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Epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance in fungi.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chang, Z; Yadav, V; Lee, SC; Heitman, J
Published in: Fungal Genet Biol
November 2019

The emergence of drug-resistant fungi poses a continuously increasing threat to human health. Despite advances in preventive care and diagnostics, resistant fungi continue to cause significant mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients. Therapeutic resources are further limited by current usage of only four major classes of antifungal drugs. Resistance against these drugs has already been observed in pathogenic fungi requiring the development of much needed newer antifungal drugs. Epigenetic changes such as DNA or chromatin modifications alter gene expression levels in response to certain stimuli, including interaction with the host in the case of fungal pathogens. These changes can confer resistance to drugs by altering the expression of target genes or genes encoding drug efflux pumps. Multiple pathogens share many of these epigenetic pathways; thus, targeting epigenetic pathways might also identify drug target candidates for the development of broad-spectrum antifungal drugs. In this review, we discuss the importance of epigenetic pathways in mediating drug resistance in fungi as well as in the development of anti-fungal drugs.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Fungal Genet Biol

DOI

EISSN

1096-0937

Publication Date

November 2019

Volume

132

Start / End Page

103253

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Microbiology
  • Humans
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Histone Code
  • Fungi
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Drug Development
  • Antifungal Agents
  • 3108 Plant biology
 

Citation

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Chang, Z., Yadav, V., Lee, S. C., & Heitman, J. (2019). Epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance in fungi. Fungal Genet Biol, 132, 103253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103253
Chang, Zanetta, Vikas Yadav, Soo Chan Lee, and Joseph Heitman. “Epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance in fungi.Fungal Genet Biol 132 (November 2019): 103253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103253.
Chang Z, Yadav V, Lee SC, Heitman J. Epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance in fungi. Fungal Genet Biol. 2019 Nov;132:103253.
Chang, Zanetta, et al. “Epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance in fungi.Fungal Genet Biol, vol. 132, Nov. 2019, p. 103253. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103253.
Chang Z, Yadav V, Lee SC, Heitman J. Epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance in fungi. Fungal Genet Biol. 2019 Nov;132:103253.
Journal cover image

Published In

Fungal Genet Biol

DOI

EISSN

1096-0937

Publication Date

November 2019

Volume

132

Start / End Page

103253

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Microbiology
  • Humans
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Histone Code
  • Fungi
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Drug Development
  • Antifungal Agents
  • 3108 Plant biology