Abstract
Growth and metabolism of fungi can be curtailed by chaotropic solutes and hydrophobic
substances, both of which can weaken or inhibit non-covalent interactions within and
between macromolecular systems. Here we explore the potential to utilize the fungistatic and
fungicidal activities of such stressors as the basis for commercial formulations. A method
was developed for the quantification of chaotropicity, which can be used for chemically
diverse substances, in order elucidate roles of chaotropicity and hydrophobicity in microbial
ecology (both of which are sufficiently potent to limit the Earth’s microbial biosphere). A
large number of naturally occurring substances act as chaotropic or hydrophobic stressors
including aliphatic alcohols, salts such as MgCl2, aromatics such as phenol, and
hydrocarbons such as hexane and octene. We suggest that these stress parameters provide the
(hitherto unidentified) modes-of-action for some extant antifungal products. The findings are
discussed in relation to the development of a new generation of antifungals.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Modern Fungicides and Antifungal Compounds VII: Proceedings of the 17th International Reinhardsbrunn Symposium April 21 -25, 2013, Friedrichroda, Germany |
Place of Publication | Braunschweig |
Publisher | Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft |
Pages | 73-80 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Volume | VII |
ISBN (Print) | 9783941261136 |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |