Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis
Published on: March 19, 2019
Repurposing FDA approved drugs against the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans
Kevin Kim1, Leeor Zilbermintz2, Mikhail Martchenko3
1Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA. kkim14@students.kgi.edu.
Background:
The high cost and prolonged timeline of new drug discovery and development are major roadblocks to creating therapies for infectious diseases. Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is the most common cause of fatal fungal infections in humans and costs $2-4 billion dollars to treat in the US alone.
Methods:
To accelerate drug discovery, we screened a library of 1581 existing FDA approved drugs, as well as drugs approved abroad, for inhibitors of C. albicans. The screen was done on YPD yeast growth media as well as on the serum plate assay developed in this study.
Results:
We discovered that fifteen drugs, all which were originally approved for treating various infectious and non-infectious diseases, were able to kill Candida albicans. Additionally, one of those drugs, Octodrine, displays wide-spectrum anti-microbial activity. Compared to other selected anti-Candida drugs, Octodrine was shown to be one of the most effective drugs in killing serum-grown Candida albicans without significantly affecting the survival of host macrophages and skin cells.
Conclusions:
This approach is useful for the discovery of economically viable new therapies against infectious diseases.
Insights
Repurposing existing FDA-approved drugs offers a faster, cheaper way to find new therapies for Candida albicans infections. One drug, Octodrine, showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and was effective against yeast in serum without harming host cells.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Drug discovery is costly and time-consuming, hindering new therapies for infectious diseases.
- Candida albicans causes common, fatal fungal infections, costing billions in the US.
- Developing novel treatments for invasive fungal infections is a significant public health challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To accelerate the discovery of new anti-Candida therapies.
- To screen existing FDA-approved drugs for antifungal activity against Candida albicans.
Main Methods:
- A library of 1581 FDA-approved drugs was screened for inhibitors of Candida albicans.
- Screening was performed on YPD yeast growth media and a novel serum plate assay.
- Drug efficacy was assessed by their ability to inhibit fungal growth and kill Candida albicans.
Main Results:
- Fifteen existing drugs demonstrated the ability to kill Candida albicans.
- Octodrine, one of the identified drugs, exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties.
- Octodrine proved highly effective in killing serum-grown Candida albicans while preserving host cell viability.
Conclusions:
- Repurposing existing drugs is an economically viable strategy for developing new infectious disease therapies.
- This approach can significantly reduce the time and cost associated with drug development.
- The identified drugs, particularly Octodrine, represent promising candidates for treating Candida albicans infections.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Antifungal Agents
01:15Impact of Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Models: Regulatory Decisions