Department of Pharmacology, Parul Institute of Pharmacy, Parul University, Limda, India.
Curr Rev Clin Exp Pharmacol. 2024;19(3):250-258. doi: 10.2174/0127724328263050230923154326.
Fungal infections are emerging as major health challenges in recent years. The development of resistance against existing antifungal agents needs urgent attention and action. The limited classes of antifungal drugs available, their tendency to cause adverse effects, lack of effectiveness, etc., are the major limitations of current therapy. Thus, there is a pressing demand for new antifungal drug classes to cope with the present circumstances. Glucose is the key source of energy for all organisms, including fungi. Glucose plays a crucial role as a source of carbon and energy for processes like virulence, growth, invasion, biofilm formation, and resistance development. The glucose transport and sensing mechanisms are well developed in these organisms as an important strategy to sustain survival. Modulating these transport or sensor mechanisms may serve as an important strategy to inhibit fungal growth. Moreover, the structural difference between human and fungal glucose transporters makes them more appealing as drug targets. Limited literature is available for fungal glucose entry mechanisms. This review provides a comprehensive account of sugar transport mechanisms in common fungal pathogens.
近年来，真菌感染成为主要的健康挑战。现有抗真菌药物的耐药性发展需要引起紧急关注和行动。现有的抗真菌药物种类有限，它们容易引起不良反应、疗效不佳等，这些都是当前治疗的主要限制。因此，迫切需要新的抗真菌药物类别来应对当前的情况。
葡萄糖是所有生物（包括真菌）的主要能量来源。葡萄糖作为碳源和能量来源，在毒力、生长、侵袭、生物膜形成和耐药性发展等过程中起着至关重要的作用。这些生物体中葡萄糖的运输和感应机制非常发达，是维持生存的重要策略。调节这些运输或传感器机制可能是抑制真菌生长的重要策略。此外，人类和真菌葡萄糖转运蛋白之间的结构差异使它们更具吸引力，成为药物靶点。关于真菌葡萄糖进入机制的文献有限。本综述全面描述了常见真菌病原体的糖转运机制。
