Emerging Targets In Antibacterial And Antifungal Chemotherapy

Emerging Targets in Antibacterial and Antifungal Chemotherapy offers constructive ideas to researchers that could lead to the discovery of entirely new classes of drugs. The authors emphasize new topics rather than review work on known antibacterials and antifungals, and identify new targets--either the rate-limiting component of a biochemical pathway or a component of the pathway that is susceptible to a ``screening'' or ``rational drug design'' approach. Each chapter reviews the biochemical pathway and its place in the cellular scheme in order to place the target in perspective. The authors, a mixture of academic researchers and drug-discovery investigators in pharmaceutical companies, also extend these theoretical concerns into practical applications and suggest useful screening methodologies. The importance of this subject area is demonstrated by the increasing number of papers in the literature that point to potential targets and screening methodologies for new antibacterials. This book also deals with antifungals, investigating the inherent limitations in existing antifungals (many of which are extremely toxic or have only limited efficacy), and pointing to major developments in the discovery of novel antifungals. Emerging Targets in Antibacterial and Antifungal Chemotherapy will be of interest to professional microbiologists, biochemists, and cell biologists in both academic and industrial laboratories.

Humans coexist with millions of harmless microorganisms, but emerging diseases, resistance to antibiotics, and the threat of bioterrorism are forcing scientists to look for new ways to confront the microbes that do pose a danger. This report identifies innovative approaches to the development of antimicrobial drugs and vaccines based on a greater understanding of how the human immune system interacts with both good and bad microbes. The report concludes that the development of a single superdrug to fight all infectious agents is unrealistic.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

This book, a part of the series Studies in Medicinal Chemistry, details the biological inhibitors that reflect drug discovery in treating human diseases, including cardiovascular, nervous, inflammatory, hormonal and metabolic processes. Compounds for fungal diseases and HIV/AIDS are also covered.

An important overview of the state of the art in naturally occurring antimycotics! Here is a comprehensive and innovative examination of the antimycotic potential of essential plant oils and extracts against fungal infections affecting humans, animals, plants, and foodstuffs. Plant-Derived Antimycotics emphasizes the antimycotic activity of plants found in Central America, India, Nepal, Fiji, and China--areas rich in phyto-diversity and traditional botanical/medical knowledge. From editor M.K. Rai: “Since the inception of human civilization men have been using herbs against various mycotic infections. In the recent past, several antimycotic agents have been introduced into the market due to their rapid curative properties. Still, the quest for new antifungal agents of a fungicidal rather than fungistatic nature continues. Furthermore, there has been a dramatic increase in the new spectrum of fungal infections known as opportunistic fungal pathogens. Consequently, plant-derived antimycotics are gaining importance, being natural, cheaper, safer, eco-friendly, and within the reach of the common man.” With a distinguished list of contributors from around the world, Plant-Derived Antimycotics explores: antifungal compounds that strengthen plant-defense systems traditional herbs that have revealed their antifungal properties newer, faster methods of screening and evaluating antifungal drugs natural antimycotics derived from plants in Croatia, South America, South Africa, China, India, and Fiji the mechanism of herbal antimycotic action the diversity of antimycotic efficacy in Asteraceous and Meliaceous plants new bioactive antifungal molecules Plant-Derived Antimycotics is an essential reference for pharmacologists, microbiologists, clinical mycologists, oncologists, immunologists, drug manufacturers, botanists and ethnobotanists, phytochemists, herbalists, and everyone searching for a natural remedy for the new spectrum of opportunistic fungal infections generated by the immunocompromising difficulties encountered by AIDS and cancer patients. Color illustrations, photographs, charts, tables, and graphs make the information easier to absorb and understand.

Contributions from 80 world-renowned authorities representing a broad international background lend Fungal Biotechnology in Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Applicationsfirst-class information on the biotechnological potential of entomopathogenic fungi and ergot alkaloids, applications of Trichoderma in disease control, and the development of mycoherbicides. Additional topics include fungal control of nematodes, control of plant disease by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, strategies for controlling vegetable and fruit crops, molecular biology tactics with mycotoxigenic fungi and the development of biofungicides, production of edible fungi, fermented foods, and high-value products like mycoprotein.

Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry provides timely and critical reviews of important topics in medicinal chemistry together with an emphasis on emerging topics in the biological sciences, which are expectedto provide the basis for entirely new future therapies.