Janus-Faced Molecules against Plant Pathogenic Fungi

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 22; p. 12323
• Main Author: Banfalvi, Gaspar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 15.11.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: agents against plant mycoses; Animal models; Animals; Antibiotics; Antifungal agents; Antifungal Agents - chemistry; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Apoptosis; Cancer; Carcinogens; classification of carcinogens; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxins; Disease Models, Animal; Fertility; Fungi; Fungi - drug effects; Fungi - metabolism; Fungi - pathogenicity; Fungicides; Genotoxicity; Humans; Infections; Metabolites; Mice; Molecular Structure; Mutation; Mycoses - drug therapy; Mycoses - microbiology; mycotoxins; Mycotoxins - chemistry; Mycotoxins - pharmacology; Mycotoxins - therapeutic use; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Review; Secondary metabolites; structure–function relationship; Toxins; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Virulence; structure–function relationship; animal models; agents against plant mycoses; classification of carcinogens; mycotoxins
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212323

The high cytotoxicity of the secondary metabolites of mycotoxins is capable of killing microbes and tumour cells alike, similarly to the genotoxic effect characteristic of Janus-faced molecules. The "double-edged sword" effect of several cytotoxins is known, and these agents have, therefore, been utilized only reluctantly against fungal infections. In this review, consideration was given to (a) toxins that could be used against plant and human pathogens, (b) animal models that measure the effect of antifungal agents, (c) known antifungal agents that have been described and efficiently prevent the growth of fungal cells, and (d) the chemical interactions that are characteristic of antifungal agents. The utilization of apoptotic effects against tumour growth by agents that, at the same time, induce mutations may raise ethical issues. Nevertheless, it deserves consideration despite the mutagenic impact of Janus-faced molecules for those patients who suffer from plant pathogenic fungal infections and are older than their fertility age, in the same way that the short-term cytotoxicity of cancer treatment is favoured over the long-term mutagenic effect.