibitors. In addition, recent data suggest that adaptation of the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, to respiration inhibitors can enhance virulence traits such as yeast-to-hypha transition and cell wall organisation. We conclude that although respiration holds promise as a target for the development of new therapies to treat human fungal infections, we require a more detailed understanding of the role that mitochondria play in stress adaption and virulence.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/s00294-019-01001-w
Projects: Wellcome Trust Strategic Award for Medical Mycology and Fungal Immunology
Uncontrolled keywords: Mitochondria · Candida · Respiration · Respirometry · Metabolism · Yeas
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Funders: Wellcome Trust (https://ror.org/029chgv08)
Depositing User: Campbell Gourlay
Date Deposited: 07 Jun 2019 14:11 UTC
Last Modified: 12 Jul 2022 10:41 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/74308 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Gourlay, Campbell W..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2373-6788
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