ABSTRACT Fungal infections caused by Candida albicans represent a major global health concern, particularly due to the increasing prevalence of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) strains and the limited antifungal arsenal. Drug repositioning offers a strategic approach for the rapid identification of new therapeutic alternatives. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal activity of 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and selected sulfonamides against an MDR C. albicans strain (ATCC 10231) resistant to fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and anidulafungin. Following CLSI M27‐A3 guidelines, MBT exhibited the highest activity (MIC = 12.5 µg/mL), while sulfonamides showed MIC values ranging from 50 to 100 µg/mL, all markedly superior to fluconazole (MIC = 1000 µg/mL). The antifungal activity observed under the experimental conditions was consistent with a fungistatic effect. Molecular docking studies revealed favorable binding affinities toward lanosterol 14α‐demethylase (L14αDM; PDB ID: 5V5Z), with binding energies of –6.3 kcal mol −1 for MBT and –6.5 kcal mol −1 for sulfanilamide, supporting a plausible azole‐like mechanism of action. These findings reinforce the repositioning potential of these scaffolds as promising antifungal candidates and provide a foundation for further in vivo evaluation, mechanistic elucidation, and combination therapy strategies against MDR candidiasis.
Oliveira et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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