Project description:Fungal infections have become a clinical challenge due to the emergence of drug-resistance of invasive fungi and a rapid increase of novel pathogens. The development of drug resistance has further restricted the use of antifungal agents. Therefore, there is anurgentneedto searchforalternativetreatmentoptions for Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans). Disulfiram (DSF) has a high human safety profile and promising applications as an antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anticancer agent. In contrast, the effect of DSF on Cryptococcus has yet to be thoroughly researched. This study investigated the antifungal effect and mechanism of DSF againstC. neoformansto provide a new theoretical foundation for treating Cryptococcal infections. In vitro studies demonstrated that DSF inhibitedCryptococcusat minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 μg/mL. Combined antifungal effects were also observed with 5-fluorocytosine, amphotericin B, terbinafine, or ketoconazole. In vivo, DSF exerted asignificantprotectiveeffectforGalleria mellonella infected with C. neoformans.Mechanistic investigations showed that DSF dose-dependently inhibited the melanin, urease, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, capsule, and biofilm formation or viability ofC. neoformans.Further study indicated DSF affectedC. neoformansby interfering with multiple biological pathways, including replication, metabolism, membrane transport, and biological enzyme activity. Potentially essential targets of these pathways included acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, catalase, ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC transporter) AFR2, and iron-sulfur cluster transporter ATM1. These findings contribute to the understanding of mechanisms inC. neoformans, and provide new insights for the application of DSF.

2023-12-31 | GSE248987 | GEO

Combined in silico and in vitro approaches identified the antipsychotic drug lurasidone and the antiviral drug elbasvir as SARS-CoV2 and HCoV-OC43 inhibitors.

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC7944860 | biostudies-literature

Rifampicin and Letermovir as potential repurposed drug candidate for COVID-19 treatment: insights from an in-silico study.

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC8107206 | biostudies-literature

Computational identification of repurposed drugs against viruses causing epidemics and pandemics via drug-target network analysis.

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC8299294 | biostudies-literature