The antifungal activities and biological consequences of BMVC-12C-P, a carbazole derivative against Candida species

Med Mycol. 2020 Jun 1;58(4):521-529. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myz071.

Abstract

Fungal infections, particularly Candida species, have increased worldwide and caused high morbidity and mortality rates. The toxicity and development of resistance in present antifungal drugs justify the need of new drugs with different mechanism of action. BMVC-12C-P, a carbazole-type compound, has been found to dysfunction mitochondria. BMVC-12C-P displayed the strongest antifungal activities among all of the BMVC derivatives. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BMVC-12C-P against Candida species ranged from 1 to 2 μg/ml. Fluconazole-resistant clinical isolates of Candida species were highly susceptible to BMVC-12C-P. The potent fungicidal activity of BMVC-12C-P relates to its impairing mitochondrial function. Furthermore, we found that the hyphae growth and biofilm formation were suppressed in C. albicans survived from BMVC-12C-P treatment. This study demonstrates the potential of BMVC-12C-P as an antifungal agent for treating Candida infections.

Keywords: Candida species; BMVC-12C-P; fungicidal activity; mitochondria.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Candida / classification
  • Candida / drug effects*
  • Carbazoles / chemistry*
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal*
  • Fluconazole / pharmacology
  • Hyphae / drug effects
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Pyridinium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Pyridinium Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 3,6-bis(1-methyl-4-vinylpyridium)carbazole diiodide
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Carbazoles
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • Fluconazole