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Using Fungi to Combat Drug-Resistant Candida: Methods to Increase the Possibility and Reduce the Cost and Time for
T S Suryanarayanan1, J P Ravishankar1, N Thirunavukkarasu2
1Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology (VINSTROM), A Research Unit of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai, India.
Abstract:
The most common fungal infections in humans are caused by five species of Candida including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei. Although they generally cause non-severe, mild infection, Candida species cause life-threatening bloodstream infection (candidemia) and infection of internal organs (invasive candidiasis) in patients with compromised immunity or treated with invasive medical devices. The recent evolution of multidrug resistance among Candida species, the limited choice of antifungal medicines, and the reluctance of drug manufacturers to discover novel medicines are projecting Candida infection as a major global health threat. We stress here the importance of exploring fungi from less studied and extreme habitats and varying the culture conditions to increase the chance of finding novel anti-Candida drugs. We also bring into focus a crowd sourcing model involving students, faculty and research labs to reduce the time and cost of discovering such novel drugs.
Insights
Common fungal infections caused by Candida species are becoming a global health threat due to drug resistance. Exploring extreme habitats and using crowdsourcing can help discover new anti-Candida drugs.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Candida species are common human fungal pathogens, causing mild to life-threatening infections like candidemia and invasive candidiasis.
- Multidrug resistance in Candida, limited antifungal options, and reduced pharmaceutical interest in novel antifungals escalate the threat of Candida infections.
- Patients with compromised immunity or invasive medical devices are particularly vulnerable to severe Candida infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the urgent need for novel anti-Candida drugs.
- To propose strategies for discovering new antifungal agents against Candida species.
- To emphasize the potential of exploring extreme environments and utilizing crowdsourcing for drug discovery.
Main Methods:
- Investigating fungi from understudied and extreme habitats.
- Modifying culture conditions to enhance the isolation of novel antifungal-producing fungi.
- Implementing a crowdsourcing model involving academic institutions and research labs.
Main Results:
- The study emphasizes the potential of exploring diverse fungal habitats for novel drug leads.
- Crowdsourcing models can accelerate the identification of new anti-Candida compounds.
- Varied culture conditions increase the likelihood of discovering drug-resistant Candida-fighting fungi.
Conclusions:
- Discovering novel anti-Candida drugs is crucial to combat rising multidrug resistance.
- Exploring extreme fungal habitats and optimizing culture conditions are promising avenues for antifungal discovery.
- A collaborative, crowdsourced approach can significantly reduce the time and cost associated with finding new anti-Candida therapies.
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