Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Thiourea Derivatives Against Nosocomial <i>Candida auris</i> Strains Isolated in Romania

Nosocomial fungal infections caused by <i>Candida auris</i> pose a threat to public health due to their increased resistance to common antifungal drugs. Four thiourea derivatives of 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid were evaluated for their antifungal and antioxidant activity. The antifungal ac...

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Main Authors: Marina Ionela Nedea (Ilie), Carmellina Daniela Bădiceanu, Irina Gheorghe-Barbu, Ioana Cristina Marinaș, Radu Pericleanu, Rareș-Ionuț Dragomir, Andreea Ștefania Dumbravă, Ana Maria Dascălu, Dragoș Șerban, Corneliu Tudor, Madălina Solomon (Preda), Oana Popescu, Andreea Letiția Arsene, Bruno Ștefan Velescu
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1675
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author Marina Ionela Nedea (Ilie)
Carmellina Daniela Bădiceanu
Irina Gheorghe-Barbu
Ioana Cristina Marinaș
Radu Pericleanu
Rareș-Ionuț Dragomir
Andreea Ștefania Dumbravă
Ana Maria Dascălu
Dragoș Șerban
Corneliu Tudor
Madălina Solomon (Preda)
Oana Popescu
Andreea Letiția Arsene
Bruno Ștefan Velescu
author_facet Marina Ionela Nedea (Ilie)
Carmellina Daniela Bădiceanu
Irina Gheorghe-Barbu
Ioana Cristina Marinaș
Radu Pericleanu
Rareș-Ionuț Dragomir
Andreea Ștefania Dumbravă
Ana Maria Dascălu
Dragoș Șerban
Corneliu Tudor
Madălina Solomon (Preda)
Oana Popescu
Andreea Letiția Arsene
Bruno Ștefan Velescu
author_sort Marina Ionela Nedea (Ilie)
collection DOAJ
description Nosocomial fungal infections caused by <i>Candida auris</i> pose a threat to public health due to their increased resistance to common antifungal drugs. Four thiourea derivatives of 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid were evaluated for their antifungal and antioxidant activity. The antifungal activity of the compounds was tested against strains of <i>C. auris</i> isolated from a hospital in Romania. With a notable inhibitory effect on <i>C. auris</i> biofilm growth and microbial adherence, the ortho-methylated derivative (SB2) showed the highest antifungal activity. Furthermore, emphasizing the impact of structural factors on the electron-donating capacity of these compounds, antioxidant activity assays (DPPH, FRAP, TEAC and CUPRAC) identified the SB2 compound as having the highest antihemolytic and antioxidant effects. The low cytotoxicity validated by hemocompatibility assays makes these compounds options for antifungal treatment. The results show that antifungal and antioxidant action is greatly influenced by structural modifications, especially the position of the methyl group on the aromatic ring. The possible clinical uses of these molecules as drugs for the treatment of multidrug-resistant <i>C. auris</i> infections needs further investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-91817ac26d2242f79f3e8fc052678adf2025-08-20T02:28:15ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01308167510.3390/molecules30081675Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Thiourea Derivatives Against Nosocomial <i>Candida auris</i> Strains Isolated in RomaniaMarina Ionela Nedea (Ilie)0Carmellina Daniela Bădiceanu1Irina Gheorghe-Barbu2Ioana Cristina Marinaș3Radu Pericleanu4Rareș-Ionuț Dragomir5Andreea Ștefania Dumbravă6Ana Maria Dascălu7Dragoș Șerban8Corneliu Tudor9Madălina Solomon (Preda)10Oana Popescu11Andreea Letiția Arsene12Bruno Ștefan Velescu13Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Intrarea Portocalelor No. 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaThe Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Intrarea Portocalelor No. 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Intrarea Portocalelor No. 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Intrarea Portocalelor No. 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Microbiology, Parasitology and Virology, Faculty of Midwives and Nursing, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaMarius Nasta Institute of Pneumology, 050159 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaNosocomial fungal infections caused by <i>Candida auris</i> pose a threat to public health due to their increased resistance to common antifungal drugs. Four thiourea derivatives of 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid were evaluated for their antifungal and antioxidant activity. The antifungal activity of the compounds was tested against strains of <i>C. auris</i> isolated from a hospital in Romania. With a notable inhibitory effect on <i>C. auris</i> biofilm growth and microbial adherence, the ortho-methylated derivative (SB2) showed the highest antifungal activity. Furthermore, emphasizing the impact of structural factors on the electron-donating capacity of these compounds, antioxidant activity assays (DPPH, FRAP, TEAC and CUPRAC) identified the SB2 compound as having the highest antihemolytic and antioxidant effects. The low cytotoxicity validated by hemocompatibility assays makes these compounds options for antifungal treatment. The results show that antifungal and antioxidant action is greatly influenced by structural modifications, especially the position of the methyl group on the aromatic ring. The possible clinical uses of these molecules as drugs for the treatment of multidrug-resistant <i>C. auris</i> infections needs further investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1675<i>Candida auris</i>antioxidantsthiourea derivativesantihemolytic
spellingShingle Marina Ionela Nedea (Ilie)
Carmellina Daniela Bădiceanu
Irina Gheorghe-Barbu
Ioana Cristina Marinaș
Radu Pericleanu
Rareș-Ionuț Dragomir
Andreea Ștefania Dumbravă
Ana Maria Dascălu
Dragoș Șerban
Corneliu Tudor
Madălina Solomon (Preda)
Oana Popescu
Andreea Letiția Arsene
Bruno Ștefan Velescu
Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Thiourea Derivatives Against Nosocomial <i>Candida auris</i> Strains Isolated in Romania
Molecules
<i>Candida auris</i>
antioxidants
thiourea derivatives
antihemolytic
title Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Thiourea Derivatives Against Nosocomial <i>Candida auris</i> Strains Isolated in Romania
title_full Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Thiourea Derivatives Against Nosocomial <i>Candida auris</i> Strains Isolated in Romania
title_fullStr Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Thiourea Derivatives Against Nosocomial <i>Candida auris</i> Strains Isolated in Romania
title_full_unstemmed Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Thiourea Derivatives Against Nosocomial <i>Candida auris</i> Strains Isolated in Romania
title_short Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Thiourea Derivatives Against Nosocomial <i>Candida auris</i> Strains Isolated in Romania
title_sort antifungal and antioxidant activity of thiourea derivatives against nosocomial i candida auris i strains isolated in romania
topic <i>Candida auris</i>
antioxidants
thiourea derivatives
antihemolytic
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1675
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