Antifungal Drug Resistance in Candida albicans: Identifying Novel Targets for the Development of Effective Antifungal Agents.pdf

ABSTRACT:The pathogenicity of Candida albicans is facilitated by numerous virulence causes, including adhesins, morphogenesis, and phenotypic switching. The organism’s capability in the direction of switching between yeast and hyphal forms contributes to the severity of infections. The appearance of resistant strains has rendered current treatments less effective, necessitating the exploration of new drug targets and the progress of novel antifungal agents. Antifungal drug resistance is a multifaceted phenomenon involving genetic mutations, overexpression of efflux pumps, epigenetic changes, and biofilm formation, all regulated by complex genetic and transcriptional networks. The identification of potential drug targets in C. albicans is critical due to increasing resistance to existing antifungal agents. Recent studies have identified promising targets, for example the riboflavin metabolic pathway and unique protein kinases involved in regulating virulence and pathogenicity. Developing new antifungals is difficult due to C. albicans’ eukaryotic nature and resistance.<br>Keywords: Candidiasis, Candida albicans, Antifungal drug resistance, Antifungal drug targets