Candida albicans targets that potentially synergize with fluconazole

Lu, Hui; Shrivastava, Manjari; Whiteway, Malcolm; Jiang, Yuanying

doi:10.1080/1040841x.2021.1884641

Cited by 81Antifungal resistance and susceptibilityFungal and yeast genetics researchFungal Plant Pathogen Control

Candida albicans targets that potentially synergize with fluconazole

Lu, Hui, Shrivastava, Manjari, Whiteway, Malcolm, Jiang, Yuanying·2021·Critical Reviews in Microbiology

DOI 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1884641

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Abstract

Fluconazole has characteristics that make it widely used in the clinical treatment of C. albicans infections. However, fluconazole has only a fungistatic activity in C. albicans, therefore, in the long-term treatment of C. albicans infection with fluconazole, C. albicans has the potential to acquire fluconazole resistance. A promising approach to increase fluconazole’s efficacy is identifying potential targets of drugs that can enhance the antifungal effect of fluconazole, or even make the drug fungicidal. In this review, we systematically provide a global overview of potential targets of drugs synergistic with fluconazole in C. albicans, identify new avenues for research on fluconazole potentiation, and highlight the promise of combinatorial strategies with fluconazole in combatting C. albicans infections.

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Fluconazole (FLC) is extensively employed for the prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFIs).
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From Pitavastatin Calcium Confers Fungicidal Properties to Fluconazole by Inhibiting Ubiquinone Biosynthesis and Generating Reactive Oxygen Species (2024) · cites this paper as [8]
Targeting Ca2+ signaling pathways, such as using Ca2+ channel blockers or calcineurin inhibitors, can significantly enhance the efficacy of azoles against C. albicans, particularly in biofilm-associated infections.
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From Disruption of the UPC2 Gene Enhances Fluconazole Antifungal Activity by Inhibiting HAC1 mRNA Splicing in Candida albicans (2026) · cites this paper as [5]

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“Consequently, there is an imperative need to identify novel molecular targets and develop new antifungal agents to mitigate azole tolerance, counteract drug resistance in C. albicans , and thereby augment the efficacy of azole-based treatments [5].”
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Authors: Lu, H., Shrivastava, M., Whiteway, M., & Jiang, Y.
Affiliations: Tongji University (CN)
Concordia University (CA)
Corresponding author: Whiteway, Malcolm
Jiang, Yuanying
ORCID: Lu, Hui
Shrivastava, Manjari
Whiteway, Malcolm
Jiang, Yuanying
Venue: Critical Reviews in Microbiology
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2021-02-15
Volume: 47
Issue: 3
Pages: 323-337
ISSN: 1040-841X (ISSN-L)
1549-7828
DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1884641
OpenAlex: W3132756805
Cited by: 81
References: 34
Citations by year: 2026: 12 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 3
FWCI: 1.38
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Critical Reviews in Microbiology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (19431902800)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fungal and yeast genetics research
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Fungal Plant Pathogen Control
Keywords: Candida albicans, fluconazole, drug synergy, therapeutic target, fungicidal activity, antifungal resistance, combination therapy, candidiasis
MeSH terms: Animals, Antifungal Agents, Candida albicans, Candidiasis, Humans, Fluconazole, Drug Resistance, Fungal

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Candida albicans targets that potentially synergize with fluconazole

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