Unveiling the Potential of Magainin Derivatives against Candida Species

Abstract

The increasing antifungal resistance, including Candida albicans resistance, highlights the urgent need for novel antifungal agents. Antimicrobial peptides are promising alternative antimicrobial agents, but most work focuses on antibacterial studies, including Magainin II and its derivative Pexiganan (MSI-78). Here, we evaluated a Pexiganan peptide library and identified MSI-78 (4–20) as a lead-hit antifungal agent against multiple Candida species, including fluconazole-resistant C. auris isolates. Importantly, it improved survival and reduced fungal burden in C. albicans-infected Galleria mellonella, suppressing phenoloxidase activity and melanization. Mechanistically, it entered cells at ..