Evolution of antifungal-drug resistance: mechanisms and pathogen fitness

• Published in: Nature reviews. Microbiology Vol. 3; no. 7; pp. 547 - 556
• Main Author: Anderson, James B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.07.2005; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Antifungal agents; Antifungal Agents - chemistry; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Biological Evolution; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Candida albicans - drug effects; Candida albicans - isolation & purification; Candida albicans - pathogenicity; Candida albicans - physiology; Cell division; Cholesterol; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Epistasis, Genetic; Evolution; Forecasting; Fungi - drug effects; Fungi - pathogenicity; Fungi - physiology; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Mutation; Mutation - drug effects; Parasitology; Pathogens; review-article; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - drug effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - isolation & purification; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - pathogenicity; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - physiology; Trapping; Virology; Virulence - drug effects

Key Points Like other microorganisms, fungi exist in populations that are adaptable. Under the selection imposed by antifungal drugs, initially drug-sensitive fungal pathogens frequently evolve resistance. Although molecular mechanisms of resistance to antifungal drugs are well characterized, it is...