Emerging New Targets for the Treatment of Resistant Fungal Infections.

Abstract

With the increasing morbidity and mortality of invasive fungal infections and the emergence of severe antifungal drug resistance, new drug targets and novel antifungal agents are urgently needed. Recently, better understanding of fungal pathogenesis has contributed to the rapid emergence of potential antifungal drug targets. This perspective aims to provide a comprehensive review of new antifungal targets and of medicinal chemistry efforts toward inhibitor discovery. Particular focus will be placed on the druggability of the targets and their potential to treat resistant fungal infections. Innovative strategies for the next generation of antifungal therapy, such as virulence factors, protein-protein interactions, and immune response-based proteins, will also be highlighted.