Species-Selective Targeting of Fungal Hsp90: Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Novel 4,5-Diarylisoxazole Derivatives for the Combination Treatment of Azole-Resistant Candidiasis

J Med Chem. 2022 Apr 14;65(7):5539-5564. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01991. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections are emerging as serious infectious diseases worldwide. Because of the development of antifungal drug resistance, the limited efficacy of the existing drugs has led to high mortality in patients. The use of the essential eukaryotic chaperone Hsp90, which plays a multifaceted role in drug resistance across diverse pathogenic fungal species, is considered to be a new strategy to mitigate the resistance and counter the threat posed by drug-resistant fungi. Thus, a series of 4,5-diarylisoxazole analogues as fungal Hsp90 inhibitors were designed and synthesized that had potent synergistic effects with fluconazole in vitro and in vivo. In particular, compound A17 could avoid the potential mammalian toxicity of Hsp90 inhibitors based on key reside differences between humans and fungi. These data support the feasibility of targeting fungal Hsp90 as a promising antifungal strategy and further development of compound A17 as a valuable research probe for the investigation of fungal Hsp90.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Azoles* / pharmacology
  • Azoles* / therapeutic use
  • Candidiasis* / drug therapy
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Fluconazole / pharmacology
  • Fluconazole / therapeutic use
  • Fungi
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Humans
  • Mammals
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Azoles
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Fluconazole