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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #316425
Title: Target discovery and antifungal intervention via chemical biology approaches

Author
item Kim, Jong Heon
item Chan, Kathleen - Kathy
item Cheng, Luisa

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Controlling infective fungi, especially pathogens that produce toxic secondary metabolites, is problematic as effective antimycotic agents are very limited. Moreover, the expansion of fungal resistance to commercial drugs is a global human health issue. Conventional antimycotic agents also cause serious mammalian cytotoxicity. Consequently, there is persistent need to enhance the effectiveness of conventional antimycotic agents or discover/develop new intervention strategies. Many natural chemical compounds are promising antimycotic agents due to their ability to disrupt fungal defense response systems, for instance oxidative stress response or cell wall integrity. Furthermore, natural chemical compounds could serve as chemical probes to identify new antifungal targets as well as to perform target validation. This enables the utilization of the compounds as chemosensitizing agents to intensify the efficacy of conventional antimycotic agents. To effectively control pathogenic fungi, chemical biology strategies are necessary as cost effective approaches for discovering new antimycotic agents and targets. Research results will then be translated into novel antifungal intervention strategies, which enhance the efficacy of established microbe intervention practices and overcome antimycotic drug resistance.