Functional genomic analysis reveals genes important for Candida albicans fitness in response to antifungal-induced stress

Antifungal therapies are limited to three main drug classes, polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins, which target either the fungal membrane or fungal cell wall. Resistant isolates have been found for each of the three classes, and with the limited number of treatment options, there is an urgent need to develop new strategies against invasive fungal infections.

Manogepix (MGX) is a novel antifungal currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trials, that functions by inhibiting glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis. Nikkomycin Z (NikkZ) is a compound also being investigated for its antifungal properties that inhibits fungal chitin synthases. To date, the genes important for resistance to MGX and NikkZ are largely enigmatic.