Identification of novel cell-wall active antifungal compounds

Abstract

Fungal infections of humans and other animals are serious and often life threatening, especially in immunocompromised patients. One difficulty in treating fungal disease is the limited arsenal of antifungal compounds. The recent regulatory approval of three cell-wall active antifungal compounds encourages the search for additional clinical candidates that inhibit fungal cell wall formation. We have screened a small portion of a unique chemical library and have found eight compounds that appear to be inhibitors of fungal cell wall assembly.