Keywords
Biofilms
Candida albicans
Streptomyces
How to Cite
Copyright © | All rights reserved.
The journal holds the exclusive copyright for the publication of this article under the terms of Brazilian law 9610/98.
Partial reproduction
The use of parts of the texts, figures and questionnaire of the article is free, being mandatory the citation of the authors and journal.
Total reproduction
It is expressly prohibited and must be authorized by the journal.
Abstract
Objective: To gather and analyze the available scientific evidence on the antifungal mechanisms of action of metabolites produced by Streptomyces spp. against Candida albicans, highlighting their therapeutic potential in the face of antifungal resistance. Methods: This is an integrative literature review, conducted in the PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and SciELO databases. The search included studies published between 2020 and 2025, using controlled descriptors from DeCS/MeSH, combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Original studies that investigated bioactive compounds and their antifungal mechanisms were included after applying eligibility criteria and reading the full text. Results: 11 articles were included, which demonstrated multiple mechanisms of action, such as membrane disruption by ergosterol binding, cell wall degradation by hydrolytic enzymes, inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis, interference with protein N-glycosylation, induction of oxidative stress, and biofilm formation. Activity against resistant strains and potential synergism with conventional antifungals were also observed. Final considerations: The findings show that Streptomyces spp. constitute a promising source of antifungal agents with diverse and innovative mechanisms, although preclinical and clinical studies are needed for translational consolidation.
References
ABDELAZIZ R, et al. Bioactive metabolites of Streptomyces misakiensis display broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi. Antibiotics, 2023; 13.
AIT ASSOU S, et al. Diversity and antimicrobial activities of actinobacteria isolated from mining soils in Midelt region, Morocco. The Scientific World Journal, 2023; 6106673.
BARREALES EG, et al. Structural and bioactivity characterization of filipin derivatives from engineered Streptomyces filipinensis strains reveals clues for reduced haemolytic action. Antibiotics, 2020; 9(7): 413.
BAYS DJ, et al. Epidemiology of invasive candidiasis. Clinical Epidemiology, 2024; 16: 549-566.
BENHADJ M, et al. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of wetland-derived Streptomyces sp. ActiF450. EXCLI Journal, 2020; 19: 360-371.
CHEN C, et al. Characterization of Streptomyces sp. LS462 with high productivity of echinomycin, a potent antituberculosis and synergistic antifungal antibiotic. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 2021; 48(9-10).
CHUNG B, et al. Inhibitory effects of nitrogenous metabolites from a marine-derived Streptomyces bacillaris on isocitrate lyase of Candida albicans. Marine Drugs, 2022; 20(2): 138.
DAWOOD AA, ALTOBJE MA. Inhibition of N-linked glycosylation by tunicamycin may contribute to the treatment strategies targeting glycoprotein synthesis. Microbial Pathogenesis, 2020; 149: 104586.
DOS SANTOS SA, et al. A patogenicidade, epidemiologia e os principais fatores de virulência de Candida albicans: uma revisão narrativa. Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação, 2026; 12(2): 1-10.
GHANNOUM MA, RICE LB. Antifungal agents: mode of action, mechanisms of resistance, and correlation of these mechanisms with bacterial resistance. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 1999; 12(4): 501-517.
GHAREEB A, et al. Multifaceted biomedical applications of biogenic titanium dioxide nanoparticles fabricated by marine actinobacterium Streptomyces vinaceusdrappus AMG31. Scientific Reports, 2025; 15(1).
IVANOV M, ĆIRIĆ A, STOJKOVIĆ D. Emerging antifungal targets and strategies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022; 23(5): 2756.
KARAMI-FELI M, et al. Antifungal potential of Streptomyces-derived metabolites against fluconazole-resistant oral Candida albicans: in vitro evaluation and mechanistic insights. Iranian Biomedical Journal, 2025; 29(3): 126-137.
KHAN MA, AZAM M, YOUNUS H. In silico and in vitro studies to explore the effect of thymoquinone on isocitrate lyase, biofilm formation, and virulence genes in Candida albicans. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2024; 46(11): 12951-12967.
KIM ES, et al. Inhibition of candidalysin production by methoxy-apo-enterobactin from Streptomyces ambofaciens CJD34 as a novel antifungal strategy against Candida albicans. Journal of Microbiology, 2025; 63(6).
KIM H, et al. Inhibitory effects of diketopiperazines from marine-derived Streptomyces puniceus on isocitrate lyase of Candida albicans. Molecules, 2019; 24(11): 2111.
KRÁLOVÁ S, et al. Streptomyces tardus sp. nov.: a slow-growing actinobacterium producing candicidin, isolated from sediments of the Trondheim Fjord. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2021; 12.
NAVES PLF, et al. Novas abordagens sobre os fatores de virulência de Candida albicans. Revista de Ciências Médicas e Biológicas, 2013; 12(2): 229-233.
PAGE MJ, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 2021; 372.
RAMMALI S, et al. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Streptomyces species from soils of three different cold sites in the Fez-Meknes region Morocco. Scientific Reports, 2022; 12(1).
RUSSELL CM, et al. Candidalysin: connecting pore-forming mechanism to immunostimulatory properties. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2023; 299(2).
SEROV DA, et al. Review of antimicrobial properties of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024; 25(19): 10519.
SHARMA P, THAKUR D. Antimicrobial biosynthetic potential and diversity of culturable soil actinobacteria from forest ecosystems of Northeast India. Scientific Reports, 2020; 10(1).
SON J, et al. Mohangic acid H and mohangiol: new p-aminoacetophenone derivatives from a mudflat-derived Streptomyces sp. Marine Drugs, 2025; 23(8): 307.
SUMANG FA, et al. Biosynthesis of the quinovosamycin nucleoside antibiotics diverges from that of tunicamycins by additional sugar processing genes. Bioorganic Chemistry, 2025; 160: 108431.
YANG SQ, et al. Streptomyces-derived active extract inhibits Candida albicans biofilm formation. Current Microbiology, 2022; 79(11): 332.