Candida albicans has frequently shown resistance to azoles, the commonly used antifungal drugs. Efg1 has dual role under normoxia and hypoxia supporting infection. It is the major regulator of morphogenesis in C. albicans requisite for its pathogenesis. Targeting this protein is expected to render Candida ineffective to undergo filamentation causing virulence. Further the glyoxylate pathway supports the stress resistance and pathogenesis. In the present study an in silico approach and in vitro validation has been performed to find the potential role of polyphenols in controlling hyphal growth in C. albicans. The aspect of changes biome which may provide required niche to the pathogen has been checked which certainly opens the doors towards safe natural polyphenol-based drugs as potent antifungals.
Keywords: Antifungal; Candida albicans; Efg1; Filamentation; Glyoxylate pathway; Pathogenicity; Polyphenols.