1. Undressing the Fungal Cell Wall/Cell Membrane - the Antifungal Drug Targets
- Author
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Vishukumar Aimanianda, Rui Tada, Jean-Paul Latgé, Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur [Paris] (IP), and Institut Pasteur [Paris]
- Subjects
Antifungal Agents ,Cell ,Antifungal drug ,Fungus ,MESH: Drug Design ,Polysaccharide ,Microbiology ,Cell wall ,Cell membrane ,03 medical and health sciences ,MESH: Cell Wall ,MESH: Candida ,Cell Wall ,Polysaccharides ,MESH: Molecular Targeted Therapy ,Drug Discovery ,Mechanical strength ,medicine ,Animals ,Aspergillosis ,Humans ,MESH: Animals ,MESH: Aspergillosis ,Molecular Targeted Therapy ,[SDV.MP.MYC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology/Mycology ,Candida ,030304 developmental biology ,Pharmacology ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,0303 health sciences ,Aspergillus ,MESH: Humans ,biology ,030306 microbiology ,Cell Membrane ,Candidiasis ,MESH: Antifungal Agents ,biology.organism_classification ,MESH: Candidiasis ,MESH: Polysaccharides ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,chemistry ,MESH: Aspergillus ,Drug Design ,[SDV.SP.PHARMA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Pharmaceutical sciences/Pharmacology ,MESH: Cell Membrane - Abstract
International audience; Being external, the fungal cell wall plays a crucial role in the fungal life. By covering the underneath cell, it offers mechanical strength and acts as a barrier, thus protecting the fungus from the hostile environment. Chemically, this cell wall is composed of different polysaccharides. Because of their specific composition, the fungal cell wall and its underlying plasma membrane are unique targets for the development of drugs against pathogenic fungal species. The objective of this review is to consolidate the current knowledge on the antifungal drugs targeting the cell wall and plasma membrane, mainly of Aspergillus and Candida species - the most prevalent fungal pathogens, and also to present challenges and questions conditioning the development of new antifungal drugs targeting the cell wall.
- Published
- 2013