PREreviews of Identification and evaluation of besifloxacin as repurposed antifungal drug in combination with fluconazole against Candida albicans

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Identification and evaluation of besifloxacin as repurposed antifungal drug in combination with fluconazole against Candida albicans

by Shuvechha Chakraborty, Ameya Pawaskar, Siddhanath Metkari, Taruna Madan, and Susan Idicula-Thomas

Posted: March 12, 2025
Server: bioRxiv
DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.12.642842

Abstract

Emergence of life-threatening fungal infections like systemic candidiasis concurrently with bacterial infections and limitations of current antifungal therapies warrants the discovery of novel inhibitors. We identified besifloxacin (BS), an FDA-approved antibacterial, as a potent antifungal inhibitor. A combination of besifloxacin with fluconazole showed a positive synergy (δ = 29.58) resulting in 80% inhibition of microbial growth. BS was able to reduce the MIC of FLC from 2mg/L to 0.5 mg/L when used in combination. Additionally in murine systemic Candida infection, BS reduced fungal load by 83% in mice kidneys at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day. The findings demonstrated the antifungal potential of BS, proposing its use in combination therapy with fluconazole to combat resistance through alternative mechanisms.

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PREreview by Grace Toolsie Toolsie et al.

Authored by Grace Toolsie Toolsie and Brenda Ametepe
Identification and evaluation of besifloxacin as repurposed antifungal drug in combination with fluconazole against Candida albicans
1. Summary and Overall Impression
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