Current and emerging therapies for fungal biofilms and systemic infections

Abstract

Fungal pathogens pose a global public health risk, driven by the alarming rise of antifungal resistance. The current antifungal pipeline remains limited to three main classes (azoles, polyene, and echinocandins). Additionally, fungal biofilms, with its extracellular matrix, further complicates the antifungal therapeutics. Despite the persistent challenges posed by biofilms in clinical medicine, advancements in research have led to the development of numerous antifungal approaches aimed at inhibiting the fungal growth, disrupting biofilm integrity and overcoming resistance mechanisms. This review explores the current understanding of antifungal resistance in human fungal pathogens, and emphasizes emerging therapeutics, including novel treatments, repurposed drugs, and natural products, with potential to outperform conventional therapies. Future experimental studies will further refine these recent therapeutic approaches, paving the way for innovative and more efficient biofilm eradication approaches.