Background: Fungal infections are one of the main causes of mortality from infectious diseases worldwide. Candida species are among the most common causes of invasive fungal diseases, and Candida albicans is the leading cause of invasive candidiasis. Considering that fungi, like their human hosts, are eukaryotes, the number of unique molecular targets that can be utilized for the development of antifungal drugs remains limited. The aim of this study is to review the current status of antifungal drugs and potential new therapeutic approaches, as the increasing prevalence of fungal species resistant to antifungal drugs, both intrinsically and acquired, is a serious threat to public health.
Methods: In this study, various databases including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar were evaluated with keywords including Mycoses, Drug resistance, Candida albicans, Therapeutics, and related articles were reviewed in the time period 2019-2025.
FindingsThis review addresses some of the most promising therapeutic strategies that may help combat antifungal resistance, including combination therapy, targeting fungal virulence features, and modulating host immunity.
Conclusion: Overall, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanistic principles governing antifungal drug resistance is essential for the development of novel therapies to combat current and emerging fungal threats.