Emerging Fungal Pathogens and Polymicrobial Infections: Antimicrobial Tolerance, Resistance Mechanisms, and Innovative Therapeutic Approaches

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 1317

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Interests: fungal pathogens; microbiology; biotechnology; environmental microbiology
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Guest Editor
Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Interests: host-pathogen interaction; Cryptococcus sp.; immune evasion; antimicrobial; biofilm
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Microbiologia, Institute of Biological Sciences,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Interests: mycoses; antifungals; host-pathogen interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the complex challenges posed by emerging fungal pathogens and their interactions with other microorganisms in polymicrobial infections. Emphasis will be placed on the molecular mechanisms underlying antimicrobial tolerance and resistance, as well as on the clinical implications of cross-kingdom biofilms. Contributions are invited on topics ranging from fundamental studies of pathogen–pathogen and pathogen–host interactions to the development of innovative models and therapeutic strategies. We also welcome research that explores novel antifungal agents, drug repurposing, enzymatic disruption of biofilms, and synthetic biology-based approaches for combating persistent infections. 

Potential Topics for Contribution

- Mechanisms of tolerance and resistance in mixed microbial infections;

- Emerging fungal pathogens and their resistance profiles;

- Host immune responses to cross-kingdom biofilms;

- In vitro and in vivo models for studying polymicrobial communities;

- Omics-based approaches for understanding interspecies interactions;

- Novel antifungal and antibacterial compounds, combination therapies, and drug repurposing;

- Synthetic biology tools and enzymatic strategies for biofilm disruption;

- Epidemiology and clinical impact of polymicrobial and emerging fungal infections.

Prof. Dr. Marilene Henning Vainstein
Dr. Lucélia Santi
Dr. Daniel Assis Santos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • emerging fungal pathogens
  • polymicrobial infections
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • novel antifungal strategies
  • host–pathogen interactions

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 1552 KB  
Article
Antifungal Activity of 8-Hydroxyquinoline Derivatives Against Candida auris, Candida haemulonii, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Cryptococcus gattii Complex
by Maria Eduarda Krummenauer, Matheus da Silva Camargo, Caroline de Bem Gentz, Marcela Silva Lopes, Letícia Feliciani da Luz, Danielle da Silva Trentin, Belisa Ávila Rodrigues, Karine Rigon Zimmer, Saulo Fernandes de Andrade and Marilene Henning Vainstein
Pathogens 2025, 14(10), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14100999 - 2 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1174
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections and the emergence of antifungal resistance pose significant challenges to public health. This study evaluates the antifungal activity of two 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives, PH265 and PH276, against Cryptococcus spp., Candida auris, and Candida haemulonii. Using the EUCAST protocol, both [...] Read more.
Invasive fungal infections and the emergence of antifungal resistance pose significant challenges to public health. This study evaluates the antifungal activity of two 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives, PH265 and PH276, against Cryptococcus spp., Candida auris, and Candida haemulonii. Using the EUCAST protocol, both compounds demonstrated broad-spectrum antifungal activity, with MICs ranging from 0.5 to 8 μg/mL. PH276 exhibited synergistic effects with fluconazole and caspofungin against C. haemulonii (FIC ≤ 0.5). The derivatives inhibited C. neoformans biofilm formation at higher concentrations and modulated polysaccharide capsule formation in Cryptococcus spp. In vivo toxicity assays in Tenebrio molitor, Galleria mellonella, and Caenorhabditis elegans revealed no significant adverse effects, with survival rates comparable to controls. These findings highlight PH265 and PH276 as promising antifungal agents with biofilm-disrupting properties, capsule-modulating effects, and low toxicity, supporting their potential for therapeutic development. Full article
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