About this Research Topic
Fungal infections represent a public health problem as fungus can adapt to new environmental conditions by the expression of specific virulence factors, over expression of genes regulating the efflux pumps activity, increasing drug tolerance, the ability to alter cell morphology, and the ability to form biofilms in mucosal or inanimate surfaces. In fact, biofilm-related infections are increasingly related to high rates of morbidity and mortality in the healthcare system. Several fungi like Candida spp., Trischosporon spp., Aspergillus spp., Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and Fusarium spp. could develop biofilms leading to clinical, therapeutic, and economic implications. As the existing therapeutics are limited including polyenes, flucytosine, azoles, and echinocandins, the search for new molecules with antifungal potential is necessary. Moreover, these drugs have a limited activity spectrum, a small number of targets, undesirable side effects, the emergence of resistant strains, and the low activity of some drugs correlated to their delivery, especially in biofilms. Such factors have motivated researchers around the world to develop new antifungal agents employing to the isolation of a natural product with antifungal activity. Evidence of the action of plant-derived products on bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus), fungal Candida species), and mixed bacterial-fungal biofilms has been reported. Nevertheless, existing literature around natural products with medicinal properties for the cure and treatment of infectious diseases is non-sufficient as no systematic information available on their scientific approach for being used as modern medicine. In addition, a pharmaceutical combination of the antifungal compounds and contribution to new antifungal biofilms strategies like the work on antimicrobial delivery systems, a promising tool for the inactivation of fungi in biofilms, are needed. Thus, the proposed work is destined to bridge this gap with organized information on pharmacokinetics of plant products, supported by mechanistic approach for combating biofilm associated infections. Here we aim to spotlight how molecular and nanotechnology tools aid in plant-derived drug discovery, addressing recent inquiries regarding equating plant-based drugs with current existing drugs. Thus, the role of phyto-medicines, their safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness will be highlighted along with their role in effective remedy and as complementary to the existing chemotherapy.
For successful management of fungal infections, the continued development of new antifungals and the appropriate use of commonly used antifungals are necessary. This Research Topic aims to provide a systematic examination of the chemistry, bioactivity, and functional aspects of biologically active compounds, with a distinct focus on their physiological roles in the realm pharmacognosy of plant products with mechanistic description of their action and information on use of nanotechnology and molecular tools in relation to Phyto-medicine research. In summary, the articles would broadly cover the spectrum of investigations on fungal biofilm composition (e.g., mono- and multi-species), host-pathogen interactions, transcription factors involved in biofilm formation regulation, environmental conditions, and new antifungal drug candidates, and provide the current state-of-the-art landscape in our understanding of biofilms by medically important fungi and warrants future studies to understand the basis of fungal biofilms biology in infection and disease. Furthermore, this Research Topic underscores the importance of plant-based products within pharmacognosy, and strives to provide a comprehensive, scientifically sound overview of pharmacognosy and its relationship to phyto-drug research, including the exploration of emerging technologies and their applications in the management of difficult-to-treat biofilm associated mycoses.
The aim of this Research Topic is to compile up-to-date information’s on understanding molecular mechanism of fungal biofilm research and discovery of plant-based drug candidate as alternative medicine to combat drug tolerance of fungal biofilms. In this Research Topic, we invite submission of manuscripts on, but not limited to, the following research areas:
· Development and Mechanism of fungal biofilm resistance.
· Studying fungal morphogenesis, quorum sensing and metabolism in biofilm related pathogenesis.
· Fungal Biofilms as targets for the development of novel drug discovery.
· Development of experimental model systems in vivo to study biofilm inhibition by phyto-compounds.
· Plant products in potentiating the existing antifungal drugs to control fungal biofilms associated infections.
· Prevention and control of fungal biofilm-based infections on medical-devices or implants.
For successful management of fungal infections, the continued development of new antifungals and the appropriate use of commonly used antifungals are necessary. This Research Topic aims to provide a systematic examination of the chemistry, bioactivity, and functional aspects of biologically active compounds, with a distinct focus on their physiological roles in the realm pharmacognosy of plant products with mechanistic description of their action and information on use of nanotechnology and molecular tools in relation to Phyto-medicine research. In summary, the articles would broadly cover the spectrum of investigations on fungal biofilm composition (e.g., mono- and multi-species), host-pathogen interactions, transcription factors involved in biofilm formation regulation, environmental conditions, and new antifungal drug candidates, and provide the current state-of-the-art landscape in our understanding of biofilms by medically important fungi and warrants future studies to understand the basis of fungal biofilms biology in infection and disease. Furthermore, this Research Topic underscores the importance of plant-based products within pharmacognosy, and strives to provide a comprehensive, scientifically sound overview of pharmacognosy and its relationship to phyto-drug research, including the exploration of emerging technologies and their applications in the management of difficult-to-treat biofilm associated mycoses.
The aim of this Research Topic is to compile up-to-date information’s on understanding molecular mechanism of fungal biofilm research and discovery of plant-based drug candidate as alternative medicine to combat drug tolerance of fungal biofilms. In this Research Topic, we invite submission of manuscripts on, but not limited to, the following research areas:
· Development and Mechanism of fungal biofilm resistance.
· Studying fungal morphogenesis, quorum sensing and metabolism in biofilm related pathogenesis.
· Fungal Biofilms as targets for the development of novel drug discovery.
· Development of experimental model systems in vivo to study biofilm inhibition by phyto-compounds.
· Plant products in potentiating the existing antifungal drugs to control fungal biofilms associated infections.
· Prevention and control of fungal biofilm-based infections on medical-devices or implants.
Keywords: fungal biofilms, fungal morphogenesis, novel drug discovery, fungal biofilm control, Omics technology
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